7. Loading

• After loading the executable file into memory, the operating system:

  • Creates the program segment prefix (PSP) header in memory.

  • Allocates memory for the program, based on the values in the PSP.

  • Loads the program.

  • Calculates the correct values for absolute addresses from the relocation table.

  • Loads the segment registers SS, CS, DS, and ES with values that point to the proper areas of memory.