What is the difference between user and kernel modes?
User mode is the normal mode of operation of an application on a desktop machine; Notepad runs in user mode. Kernel mode is the base level of the operating system where important system tasks run; the mouse pointer is run from kernel mode. User mode gives features like windows and sounds; kernel mode is for system-protected tasks like the operating system itself. Normally the user would not care which mode is in use, but certain circumstances require use of kernel mode. Kernel mode is normally installed and used as a default, but the option exists during installation to skip installation of the kernel mode component. If your application requires touch during login, if legacy drivers corrupt serial ports during boot-up, if you want to enable touch without giving the user any possibility of corrupting the touch settings, then kernel mode will solve your problems. In a normal default installation in XP or W2K, the user interface is handled in user mode and the touch-to-mouse data is handl
User mode is the normal mode of operation of an application on a desktop machine; Notepad runs in user mode. Kernel mode is the base level of the operating system where important system tasks run; the mouse pointer is run from kernel mode. User mode gives features like windows and sounds; kernel mode is for system-protected tasks like the operating system itself. Normally the user would not care which mode is in use, but certain circumstances require use of kernel mode. Kernel mode is normally installed and used as a default, but the option exists during installation to skip installation of the kernel mode component. If your application requires touch during login, if legacy drivers corrupt serial ports during boot-up, if you want to enable touch without giving the user any possibility of corrupting the touch settings, then kernel mode will solve your problems. In a normal default installation in XP or W2K, the user interface is handled in user mode and the touch-to-mouse data is handl
