Chapter 4

Operating System
Basics

Fundamentals of Computing and E-Commerce

M. Ehtasham Ul Haq

McGraw-Hill Technology Education Copyright © 2006 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved.
 System Software
• System software starts the computer and
keeps it running, performing basic system
tasks such as running application,
managing files and correcting errors.
• System Software has 3 types
– Operating System
– Utility Programs
– Device Drivers
 OS and its Functions
Elaborate what is OS and its features?

• Operating System starts the computer and

keeps it running and responds to user
commands.
• OS enables us to use computer
• Functions of OS
1. Provides a user interface
2. Run programs
3. Communication with the hardware
4. Manages files
 Utility Software
What do u know about utility software and its different types?
• Performs some useful service for OS, such as
optimizing or correcting file storage system,
backing up files or ensuring security.
– e.g. antivirus, disk checking, registry cleanup etc.
• Malware is harmfully created software
• Virus is malware, attaches itself to executable
file and spread to other files when program runs
• Antivirus finds and removes viruses
• Spyware is malware that spies on user’s data
and send it back to the spyware’s developer
• Adware is malware that pups up unwanted ads
 Utility Software
Continue…
• Firewall blocks hackers from accessing a
computer by closing unnecessary services
• Spam is unwanted emails
• Anti-spam rejects junk email messages
• Disk checking finds and fixes errors in disk
• Registry is main system configuration database
for MS Windows
• Registry Cleanup analyzes windows registry
and deletes unneeded entries
 User Interface
What are two OS interface?
• User interface
– How a user interacts with a computer
– Require different skill sets
• Graphical User Interface (GUI) is a user
interface based on graphical environment
having printing device or touch screen as
primary input device.
– Windows and Mac OS X provides GUI
– These days Linux also have GUI
• Command-line interface (CLI) is a user interface
based on typing text at a command prompt.
– DOS, Linux provides CLI
– These days CLI is used in Windows through “command prompt”
 User Interface
continue…

Graphical
User
Interface

Command
Line
Interface
 Desktop & Notebook OS
Elaborate and Comparing Major OS.
• Microsoft Windows:Graphical OS designed for
Intel-platform desktops and notebook computers
• Linux: An open-source, cross-platform OS that
runs on desktop, notebook, tablet & smartphone
• Thin Client: A computer with minimal hardware,
designed for a specific task. e.g. internet usage
• Chrome OS: A thin client OS created by Google
for small notebook computers
– It has limited application e.g. Chrome browser.
 OS for Servers
continue…
• Server: A computer that is dedicated to
performing network tasks such as managing
files, printers, or email for multiple users
• UNIX: Multi-user command-line OS for servers
• Windows Server: The server-optimized version
of Microsoft Windows
– has different features and utilities, help IT
professionals control server activities
• Linux also has servers versions
OS for Tablets & Smartphones
continue…
• System-on-Chip (SoC): A preinstalled OS on a
chip on portable device such as a smartphone
– has minimum size with less software
• iOS: Apple-created OS for Apple table & phone
• Android: An open-source OS used on a variety
of portable devices, including tables & phones
– Samsung, QMobile etc. use Android OS
• Windows RT OS designed for SoC tablets
• Windows Phone OS designed for smartphones
 What is Device Drivers?
• Device Driver: File that translates instructions
& messages between OS and device
• Device manager: A utility that provides
detailed information about installed devices
• Plug and Play: A standard that enables BIOS
and OS to identify a hardware device and
install a driver automatically if one is available
 What do u know about digital storage components?

Drives, Volumes & File Systems

• Partition creates logical divisions of the
available space on HDD
• Formatting: creates file system on a volume
• File System: A set of rules for storing & managing files
on a volume, such as NTFS or FAT32
• System Volume: The volume on which OS is stored
• NTFS: New Technology File System is proprietary
Microsoft file system used in new versions of Windows
• FAT32: Fat Allocation Table used in Windows 95,
Windows 98 and Windows Millennium Edition.
• HFS+: Hierarchical file system is used in MAC OS X
• ISO 9660/UDF: used in optical media i.e. CD and DVD
 Understanding Digital Storage

How Files are Organized in Folders

• Root Directory: The top level folder
• Path is the complete description of a file’s
location, including the volume and folders
– e.g. C:\Users\HAWK\Downloads\Documents\abc.txt
• Folder Tree: A graphically representation of a
volume’s storage hierarchy with branches for
folders and subfolders
What is File Extensions and File Type?
Explain with exampls.
• File Extension: A code at the end of a filename
that indicates the file’s type

Extension File Type Associated App

txt Text Notepad, WordPad
gif, png, jpg Photo or graphics Paint, Photoshop
doc, docx Word processing doc MS Word
xls, xlsx Spreadsheet MS Excel
ppt, pptx, pptm Presentation MS PowerPoint
exe, com, bat Executable program Runs without program