apm_bios_call_simple(9)

📦 version 7.3.1, in nixpkgs unstable

💖 apm_bios_call_simple — the little BIOS call that could ✨

okay so bestie, we're in the Kernel API Manual today and the star of the show is apm_bios_call_simple(9). it's giving "small but mighty" energy, and honestly? iconic. 🎀

🌸 NAME 🌸

apm_bios_call_simple — make a simple APM BIOS 32bit call. that's it, that's the whole vibe. no cap. 💅

✨ SYNOPSIS ✨

int apm_bios_call_simple (u32 func , u32 ebx_in , u32 ecx_in , u32 *eax
, int *err );

like, look at her. five args, one int return, zero drama. 🦋

🫶 ARGUMENTS 🫶

  • func — the APM function you wanna invoke. pick your fighter. ⭐
  • ebx_in — the EBX register value for the BIOS call. yes babe, you're setting registers by hand, main character energy fr. 🔥
  • ecx_in — the ECX register value for the BIOS call. the other half of the register duo, we stan. 💜
  • eax — the EAX register on return from the BIOS call. this is where the answer comes back to you, like a text from your bestie. 💌
  • err — bits. (yes, that's the entire description. it's giving mysterious. iykyk.) 🙈

💀 DESCRIPTION 💀

so here's the tea: you use apm_bios_call_simple to make a BIOS call that returns one value only, or just status. lowkey minimalist. 🧚

if there's an error, then the error code is returned in err and this function returns non-zero. so like, check your return value, bestie, please. 😭

this one's used for simpler BIOS operations — hence the name, she's not doing too much. 💅

⚠️ heads up queen: this call may hold interrupts off for a long time on some laptops. like, a long time. don't say i didn't warn you. 💀

🌈 SEE ALSO 🌈

kernel file ./arch/x86/kernel/apm_32.c, plus the whole friend group:

like a whole squad of power-management girlies. 👑

okay that's the whole page bestie, go forth and make your simple APM BIOS 32bit calls responsibly 💖✨

🎀 this little love letter lives in ./arch/x86/kernel and the manual page itself is dated October 2026. ty for reading, mwah. 🫶
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