Understanding Operating Systems and Utility Programs: A Deep Dive into System Software - P, Study notes of Microcomputers

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Discovering Computers 2008

Fundamentals Fourth Edition

Chapter 7

Operating

Systems and

Utility Programs

System Software

What is system software?

p. 250 - 252^ Next

Operating system (OS) (sometimes called the platform) coordinates all activities among computer hardware resources

Programs that control or maintain operation of computer

Two types are operating systems and utility programs

Operating Systems

What is a cross-platform application?

p. 252^ Next

Operating System/ Platform A

Operating System/ Platform B

Operating System/ Platform C

Operating System/ Platform D

Application

 Runs identically on multiple operating systems  Operating system that computer uses is sometimes called the platform

Operating System Functions

What is booting?

p. 252 Fig. 7-2^ Next

 Cold boot Turning on computer that has been powered off  Warm boot Restarting computer that is powered on

 Process of starting or restarting a computer

Operating System Functions

What is a graphical user

interface (GUI)?

p. 253 Fig. 7-3b^ Next

 User interacts with menus and visual images such as buttons and other graphical objects to issue commands

 Foreground contains program you are using  Background contains programs that are running but are not in use

Operating System Functions

What is single user/

multitasking?

p. 253 - 254 Fig. 7-4^ Next

 Working on two or more programs that reside in memory at same time

Operating System Functions

What is memory management?

p. 255^ Next

 Optimizing use of random access memory (RAM)  With virtual memory (VM), portion of hard disk is allocated to function as RAM

Operating System Functions

What is a driver?

p. 256^ Next

Driver

Program that tells operating system how to communicate with device

With Plug and Play, operating system automatically configures new devices as you install them

Operating System Utility Programs

What is a disk defragmenter?

p. 261 Fig. 7-12^ Next

fragmented disk

disk after defragmentationprocess

 Reorganizes files and unused space on hard disk so programs run faster

Operating System Utility Programs

What is a screen saver?

p. 261 Fig. 7-13^ Next

 Causes monitor’s screen to display moving image or blank screen if there is no activity for a specified time

 Successor to Windows XP, containing a new interface and new / enhanced features

Stand-Alone Operating Systems

What is Windows Vista?

p. 263 Fig. 7-

 Available in several editions, grouped into Home and Business categories

Stand-Alone Operating Systems

What is Mac OS X?

p. 264 Fig. 7-17^ Next

 Available only for computers manufactured by Apple  Macintosh operating system has been model for most GUIs

Stand-Alone Operating Systems

What is Linux?

p. 265 Fig. 7-19^ Next

Red Hat provides a version of Linux called Red HatEnterpriseLinux.

 Popular, free, multitasking UNIX-type operating system  Open-source softwaree — code is available to public  Both a stand-alone and a network operating system

Embedded Operating Systems

What is an embedded operating system?

p. 266 - 267 Fig. 7-20^ Next

 Found on most mobile computers, PDAs, and other small devices  Windows CE is scaled-down version of Windows  Windows Mobile for Pocket PC  Palm OS for Palm  Embedded Linux  Symbian OS