CHAPTER 2 : Part 2

INTRODUCTION TO HARDWARE & SOFTWARE

 Module Objectives
• At the end of the module, students should be able to:
– identify the two major components of operating system
software
– understand why a computer isn’t useful without an operating
system
– describe the five basic functions of an operating system
– describe what happens when the computer is turn on
– state three major types of user interfaces
– describe the concept of software versions and systems
requirements
– identify the differences between types of software
 Operating System Software
• System software includes
all of the programs needed
to keep a computer and its
peripheral devices running
smoothly
• Two major components of
system software are:
– Operating systems (OS)
– System utilities
 The Operating System (OS):
The Computer’s Traffic Cop
• The operating system is a set of programs that
perform certain basic functions with a specific
type of hardware
• Among the functions of the OS are:
– Starting the computer
– Managing programs
– Managing memory
– Handling messages from input and output devices
– Enabling user interaction with the computer
 OS  Starting the Computer
• Booting – The process of loading or
reloading the operating system into the
computer’s memory
• The booting processes are:
– Cold boot – Loads the OS when the power is
turned on
– Warm boot – Reloads the OS when the
computer is already on
 Starting the Computer
The step-by-step booting process (click for each step):
Power-on
Self-test is
completed

BIOS is
loaded Operating
System is
loaded

System
Users are
configuration
authenticated
is accomplished
System
Utilities are
loaded
 Step 1: The BIOS and Setup Program

• BIOS (Basic Input/Output System) – The part of the

system software that includes the instructions that the
computer uses to accept input and output
› ROM loads BIOS into the computer’s memory

• Setup program – A special program containing settings

that control the computer’s hardware
› The program can be accessed while the BIOS information is visible

**ROM (Read Only Memory) – Permanent and unchanging memory

**Load – To transfer from a storage device to memory
 Step 2: The Power-On-Self-Test (POST)

• POST (Power-On-Self-Test) – A series of tests

conducted on the computer’s main memory (RAM),
input/output devices, disk drives, and the hard disk
• BIOS conducts a POST to check the input/output
system for operability
• The computer will produce a beeping sound and an
error message will appear on the monitor if any
problems are encountered
 Step 3:
The Operating System (OS) Loads
• BIOS searches for the OS
• Settings in the CMOS (Complementary Metal-
Oxide Semiconductor) determine where to look
for the OS
• The operating system’s kernel is loaded into the
computer’s memory
• The OS takes control of the computer and begins
loading system configuration information
 Step 4: System Configuration

• The system is configured from the operating

system’s registry
• Drivers are loaded into memory

**Registry – A database that stores information about peripherals and software

**Peripheral – Device connected to a computer
**Drivers – A utility program that makes peripheral devices function properly
 Step 5: System Utilities Loads

• System utilities are loaded into memory

– Volume control
– Antivirus software
– PC card unplugging utility
 Step 6: Users Authentication

• Authentication or user login occurs

– User name
– Password
• The user interface starts, enabling user
interaction with computer programs
 OS  Managing Applications
• Single-tasking operating systems run one application
program at a time
• Multitasking operating systems have the ability to
run more than one application program at a time
• Multitasking is accomplished by:
– A foreground application – The active program or program
in use
– One or more background applications – Inactive
program(s) or program(s) not in use
Example of Multitasking
Background
application

Foreground
application
 OS  Managing Memory
• Computers use memory to make processing more
fluid
• The operating system allocates memory areas for
each running program; it keeps programs from
interfering with each other
• The operating system uses virtual memory as an
extension of random access memory (RAM)
Managing Virtual Memory
most recently
hard disk transferred data or memory
page program instructions
swapped
in

Virtual memory
management

swap
file page
swapped least recently
out used data or
program instructions
 OS  Handling Input and Output
• Input and output devices generate interrupts, or signals,
that tell the operating system that something has happened

• The OS provides interrupt handlers or mini-programs that

begin when an interrupt occurs

• Interrupt request (IRQ) lines handle the communications

between input/output devices and the CPU

• An IRQ conflict causes system instability when two devices

try to use the same IRQ line
 OS  Providing the User Interface

• The user interface is that part of the

operating system with which the user
interacts with a computer
• User interface functions:
– Start application programs
– Manage disks and files
– Shut down the computer safely
 Command-Line Interface
• Command-line:
– The user is required to type keywords or
commands in order to enter data or give
instructions
 Menu-driven User Interface
• Menu-driven:
– Text-based menus are used to show all of the
options available to the user
 Graphical User Interface (GUI)
• Graphical user interface
(GUI):
– Uses graphics to create
a desktop environment
– Icons (small pictures)
represent computer
resources
– Programs run within
on-screen windows
 System Utilities:
Tools for Housekeeping
• System utilities are programs that help the operating
system manage the computer system’s resources
• Types of utilities:
– Backup software
– Antivirus software
– Disk scanning
– Disk de-fragmentation
– File management
– File-searching software
– File compression
 Application Software

• Application software refers to programs

that enable the user to be productive when
using the computer
 General-Purpose Applications
• General Purpose applications are applications used by many
people to accomplish frequently performed tasks
Personal Productivity Internet

Word Processing Web Browsers

Spreadsheets E-Mail
Address Books
Home/Education
Multimedia/Graphics
Personal Finance
Desktop Publishing Tax Preparation
Photo Editing Reference
3D Rendering Games
 System Requirements
Sample Minimum System Requirements
• Operating System with:
– PC running Windows 2000 Professional version, Windows XP
Professional version, or Windows Server 2003.
– PC running one of the following Linux distributions: Red Hat Enterprise
Version 3, SLES 8, SLES 9, Suse 8.0, Suse 8.1, Suse 8.2, and Suse 9.0 using
desktops KDE or GNOME only
• Attached graphics display
• 300 MB free disk space
• 512 MB of memory, minimum, though 1 GB is preferred
• 1 Ghz CPU

• System requirements refers to the minimum level of

equipment needed to run a program
– Platform– PC or MAC
– Microprocessor
– Drive– 3.5 Floppy or CD-ROM
– RAM
– Available hard disk space
 Software Version
• Software producers include a version
number with their products
• Version numbers identify the release
of the program being used
• Recent releases have numbers
greater than earlier releases (Recent
Ver. 6.0; Earlier Ver. 1.0)
– Whole numbers are major revisions
(1.0, 2.0, 3.0, etc.)
– Decimal numbers refer to maintenance
releases or updates and fixes (1.1, 1.2,
1.3, etc.)
 Commercial Software, Shareware,
Freeware and Public Domain Software

• Most computer software is copyrighted

• Software piracy – Infringing on a program’s
copyright
– Copyrighted software can not be:
• Copied
• Altered
• Used on more than one computer
 Commercial Software, Shareware,
Freeware and Public Domain Software
• Types of copyrighted software:
– Commercial – Buy before using it
– Shareware – Try it before you buy it
– Freeware – Free software, but it can’t be copied and/or sold
• Public domain software is not copyrighted. There are no
restrictions on using, copying, altering, or selling the
software  Open Source