How Kernel-Mode Code Executes
The kernel-mode parts of Windows 2000 (including a device driver) consist of massive amounts of code. But just what causes this code to execute? All code executes within a hardware and software context. A context, as used here, describes the state of the system while a CPU instruction executes. It includes the state of all CPU registers (including the stack), the processor mode (user or kernel), and significantly, the state of the hardware page tables. This last item describes what memory can be seen by executing code, and where within the address space that memory is located.
Clearly, code must make assumptions about the context in which it executes. Windows 2000 defines three execution contexts for kernel-mode ...
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