The Operating System, Utility Programs, and File Management

System Software: The OS

y y y y Controls computer functions (hardware, processor, memory, peripheral devices)( Provides means for software to work with CPU Responsible for management, scheduling, and interaction of tasks Provides user interface

System Software: Utilities

y Utilities: Programs that perform computer housekeeping tasks o Backup o Security o Diagnostic o Recovery

Operating System Categories

y Traditionally included four categories: o Single-user, single-task  Example: MS-DOS, original cell phones, PDAs, cameras o Single-user, multitask  Example, Apples Mac OS, newer phones, PDAs o Multiuser  Example: Microsoft Windows, Mac OSX o Real-Time (RTOS)  Example: found in measurement instruments

Real-Time Operating Systems

y y Systems with a specific purpose and a certain result Uses include: o Automobiles o Printers o VoIP phones

o Medical devices o Robotic equipment o Sports cameras

Multiuser Operating Systems

y y y y Known as network operating systems Allow access to the computer system by more than one user Manage user requests Systems include: o Linux o UNIX o Windows Vista and Windows 7 o Mac OS X o i5/OS o z/OS Multiuser, multitask operating system Used primarily with mainframes Also found on PCs Vendors can modify the code: o Hewlett-Packards HP/UX o Suns Solaris o IBMs AIX

y y y y

Mainframes and Supercomputers

y Other computers utilizing multiuser operating systems: o Mainframes  Handle requests from hundreds or thousands of users simultaneously o Supercomputers  Used by scientists and engineers o Will generally use Unix

Single-User Operating System

y Single-Task Systems o Perform one task at a time o PDAs  Palm OS

 Windows Mobile o Simple Cell phone  Proprietary OS Multitask Systems o Perform simultaneous tasks o Smartphones o Symbian OS o iPhone OS X o Google Android o Palm Pre webOS o Blackberry

Desktop and Notebook Operating Systems

y An operating system combined with a processor is known as a platform o Microsoft Windows OS/Intel and AMD processors o Apple Macintosh OS/Motorola, IBM, and Intel processors OS not interchangeable between platforms Application software is platform-specific

y y

Microsoft Windows
y y y Multiuser, multitasking OS Windows 7 is the newest version Features o Increased functionality o User-friendliness o Improved Internet capabilities o Enhanced privacy and security

Mac OS
y y First commercially available OS with point-and-click technology (GUI) Excellent in:

y y

o Graphics display o Processing o System reliability Fewer applications available than for Windows More expensive, but

Mac vs. Windows

y y y Similar functionality Streamlined user interface Window-like work areas on the desktop

Linux
y y y y y y Open source operating system Based on UNIX Stable system May be downloaded for free from the Internet Runs on PCs, netbooks, iPods, and gaming systems Allows you to choose desktop appearance

The User Interface

y y Enables you to interact with the computer Types of interfaces o Command-driven interface o Menu-driven interface o Graphical user interface (GUI)

Processor Management
y Controls the timing of events the processor works on o Multitasking

o Interrupts o Interrupt handler o Interrupt table o Stack Job required: Print a document o Printer generates a signal called an Interrupt o This Interrupt is interpreted by an interrupt handler and placed in the interrupt table in RAM o OS pauses the CPU from what it was doing and puts a memo in RAM in what is called a Stack o The CPU then retrieves the printer request from the Interrupt table and begins to processes it o When the print job is finished, the CPU retrieves the memo from the Stack and returns to that activity until it is interrupted again If the printer is already in use, then the OS checks for this at step 1 and puts the request in another storage and in RAM called the buffer. A spooler program will coordinate all the print jobs in the queue.

OS Architecture
y More than 4 FB of RAM o 64-bit system  Windows Vista  Windows 7 o Make sure applications and devices are compatible

Virtual Memory
y y Instructions and data are stored on the hard drive when RAM is full This is called using virtual memory o Swap file o The process of swapping is called Paging o Thrashing is excessive paging

Hardware and Peripheral Device Management

Device drivers o Programs that enable the operating system to communicate with peripheral devices o Provided by the manufacturer of the device Plug and play o Hardware and software standard o Facilitates the installation of new hardware A new driver makes your computer unstable: Use rollback

Software Application Coordination

y Application programming interfaces (APIs) o Blocks of code contained in the operating system o Coordinate the operating system with software applications  Means that apps tend to have similar toolbars and menus o Microsoft DirectX o Web APIs (Facebook, Google maps, embedded)

Starting the Computer

y The boot process o BIOS is activated o A POST checks attached hardware  Compares against CMOS o The OS loads into RAM, then the Kernel (or supervisor program) o Configuration and customization settings in registry are checked

Handling Errors in the Boot Process

y Safe o o o mode Windows does not boot properly Try rebooting Uninstall any new devices or software

Viewing Windows (on Windows)

y y y y Side-by-side Stacked Cascading Flip 3D

File Management
y y The operating system provides an organizational structure for the computers contents Hierarchical structure of directories: o Drives  Folders Subfolders y Files Windows 7: libraries

File Path
y File path: Location of the file

Viewing and Sorting Files and Folders

y Many o o o o views available Large icon view Extra large icon view Tiles view List view

Naming Files
y y File name: Name assigned plus file name extension Up to 255 characters

y y y

Characters not legal in Windows file names: \ / * ? < > | : Characters not legal in Mac file names: : Mac file names are case sensitive

Working with Files

y File management actions o Open o Copy o Move (Cut) o Rename o Delete Recycle bin (Windows)

Trash (Mac)

Utility Programs (Control Panel)

y Small programs that perform special functions o Manage system resources o Create a pleasant environment o Improve efficiency Control panel o Change the appearance of:  Desktop  Background  Screen savers  Window colours

Add or Remove Programs

y y y y Installation wizard Uninstall wizard Programs cannot simply be deleted Set Access and Defaults

Folder Options
y Options for selecting default programs to open certain file types o (HTML/image files most common)

Power Options
y y Standby/hibernate UPS

Regional Settings
y Used to change date formatting o (Canada/US/International)

Security Center
y y y Firewall Internet Updates

Anti Virus

Taskbar and Start Menu

y y Options for viewing task bar depending on user preferences Start Menu classic or custom

User Accounts
y Create Users for shared computer o Family o Co-workers o Guests

System Maintenance
y y Disk Cleanup: removes unnecessary files Choose the file to be deleted o Downloaded program files o Temporary internet files o Offline web pages o Recycle bin Task Manager: checks on nonresponsive programs Error Checker (ScanDisk): checks for lost files and fragments Disk Defragmenter: regroups related pieces of files o Data is written on the hard drive on clusters, within sectors, within tracks o Over time, storage becomes more fragmented leading to slower access times o Defragmentation restores the disk to the optimum

y y y

System Restore
y y y Restores system settings to a specific date Backup: creates a copy of the hard drive to another storage device Task Scheduler: runs selected utilities automatically

File Compression Utilities

y y y y y y Reduce the size of a file Take out redundancies Make it easier and faster to send files over the Internet, upload, and save Generally, repeated patterns are replaced with a shorter placeholder Not all files compress using compression software File types that are already compressed will be affected less than other file types

Accessibility Utilities
y Ease of Access Center o Centralized location for assistive technology  High contrast

  

Magnifier On-screen keyboard Windows speech recognition