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Will Removing i486 Support Kill Certain Apps?

Tags: Linux

Because this is a 32-bit processor I’m guessing 16-bit apps and games won’t be affected. But are there any 32-bit apps that specifically require the 486 that won’t run on a newer 32-bit compatible CPU? For example in the case of Wine or a VM. The kernel is responsible for ultimately executing those 486 instructions right?

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I don’t see the problem.

In reply to Will Removing i486 Support Kill Certain Apps?

You can keep copies of the OS and apps you need and no one but you will delete them.

In a VM, the answer to that question is no. I won’t get into the details since that’s well done but today there are VMs that run code for other microprocessors and they have to emulate processor instructions since the host processor doesn’t have said instruction.

Also, what is this newer 32 bit CPU? I haven’t seen Intel produce one in over a decade!

Reply To: Will Removing i486 Support Kill Certain Apps?

In reply to Will Removing i486 Support Kill Certain Apps?

And as far as I can tell, the 486 was binary compatible with everything back to the 286 and almost/maybe with the 8086. So, as long as the executable’s target platform is known and used (e.g. DOS 5) to provide an environment compatible with the executable’s format, everything compiled/assembled for 486 (or even earlier) should work up to the current generations of x86.

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