System software consists of the programs that control or maintain the operations of the computer and its devices. An operating system (OS) is a set of programs containing instructions that work together to coordinate all the activities among computer hardware resources:
- Start and shut down a computer
- Provide a user interface
- manage programs
- manage memory
- Coordinate tasks
- Configure devices
- Establish an internet connection
- Monitor performance
- Provide utilities
- Automatically update
- Control a network
- Administer security
Operating System Functions
The process of starting or restarting a computer is called booting. There are two type of booting for computer which is cold boot and warm boot. Cold boot is turning on a computer that has been powered off completely while warm boot is using the operating system to restart a computer. Cold boot can say as we shut down our computer completely while warm boot is hibernate or sleep our computer when we are not in use.
How a PC Boot?
This is very easy, just click power on, the computer will boot automatic. Wow, sound easy right? Behind the screen, what does the PC boot?
Step 1: The power supply sends a signal to the components in the system unit.
Step 2: The processor finds the ROM chip(s) that contains the BIOS (basic input?output system).
Step 3: The BIOS perform the POST(power-on self test),which checks components,such as the mouse,keyboard,and adapter cards
Step 4: The results of the POST are compared with data in a CMOS chip.
Step 5: The BIOS may look for the system files on a USB flash drive or on an optical disc drive or may look directly on drive C (hard disk).
Step 6: The system files and the kernel of the operating system load into memory (RAM) from storage (i.e.hard disk).
Step 7: The operating system loads configuration information,may request user information,starts several background processes,and displays the desktop on the screen.
A boot drive is the drive from which your computer starts. You can boot from a boot disk. A recovery disk contains a few system files that will start the computer. Beside that, you can choose which boot disk you want to boot on. For example, you want to boot from usb, disk or harddisk, you can choose from the cmd.
A user interface controls how you enter data and instructions and how information is displayed on the screen. With a graphical user interface (GUI), you interact with menus and visual images. With a command-line interface,a user uses the keyboard to enter data and instructions.
How an operating system handles programs directly affects your productivity:
- Single user and multiuser
- Single tasking and multitasking
- Foreground and background
- Preemptive multitasking
- Multiprocessing
Memory management optimizes the use of RAM. Virtual memory is a portion of a storage medium functioning as additional RAM. The operating system determines the order in which tasks are processed:
- A driver is a small program that tells the operating system how to communicate with a specific device.
- Plug and Play automatically configures new devices as you install them.
Operating systems typically provide a means to establish internet connections. A performance monitor is a program that assesses and reports information about various computer resources and devices.
Operating systems often provide users with the capability of;
- Managing files
- Searching for files
- Viewing images
- Securing a computer
- Uninstalling programs
- Cleaning up disks
- Defragmenting disks
- Diagnosing problems
- Backing up files and disks
- Setting up screen savers
Automatic update automatically provides updates to the program. This will always jump out and ask whether want to install or restart your computer to install the updates. In window it will appear, but you also can disable it or let you choose whether want to update anot. Some operating systems are designed to work with a server on a network. A server operating system organizes and coordinates how multiple users access and share resources on a network. For example, window can have multiple account on a PC, but only main administrator can add or remove users, install software.
Each user has a user account:
- A user name, or user ID, identifies a specific user
- A password is a private combination of character associated with the user name
There are two types of operating systems which are stand-alone and DOS. Mostly window is a stand-alone system. A stand-alone operating system is a complete operating system that works on a desktop computer, notebook computer, or mobile computing device.
- Windows 7 is Microsoft's fastest, most efficient operating system to date and is available in multiple editions:
- Windows 7
- Windows 7 Home Premium
- Windows 7 Ultimate
- Windows 7 Professional
- Mac OS X
- The Macintosh operating system has set the standard for operating system ease of use
- Latest version is Mac OS X
- UNIX is a multitasking operating system developed in the early 1970s.
- Linux is an open-source, popular, multitasking UNIX-type operating system
Server Operating Systems
Windows Server 2008 is an upgrade to Windows Server 2003
- Part of the Windows Server 2008 family
- Multiple editions
- Most editions include Hyper-V,a virtualization technology
- Virtualization is the practice of sharing or pooling computing resources
- UNIX
- Linux
- Solaris
- NetWare
Utility Programs is a type of system software that allows a user to perform maintenance-type tasks
A file manager is a utility that performs functions related to file management
- Displaying a list of files
- Organizing files in folders
- Copying,renaming,deleting,moving,and sorting files and folders
- Creating shortcuts
A search utility is a program that attempts to locate a file on your computer based on criteria you specify. An image viewer allows users to display,copy, and print the contents of a graphics file. An uninstaller removes a program, as well as any associated entries in the system files. A disk cleanup utility searches for and removes unnecessary files:
- Download program files
- Temporary internet files
- Deleted files
- Unused program files
- A disk defragment reorganizes the files and unused space on a computer's hard disk so that the operating system accesses data more quickly and programs run faster. Maybe 2 or 3 month defragment the hard disk is good for pc.
- A backup utility allows users to copy files to another storage medium.
- A restore utility reverses the process and returns backed up files to their original form.
- A screen saver causes a display device's screen to show a moving image or blank screen if no activity occurs for a specified time.
- A personal firewall detects and protects a personal computer from unauthorized instrusions.
- A virus describes a potentially damaging computer program that affects a computer negatively.
- A worm copies itself repeatedly in memory or over a network.
- A Trojan horse hides within or looks like a legitimate program.
- An antivirus program protects a computer against viruses.
- Spyware is a program placed on a computer without the user's knowledge that secretly collects information about the user. A spyware remover detects and deletes spyware and other similar programs.
- Adware displays on online advertisement in a banner or pop-up window. An adware remover is a program that detects and deletes adware. Banner or pop-up window is troublesome, because it will make the computer run heavily compare to no banner or pop-up window.
- Filters are programs that remove or block certain items from being displayed:
- Web filtering software
- Anti-spam programs
- Phishing filters
- Pop-up blockers
- A file compression utility shrinks the size of a file(s). Compressing files frees up room on the storage media. Two types of compression:
- Lossy
- Lossless
- Compressed files sometimes are called zipped files can be uncompressed. 7zip is a useful zip file application.
- A media player allows you to view images and animation, listen to audio,and watch video files on your computer.
- Disc burning software writes text,graphics, audio,and video files on a recordable or rewritable optical disc.
- A personal computer maintenance utility identifies and fixes operating system problems,detects and repairs disk problems, and includes the capability of improving a computer's performance.
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