Topic 5

SYSTEM
SOFTWARE
SYSTEM SOFTWARE, OS, UTILITY,
FILE MANAGEMENT

CSC098 : Foundation Computing I

 Learning Outcomes
Upon completion of this chapter, students should be able to:

 To distinguish between application and system software

 To describe various types of Operating Systems
 To explain functions of the Operating Systems
 To describe start-up process
 To discuss on organizing files in a computer
 To discuss on functions of utility programs
 SYSTEM SOFTWARE:
OPERATING SYSTEM FUNDAMENTALS

Application  is used to do everyday

Software  tasks at home and work

 is set of programs that helps run

System the computer:
Software  Operating system
 Utility programs
 SYSTEM SOFTWARE:
OPERATING SYSTEM FUNDAMENTALS
 SYSTEM SOFTWARE:
OPERATING SYSTEM FUNDAMENTALS

• Modern operating systems allow multitasking

• Windows and macOS provide networking capabilities
• Operating systems can be categorized by type
• Personal Use
• Machine, Networks and Business
 SYSTEM SOFTWARE:
OPERATING SYSTEM FUNDAMENTALS

Top three –
OS for mobile
Microsft
device –
Windows,
smartphone &
Apple macOS
table
and Linux

OS for cloud-
based –
OS for web-
OneDrive
based – Google
(Windows),
Chrome OS
Apple’s iCloud
(apple)
 SYSTEM SOFTWARE:
OPERATING SYSTEM FUNDAMENTALS

• Open source OS
• Personal computer and web servers
• Stable OS
• Quickly modified or updated
Lin • Download in various package such
as distributions(distros) –

ux distrowatch.com
 SYSTEM SOFTWARE:
OPERATING SYSTEM FUNDAMENTALS

• Multiuser, multitask operating system

• Network operating system used primarily
with mainframes
• A brand that belongs to The Open Group

UN • Any vendor who meets requirements can

use the UNIX name and can modify the
code to run specifically on their hardware
IX
 SYSTEM SOFTWARE:
OPERATING SYSTEM FUNDAMENTALS

• Operating Systems for Machinery, Networks, and

Business:
• Real-Time OS (RTOS)
• Machine that performs repetitive series of
specific tasks in precise time
• Multiuser Operating System
• Known as network OS
• Allows multiple users access
to the computer at the same time
• Unix
 SYSTEM SOFTWARE:
OPERATING SYSTEM FUNCTIONS

Operating System
(OS):

Coordinates and directs

the flow of data and
information through the
computer system
 SYSTEM SOFTWARE:
OPERATING SYSTEM FUNCTIONS

Coordinates and directs the flow of data

and information
1.Provides a user interface
2.Manages the processor, or CPU
3.Manages memory and storage
4.Manages hardware and peripheral devices
5.Provides means for software applications to work
with the CPU
 SYSTEM SOFTWARE:
OPERATING SYSTEM FUNCTIONS

1. Provides a user interface

• Enables user to interact
with the computer
• Types of interfaces
• Command-driven
interface
• Menu-driven interface
• Graphical user interface
(GUI)
 SYSTEM SOFTWARE:
OPERATING SYSTEM FUNCTIONS

1. Provides a user interface

• Graphical user interface (GUI)
• Windows and Mac OS
• Linux
• GNOME
• KDE

This Photo by Unknown Author is licensed under CC BY-SA

 SYSTEM SOFTWARE:
OPERATING SYSTEM FUNCTIONS

2. Manages the processor, or CPU

• CPU usually is asked to perform several tasks at once
• OS arranges for execution of all activities
• Assigns a slice of time to each activity
• Switches among processes millions of times a second
• Appears that everything is happening seamlessly
(perfectly)
 SYSTEM SOFTWARE:
OPERATING SYSTEM FUNCTIONS

2. Manages the processor, or CPU

• Event: Created by keystrokes, mouse clicks, and
printer and drive signals; requires OS to respond
• Sequentially or concurrently
• OS switches back and forth
 SYSTEM SOFTWARE:
OPERATING SYSTEM FUNCTIONS

2. Manages the processor, or CPU

• Interrupt: unique signal generated by
the device
• Interrupt handler: prioritizes the
requests
• Preemptive multitasking: the OS
processes tasks assigned a higher
priority before processing a task
assigned a lower priority
 SYSTEM SOFTWARE:
OPERATING SYSTEM FUNCTIONS

3. Manages memory and storage

• When OS receives interrupt, it suspends current activity and
creates memo in the stack
• OS coordinates activities for peripheral devices
• OS puts request in buffer
• Requests wait in buffer for the spooler – a program that helps
coordinate all print jobs
 SYSTEM SOFTWARE:
OPERATING SYSTEM FUNCTIONS

3. Manages memory and storage

• OS uses RAM as a temporary storage area for
instructions and data
• Processor accesses these instructions and data from
RAM when it needs them
• OS is responsible for coordinating space allocation in
RAM
• Clears item from RAM when processor no longer
needs them
 SYSTEM SOFTWARE:
OPERATING SYSTEM FUNCTIONS

3. Manages memory and storage

• RAM has limited capacity
• When RAM is full, instructions and data are stored on the hard drive
• Borrowing hard drive space is called virtual memory
• Swap file (temp storage area on the h/disk)
• Paging (the process of swapping)
• Thrashing (force to page more)
• Increase RAM to avoid using virtual memory
 SYSTEM SOFTWARE:
OPERATING SYSTEM FUNCTIONS

4. Manages hardware and peripheral devices

• Device drivers
• Facilitate communication between device and the operating
system
• Translates device’s commands into commands the operating
system can understand
• Plug and Play (PnP)
• Hardware and software standard
• Facilitates the installation of new hardware
 SYSTEM SOFTWARE:
OPERATING SYSTEM FUNCTIONS

5. Provide a consistent interaction between

applications and the CPU
• For programs to work, they must contain code
the CPU recognizes
• Application programming interface (API)
 SYSTEM SOFTWARE:
THE BOOT PROCESS

• The boot process

loads the
operating system
into RAM
 SYSTEM SOFTWARE:
THE BOOT PROCESS

• The boot process loads the operating system

into RAM
• Four basic steps:
1. BIOS is activated
2. A POST checks attached devices
3. The operating system is loaded into RAM
4. Configuration and customization settings are
checked
 SYSTEM SOFTWARE:
THE BOOT PROCESS
Step 1: Activating BIOS
• CPU activates the basic input/output system (BIOS)
• BIOS
• Loads OS into RAM
• Stored on ROM
Step 2: Performing the Power-On Self-Test
• Power-on self-test (POST)
• BIOS compare results of the POST with various hardware
configurations permanently stored in CMOS
• CMOS—contain information about system’s memory, types of disk
and other essential input and output hardware component.
 SYSTEM SOFTWARE:
THE BOOT PROCESS

Step 3: Loading the OS

• System files
• Loads OS into RAM
• Kernel is loaded
• Kernel: essential component of the OS
• Responsible for managing the processor and all components
Step 4: Checking Configurations and
Customizations
• Checks registry for configuration of other system components
• Authentication
• Default setting: Microsoft account
 SYSTEM SOFTWARE:
HANDLING ERRORS IN THE BOOT PROCESS

1. Simply powering the computer off and powering it back on again

2. Uninstall recently installed software
• Use uninstall program or Control Panel
3. Last Known Good Configuration
• Windows Advanced Options Menu ( by pressing the F8 key
during the boot process).
• Windows detects a problem in the boot process, it will add Last
Known Good Configuration to the Windows Advanced Options
menu.
4. Try resetting your computer (in Update & Security Settings)
 SYSTEM SOFTWARE:
HANDLING ERRORS IN THE BOOT PROCESS

• Reset this PC :
• New utility program in Windows 10
• Attempts to diagnose and fix errors
• Back up PC prior to resetting
CHECK YOUR UNDERSTANDING

Which is NOT an example The OS can optimize RAM

of a mobile operating storage by using
system?
a) Thrashing
a) iOS b) Virtual memory
b) macOS c) An interrupt handler
c) Android d) A spooler
d) Windows 10
CHECK YOUR UNDERSTANDING

Which of the following is NOT You are most likely to find

a step involved in the boot an RTOS
process?
a) In a robotic camera
a) Activating BIOS
b) On a supercomputer
b) Checking further
configuration c) On a mainframe
c) Accessing the Windows d) On an iPad
Advanced Options Menu
d) Loading the OS
 SYSTEM SOFTWARE:
FILE MANAGEMENT

Additional function of the operating system

Organizational structure

Hierarchical directory structure

• Folders
• Libraries
• Drives
• Subfolders
• Files

Root directory
 SYSTEM SOFTWARE:
FILE MANAGEMENT

• A file is a collection of related pieces of information

stored together
• A folder is a collection of files
• A library gathers files from different locations
and displays them as if they were all saved in
a single folder
• File Explorer
• Creating folders
• Key to organizing files
 SYSTEM SOFTWARE:
FILE MANAGEMENT

• View tab
• Details view
• Large Icons view
 SYSTEM SOFTWARE:
FILE MANAGEMENT

Naming Files
• File name is the name you assign to the file when you
save it
• First part is similar to your first name

• In Windows, an extension, or file type, follows the file

name and a period or dot (.)
• Similar to a last name, extension identifies the application needed
to read the file
• Mac and Linux don’t require file extensions
 SYSTEM SOFTWARE:
FILE MANAGEMENT

• Naming
conventions
• Up to 255
characters
• All files must be
uniquely
identified
 SYSTEM SOFTWARE:
FILE MANAGEMENT

• File Save Location

• Determine location of a file by its file path
• File path
 SYSTEM SOFTWARE:
FILE MANAGEMENT

• File- • Recovering deleted

management files
actions • File History utility
• Open • OneDrive and other
• Copy cloud-based storage
• Move • File retrieval programs
• Rename • FarStone’s RestoreIT
• Delete • Norton Ghost
 SYSTEM SOFTWARE:
FILE MANAGEMENT
File Compression
• Make a large file more
compact
• Easier and faster to
send files
• Built-in file compression
• Removes redundancies
• Repeated patterns
 SYSTEM SOFTWARE:
UTILITY PROGRAM
• Ease of Access Center
 SYSTEM SOFTWARE:
UTILITY PROGRAM

• Disk Cleanup removes

unnecessary files
• Recycle Bin
• Temporary Internet files
• Offline Web pages

• If not deleted, these

files can hinder
efficient performance
 SYSTEM SOFTWARE:
UTILITY PROGRAM
• Utility Programs come in three flavors:
• Those included with the OS (such as System Restore)
• Those sold as stand-alone programs (such as Norton Virus)
• Those offered as freeware (such as anti-malware software like Ad-
Aware from Lavasoft)
 SYSTEM SOFTWARE:
UTILITY PROGRAM
• Task Manager utility – to check on the program or to exit
the nonresponsive program
• Disk defragmentation – rearranges fragmented data so that
related files pieces are unified.
 SYSTEM SOFTWARE:
UTILITY PROGRAM
• File History utility – Windows automatically create a
duplicate of your libraries, desktop, contacts, and favorites
and copy it to another storage device, such as an external
hard drive.
• System restore utility - roll system settings back to a
specific date when everything was working properly.
CHECK YOUR UNDERSTANDING

Disk Cleanup, Task Manager, Which of the following

and File Recovery are image formats does not need
considered to be compression to reduce the
a) Root directories file size?
b) File management systems a) TIFF
c) Windows utility b) JPEG
programs
c) TGA
d) Accessibility Utilities
d) BMP
CHECK YOUR UNDERSTANDING

Which utility is used to exit from a nonresponsive program?

a) Task manager
b) Disk cleanup
c) System refresh
d) File explorer
CHECK YOUR UNDERSTANDING

True/ False
1. Different version of Linux are known as distros (T/F)
2. Modern desktop operating systems are considered single-user
multitasking operating system (T/F)
3. OneDrive is Microsoft’s cloud-based storage system (T/F)
4. System restore points can only be created by Windows
automatically on a regular schedule (T/F)
5. Files deleted from a flash drive are sent to the Recycle Bin and
could be recovered, if necessary (T/F)
REFERENCE

1. Evans,A., Martin, K. and Poatsy, M.A.Technology In

Action, 16th edition, Pearson Prentice Hall, 2021.
i. 1. Application Software
(pg 161-178)
2. Communicating and Collaborating on the Web
(pg 127-140)