Chapter 8

Operating Systems and Utility Programs

Operating Systems

• Software platform
• Kernel – responsible for managing memory, files, devices, clock, starting applications, assigning resources.
• Memory-resident
• User Interface
• Command-line interface
• Command language
• GUI
• Menus, icons, user-friendly
• Features
• Single user/single tasking
• Multitasking
• Foreground/background
• Multiuser
• Multiprocessing
• Fault-tolerant computer
• Functions
• Memory Management
• Buffers
• Virtual Memory (VR)
• Swap file
• Paging/thrashing
• Spooling Print Jobs
• Printer spooler/queued
• Configuring Devices
• Device drivers .drv
• Plug and Play
• IRQ (typically 15)
• Monitoring System Performance
• Administering Security
• Logging on with user name/id & password
• Managing storage media and files
• File Manager

Popular Operating Systems

• DOS
• Windows 3.x
• Windows 95
• Windows NT
• Windows 98
• Windows 2000
• Windows Millenium
• Windows CE
• Palm OS
• Mac OS
• OS/2
• Unix
• Linux
• Netware

Starting a Computer

• Cold boot
• Power supply sends electrical signal to motherboard and other devices
• CPU chip resets, then looks for ROM
• BIOS completes POST
• POST results compared to CMOS
• BIOS looks for boot program to load OS
• Boot program loads into memory & executes, then loads OS into RAM
• OS loads sys configuration
• OS loads device drivers in registry
• Remaining OS loads into RAM & startup programs are executed
• Warm boot
• <CTRL>+<ALT>+<DEL>
• reset buttons
• Boot disk

Utility Programs

• File viewer
• File compression utility
• Diagnostic utility
• Disk scanner
• Disk defragmenter
• Uninstaller
• Backup utility
• Antivirus
• Screen saver