Operating Systems & Utility ProgramsChapter 8

By Amr Aborig.

What is System Software? System software consists of the

programs that control or maintain the operations of the computer and its devices.

Two types of system software . Operating systems Utility programs. An operating system (OS) is a set of

programs containing instructions that work together to coordinate all the activities among computer hardware resources .

Operating systems Operating systems are divided in to

three basic categories : 1.Stand-alone OS: is a complete operating system

that works on a desktop computer ,notebook computer, or mobile computing device.

Names of Stand-alone operating systems: DOS /Early Windows Versions (Windows 3.x,Windows 95, Windows NT Workstation, Windows 98, Windows 2000 professional, Windows Millennium Edition, Windows XP)/Windows Vista/ Mac OS X/UNIX/Linux.

2.Server OS: is an operating system that is designed

specifically to support a network. Names of Server operating systems:

Early Windows server versions(Windows NT Server, Windows 2000 server, Windows Server 2003)//Windows Server 2008 /UNIX /Linux /Solaris/ Netware.

-Embedded OS :The operating system on mobile devices and many consumer electronics.

-Names of embedded OS :Windows Embedded CE/Windows Mobile/ Palm OS / i Phones OS /BlackBerry/ Embedded Linux /Symbian OS.

~The Boot Process~-Is the process of starting or restarting a computer is called

booting.-When turning on a computer that has been powered off

completely, you are performing a cold boot. A warm boot is the process of using the operating system to restart a computer.

-Steps of the boot process:-

1-The power supply sends a signal to the components in the system unit.

2-The processor finds the ROM chips(s) that contains the BIOS (basic input/output system.

3-The BIOS performs the POST (power on self test) ,which checks components ,such as the mouse , keyboard &adapter cards.

4-The results of the POST are compared with data in a CMOS (Complementary metal-oxide semiconductor) chip.

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).

6-The system files and the kernel of the operating system load into memory (RAM) from storage (i.e., hard disk).

7-The operating system loads configuration information , may request user information , starts several background processes , and displays the desktop on the screen

Functions of operating systems

-Starting and shutting down a computer (cold or warm boot).

-Providing a user interface.-Managing computers & Memory.-coordinating Tasks.-Configuring Devices.-Establishing an Internet connection.-Monitoring Performance.-Providing file management & other

utilities.-And automatically updating itself

&certain utility programs.- -Control a network & administer

security.

What is a utility program?- A utility program , also called a utility, is a type of

software that allows a user to perform maintenance- type tasks ,usually related to managing a computer , its devices or its programs.

- Functions of utility programs- Managing/searching for files.- Viewing images- Uninstalling programs- Cleaning up/Defragmenting disks- Backing up files & disks- Setting up screen savers- Securing a computer from unauthorized eccess- Protecting against viruses/removing spyware &

adware- Filtering Internet content- Compressing files- Playing media Files/Burning optical discs.- & Maintaining a personal computer.

Q?

1-What is system software? Name the types of system software.

2-What does POST ,BIOS & CMOS stand for and name their functions?