Chapter 8

Operating Systems
and Utility
Programs
 System Software

What is software?
 The series of computer-language coded
instructions that tells the computer how to
perform tasks
 Two types of
software
application
software
system
software

Next

p.8.2
 System Software

What is system software?

 Programs that
control the
operations of the
computer and its
devices
 Interface between
user, application
software, and
hardware
 Two types are
operating systems
and utility
programs

Next

p.8.2
 Operating Systems

What is an operating system (OS)?

 Set of programs
containing
instructions that
coordinate all the
activities among
computer hardware
resources
 Required for a Operating
computer to work System

Click to
view
animation
Next

p.8.3
 Operating Systems

What are the functions of an operating system?

provide user manage
schedule jobs
interface programs
manage and configure
memory devices

Operating
start up the
computer System
monitor
administer performance and
security provide
Next housekeeping
control
access the a
p.8.3 Fig. 8-1 services
network
Web
 Operating System
Functions
 Memory  Administer
Management Security
 Startup Computer  Control Network
 Program  Monitor
Management Performance
 Schedule Jobs  Provide User
 Configure Devices Interface
 Access the Web
 Operating Systems

Where is the operating system located?

 Resides on computer’s
hard disk in most cases
 May reside on a ROM
chip on handheld
computers
different sizes of
computers typically
use different
operating systems

same types of
computers may have
different operating
systems

various operating systems

often are not compatible
Next with each other
p.8.3
 Operating System
Functions
What is booting?
 The process of starting or restarting a computer

cold boot
Process of turning on a
computer after it has been
warm boot
powered off completely
Process of restarting a
computer that is already
powered on
Also called a warm start

Next

p.8. 4
 Operating System
Functions
What is the kernel? memory resident
 The core of an operating system • Remains in memory
• Manages memory and devices while the computer is
• Maintains the computers clocks running
• Starts applications
• Assigns the computers resources, such as • The kernel is
devices, programs, data, and information memory resident
 Each time you boot a computer, the kernel
and other frequently used operating
system instructions are loaded
• Loading a file means the file is copied from the nonresident
hard disk to the computer's memory
• Instructions remain on
the hard disk until
they are needed
• Other parts of the
operating system are
Next
nonresident
p.8. 4
 Operating System
How does a personal
computer boot up?
Functions

Step 1

Step 2:
1: The power
supply sends
processor looks
a processor
Step 2
signal
for the to
BIOS
components BIOSin the
system
basicunit
input/output

BIOS
system
Firmware that contains
the computer's startup
instructions

Next

p.8. 5 Fig. 8-4

 Operating System
Functions
Step 3: The BIOS
performs the POST,
which checks
components such CD-ROM drive

as the mouse,
keyboard
connectors, and processor
expansion cards
Step 3
POST

BIOS
power-on self test

expansion cards

Next

p.8. 5 Fig. 8-4

 Operating System
Functions
Step 4: The results
of the POST are
compared with data
in the CMOS chip CD-ROM drive

CMOS
Step 4
processor
CMOS chip
Stores configuration
information about the
computer

BIOS
Also detects new
devices connected to
the computer expansion cards

Next

p.8. 5 Fig. 8-4

 Operating System
Functions
Step 5: The BIOS
looks for the system floppy disk drive
files in drive A
(floppy disk drive) CD-ROM drive

and then drive C CMOS

(hard disk)
processor

hard disk
system files
Specific operating Step 5

BIOS
system files loaded
during start up
expansion cards

Next

p.8. 5 Fig. 8-4

 Operating System
Functions
Step 6: The boot
program loads the
floppy disk drive
kernel of the
operating system CD-ROM drive
into RAM from
CMOS
storage (hard disk)
The operating processor

system in memory hard disk

(RAM)
takes control of the memory
computer modules

BIOS
Step 6

expansion cards

Next

p.8. 5 Fig. 8-4

 Operating System
Functions
Step 7: The operating system
loads configuration information
and displays the desktop on the
screen
The operating system executes
programs in the StartUp folder
registry
Several files that contain
the system configuration
information
Registry is constantly Step 7
StartUp folder
accessed during the
computer's operation Contains a list of programs
that open automatically
when you boot the
Next
computer
p.8. 5 Fig. 8-4
 Operating System
Functions
What is a user interface?
 Controls how you enter data and instructions and how information displays on the screen

Click to
view animation
Next commands
commands
p.8.7 Fig. 8-6 enteredby
entered by
user
user
 Operating System
Functions
What is multitasking?
 Allows a single user to work on two or more applications that
reside in memory at the same time

foreground
foreground
application
application

Background
Background
applications
applications
listedon
listed onthe
the
toolbar
toolbar
Next

p.8.9 Fig. 8-8

 Operating System
Functions
What are other program management features of
operating systems?

multiuser multiprocessing
Operating system enables two Operating system can support
or more users to run a two or more processors running
program simultaneously programs at the same time

fault-tolerant computer
Continues to operate even if one or
Click to
view its components fails
animation

Next
Computer has duplicate components
p.8.9
such as processors, memory, and
disk drives
 Operating System
Functions
What is virtual memory (VM) management?
 The operating
system allocates a page swapped out

portion of a
storage medium,
usually the hard disk
disk, to function (virtual
memory)
as additional RAM
1: Operating
Step 2:
system transfers
RAM
least and
data recently used
program (physical
data and program
instructions from memory)
instructions
disk to memoryto disk
Next because
when memory
they are is
needed for other
p.8.10 Fig. 8-9
page swapped in
functions
 Operating System
Functions
What is a device driver?
 Program that tells the operating system how to
communicate with a device
 Also called a driver
 Each device requires its own driver

device driver

Click to view Web Link

then click Device
Drivers
Next

p.8.11
 Operating System
Functions
What is Plug and Play?
 The computer recognizes a new device, loads the
necessary drivers automatically, and checks for
conflicts with other devices
 Supported by most
devices and operating
systems today

Click to view Web Link

then click Plug and
Play
Next

p.8. 13
 Operating System
Functions
What is formatting?
 The process of
preparing a disk for
reading and writing
 Most floppy and hard
disk manufacturers
pre-format their disks
 Various operating
systems format disks
differently

Next

p.8. 15
 Operating System
Functions
What is a network operating system?
 An operating system that supports a network
 Also called a network OS or NOS
 A network is a
collection of
client client client
computers and
devices
connected
together via
communications
media and
devices
Next

p.8.15 Fig. 8-16 laser

printer server controls access
 Stand-Alone Operating
Systems
What is DOS (Disk Operating System)?
 Refers to several single user operating systems
developed in the early 1980s for personal computers
 Two more widely used versions were PC-DOS and MS-
DOS, both developed by Microsoft
 Used a
command line
interface and
added a menu-
driven interface
in later versions

Next commands
commands
p.8.17 enteredby
entered by
user
user
 Stand-Alone Operating
Systems
What is Windows?
 Developed by Windows to meet the need
for an operating system that had a GUI

Windows 3.x
Windows 95 Windows NT
Refers to three early Workstation
versions of Microsoft A true multitasking
operating system A client operating
Window that were
with downward system that could
operating environments
compatibility for connect to a
with DOS
DOS and Windows Windows NT server
A GUI that works in 3.x Used a Windows 95
Click to combination with an
view interface
Web Link
operating system to
then simplify its use
click
Next
Windows
p.8.18
 Stand-Alone Operating
Systems
What is Windows Millennium Edition
(ME)?

 An operating
system that has
features
specifically for
the home users
 Also called
Windows Me
 Includes
multimedia
Next
features
p.8.20 Fig. 8-21
 Network Operating
Systems
What is UNIX?
 A multitasking operating system developed in
the early 1970s by scientists at Bell Laboratories

 Command-line
interface

Click to view Web Link

then click UNIX
Next

p.8.23 Fig. 8-24

 Embedded Operating
Systems
What is an embedded operating system?

 The operating Pocket

system on most PC OS
handheld
computers and
small devices
 Resides on a
ROM chip

Palm OS®

Next

p.8. 25

Windows CE
 Embedded Operating
Systems
What is an Auto PC?
 A device mounted onto a vehicle’s dashboard that is powered by
Windows CE
 Directed through voice commands
 Provides information to the driver such as driving directions, traffic
conditions, weather,and stock quotes, access and listen to e-mail
 Acts as a radio or an audio CD
 Shares
information
with a
handheld or
notebook
computer

Next

p.8. 25 Fig. 8-26

 Utility Programs

What is a utility program?

utility suites
 A type of system
Combine several utility
software that programs into a single
performs a specific package
task
 Usually related to Web-based utility service

managing a Pay an annual fee that

allows you to access and
computer, its use a vendor’s utility
devices or its programs on the Web
programs
McAfee and Norton offer
utility suites and Web-
Next
based utility services
p.8.27
 Utility Programs

 Some Common Utility Programs:

• File viewer
• File compression
• Diagnostic utility
• Uninstaller
• Disk Scanner
• Disk Defragmenter
• Backup Utility
• Screen Saver