1. Ch. 5 – System Software: The Operating System, Utility Programs, and File Management
Molly Lovette
By: Molly Lovette

2. Operating System Fundamentals
System software contains two primary types of programs:
Operating System- group of programs that controls how your computer functions
Utility Programs- small program that performs many of the general housekeeping tasks for your computer
User interface- desktop, icons, and menus that let you communicate with your computer
Operating system: ex) processor, memory, storage, printer, etc
Utility programs: ex) system maintenance and file compression
-OS controls how your computer system functions
-you interact with your OS through the user interface
Molly Lovette

3. What are the different kinds of operating systems?
Common operating systems:
-Every computer has an OS…even some phones, games consoles, cars, appliances
Molly Lovette

4. Types of Operating Systems
Real-time Operating System (RTOS): requires minimal user interaction
Multi-user Operating System: provides access to a computer system by more than one user at a time
RTOS=“Embedded System”
MUOS=“Network OS”
-smart phones have their own specific operating systems, which allow the user to multitask
-tablets use operating systems that allow interaction with touch screen interfaces
-gaming consoles use operating systems developed specifically for those particular devices
Molly Lovette

5. What the Operating System does
Types of User Interface:
Command-driven interface- you enter commands to communicate with the computer system
Menu-driven interface- you choose commands from menus displayed on the screen
Graphical interface (GUI)- display graphics and use the point and click technology of the mouse and cursor
-OS directs the flow of data and information through the computer system
-command-driven was difficult for most (mainly used by business and professional computer operators); improved by incorporating menu-driven
-menu-driven was easier but still not easy enough for all
-GUIs are most common today/features Windows, menus, and icons/ much more user friendly
Molly Lovette

6. Processor Management
When you use your computer, you’re asking the processor to perform several tasks at once
Interrupt- unique signal that computers generate that tells the OS that it’s in need of immediate attention
Interrupt handler- a special numerical code that prioritizes the requests
Preemptive multi-tasking- the OS processes the task assigned a higher priority before processing a lower one
-EX) printing a document, listening to Spotify, sending an at once…OS assigns slices of time to do each activity and it switches millions of times a second to make it appear that everything is happening at once
-Interrupt EX) printing
-Multi-tasking= when you have multiple requests, they are stored in the RAM (memory) until it can be processed
Molly Lovette

7. Memory and Storage Management
Storage areas:
Random Access Memory (RAM)
Virtual memory
Swap file
-Picture= RAM
-When RAM runs out of storage, it goes to virtual memory
-When more RAM is needed, the OS swaps out data and instructions that haven’t recently been used and moves them to the swap file
Molly Lovette

8. Hardware and Peripheral Device Management
Device driver- facilitates communication between the device and the OS
Types of drivers:
Plug and Play
Other
-devices couldn’t function without the proper device drivers because the OS wouldn’t know how to communicate with them
-PnP= automatic
-Other= insert driver and download it to computer
Molly Lovette

9. The Boot Process
Steps: 1. Activating the Basic Input/Output System (BIOS) 2. Performing the Power-on Self-Test 3. Loading the OS 4. Checking Further Configurations and Customizations
-Many things happen in the time that you turn on your computer and the time it’s ready to be used
Molly Lovette

10. Step 1: Activating BIOS
BIOS- the program that manages the exchange of data between the OS and all input and output devices attached
Loads OS into RAM
Molly Lovette

11. Step 2: Performing the Power-on Self-Test
Power-on Self-Test (POST)- ensure that essential peripheral devices are attached and operational
BIOS – POST – CMOS
-BIOS compares results of POST with the various hardware configurations permanently stored in CMOS (complementary metal-oxide semi-conductor)= which is a special kind of memory that uses almost no power
-if the results compare favorably, the boot process continues
Molly Lovette

12. Step 3: Loading the OS
BIOS searches for the drive that contains the system files
OS loads into RAM
-system files= main files of OS
Molly Lovette

13. Step 4: Checking Further Configurations and Customizations
OS checks the registry for the configuration of other system components
Registry- contains all the different configurations (settings) used by the OS and other applications
-registry= customized settings like mouse speed, which programs are loaded first, etc.
Molly Lovette

14. The Windows Interface
The Start Screen provides your first interaction with the OS and with access to your computer’s apps, tools, and commonly used programs
-touch screen, app bars, charm bars (special shortcuts)
Molly Lovette

15. File Management
Windows organizes the contents of your computer in a hierarchical directory structure composed of drives, libraries, folders, subfolders, and files.
Root Directory (C: Drive)- where you permanently store most of your files
File explorer- helps you manage your files and folders by showing the location and contents of every drive, folder, and file on your computer
Navigation pane- shows contents of computer
Details pane- files and folders of particular area displayed
-provides organization to your computer’s content
-C drive= large filing cabinet where all files are stored
-File explorer= main tool for finding, viewing, and managing the contents of your computer
-TIP= creating folders is the key to being organized
Molly Lovette

16. Naming Files Common File Name Extensions: .docx .xlsx .accdb .pptx
.pdf
.rtf
.txt
.htm or .html
.jpg
.zip
Molly Lovette

17. Saving a File
Create a file name and designate where you want to save it
Documents for files
Music for audio files
Pictures for graphic files
Videos for video files
Determine the location of a file by its file path
Starts with the drive in which the file is located and includes all folders, subfolders, file name, and the extension
C:\Documents\H=CIS\Term Paper\Illustrations\Mlovette.jpg.
-example of what a file path may look like
Molly Lovette

18. Utility Programs Types of Utility Programs:
1. Those included with the OS
2. Stand-alone programs
3. Freeware
-Utility programs= small applications that perform special functions on the computer
System restore
Norton antivirus
Anti-malware software like Ad-Aware from Lavasoft
Molly Lovette

19. The Jobs of Windows Utility Programs
File Explorer File Compression: reduces file size
Disk Clean-up: removes unnecessary files from your hard drive
Error-Checking: checks your hard drive for unnecessary or damaged files
Task Manager and Resource Monitor: displays performance measures for processes; provides information on programs and processes running on your computer
Disk Defragmenter: rearranges files on your hard drive to allow for faster access of files
System Restore: restores your system to a previous, stable state
File History, File Recovery: backs up important files, makes a complete mirror image of your current computer setup
-some of these contain stand-alone alternatives as well
Molly Lovette

20. Operating System Song
Molly Lovette

21. Worksheet Answers Operating System and Utility Programs
Command driven interface- you enter commands to communicate with computer systems; Menu driven interface- choose commands from menus displayed on screen; Graphical interface- display graphics and use point and click technology of the mouse and cursor
Activating BIOS, Performing the Power-on Self Test, Loading the OS, Checking Further Configurations and Customizations
Its file path- starts where the drive is located and includes all folders, subfolders, file name, and extension
To facilitate communication between the device and the OS
Molly Lovette

22. Answers (continued)
6. .docx .xlsx .accdb .pptx .pdf .rtf .txt .htm .html .jpg .zlp 7. File Explorer File Compression: reduces file size Disk Clean-up: removes unnecessary files from your hard drive Error-Checking: checks your hard drive for unnecessary or damaged files Task Manager and Resource Monitor: displays performance measures for processes; provides information on programs and processes running on your computer Disk Defragmenter: rearranges files on your hard drive to allow for faster access of files System Restore: restores your system to a previous, stable state File History, File Recovery: backs up important files, makes a complete mirror image of your current computer setup
Molly Lovette

23. THE END
Molly Lovette