Lesson 5

The Soft Powers

the Hard
What is System
Software?

There are two kinds of computer software:

system software and application software. In this
lesson, we will focus on the first kind: the
system software.
 System Software

System software contains programs that let you

manage, maintain, and control computer
resources. Its most important job is to make sure
that the different components of the computer
system function properly as a single unit.
 The Operating
System

The most important program that runs on your

computer is the operating system (OS). Most
other programs cannot run without it.
Operating
Systems
 Booting

When you turn on your computer, the computer

begins to “boot”. Booting is a term used to
describe the step-by-step process that the
computer goes through to run the basic parts of the
operating system.
 Cold Boot

When you “cold boot”, you are starting the

computer after it has been shut off previously.
 Warm Boot

When you “warm boot”, you are restarting a

computer that you have been using without
shutting it off.
 Basic input/output
system (BIOS)

The first thing you see when you turn on a

personal computer is the basic input/output
system (BIOS) screen.
(BIOS)
 Setup Program

This setup program shows you the setting for the

computer hardware.
 Power-on-self test
(POST)

The POST determines the amount of memory

that can be used. The programs that contain the
instructions that run the POST are located in the
read-only memory (ROM).
Power-on-self test
(POST)
 Kernel

The kernel is the most important part of the

operating system and is also called the supervisor
program.
 Driver

A driver is a utility program that is installed in the

computer so that devices attached to the
computer can function properly.
 Plug-and-play

Checks what devices are attached to the

computer.
 Utility Programs

Utility programs help maintain the computer

system.
 Logging In

When logging in you need to type your username

and your password so the computer will
“recognize” you. Make sure you type your
username and password exactly as they should be.
 System
Administrator

The system administrator creates user accounts

and is also the person in charge of the computer.
 Multitasking

The ability of the operating systems to do more

than one thing at a time is called multitasking.
 Foreground
application

The program that is being used at the moment is

called the foreground application.
 Background
application

The program that is loaded but is not being used

currently is called the background application.
 User Interface

The operating system also handles input and output

devices and provides the means by which a user
can communicate with the computer.
a. Kernel
b. Background
application
c. System software
d. Plug-and-play
e. Booting
f. BIOS
g. Foreground
application
h. User interface
i. System
administrator
j. Multitasking
k. Logging in
l. Driver
m. Utility program
n. POST
o. Setup program