1 Windows Operating System

INTRODUCTION :
All computers and computer like devices have operating systems,
including your laptop, tablet, desktop, Smartphone, smart watch,
router etc.

Windows is operating system from Microsoft Inc. It is a system

program that controls, coordinates and manipulates overall
desktop publishing operations. It serves as an interface between
the hardware and other software on the computer system. It
allocates memory locations to data and other computer programs.
It controls other computer resources like files and programs,
input/output devices, computer memories etc during data
processing operations.

It also performs the hardware and software diagnosis to detect

faults and errors.
2 Windows Operating System

Versions of windows :

Windows provides a graphical user interface (GUI), and support

many peripheral devices. In addition to windows operating
system for personal computers, Microsoft also offers operating
system for servers and personal computers.

1 .Windows 1.0- 2.0 (1985-1992). Window 1.0 allowed users to

point and click to access the windows. Window 2.0 added icons,
keyboard shortcuts and improved graphics.

2 .Windows 3.0-3.1 (1990-1994). Support better icons and

program manager (1st version of “look and feel” screen of
Microsoft windows).

3 .Windows 95 (August 1995). It runs faster and has ability to

automatically delete and configure installed hardware (plug and
play).

4 .Windows 98 (June 1998). It offers supports for new technology

FAT32, AGP, MMX, USB, DVD. It is an active desktop which
integrates the web browser (internet Explorer).

5 .Windows ME- Millennium Edition (September 2000). Booting

is in Dos option.

6 .Windows NT 3.1-4.0 (1993-1996). It supports pre-emptive

multi tasking. They are Windows NT and Windows NT
SERVER.
3 Windows Operating System

7 .Windows 2000 or W2k. (February 2000). It is an operating

system for business desktop and laptop systems to run software
applications.

8 .Windows XP (October 2001). It has a better look and feel.

There are two versions Home and professional.

9 .Windows Vista (November 2006). It offered an advancement

in reliability, security and ease of deployment.

10 .Windows 7 (October 2009). Improved performance and start-

up-time and window media center.

11 .Windows 8 (August 2012). It was developed with touch

screen use in mind. Better start-up. Start screen replaced look and
feel screen made up of “live Tiles”

12 .Windows 10 (2015). Fast start-up, Microsoft edge, Microsoft

new browser.

13 .Window server (2003). Designed for corporate networking,

internet/intranet, hosting, data bases and similar functions.

14 .Window Home Server (January 2007). This is a “consumer

Server” designed to use with multiple computers connected in the
home.

Aside from window operating system designed for personal

computers (PCs) and laptops, Microsoft has also developed
operating system for services, handheld devices and mobile
phones.
4 Windows Operating System

1 .Window CE (November 2006) it is designed for small devices

such as PDAs for handheld computing devices.

2 .Windows mobile (April 2000) designed for smart phones and

mobile devices.

3. Windows phone 7-10 (November 2010) or win phone 7

designed for smart phones and mobile devices but targeted more
to the consumer market than enterprises market.
5 Windows Operating System

Major Features of Windows :

The following are the attributes and characteristics of reliable

windows:

1- Interactive Package: It ensures a flow of communication

between the user and the computer. Hence, it serves as an
intermediary between the two parties.

2- Menu Driven Package: Ms-Windows ensure flexibility in that

the user can perform several functions or task without
remembering the commands, simply by the Click. Of an option
of a menu or sub-menu.

3- Program Manager: Ms-Window serves as a manager to other

programs since it controls, co-ordinates and manipulates their
processing.

4- Multi-tasking Package: With windows operations, a user can

make use of two or more package while shifting from one
package to another e.g. A user can be working in ms-excel, and
at the same time involve in PageMaker etc.
6 Windows Operating System

Accessing Windows :

When a computer system is switch on, the memory tent is

performed until the window screen appears automatically.

Window screen is divided into two parts; the upper layer which
contains several icons and the lower layer called the status /bar
which contain the: start button, task bar and time.

Status Bar: This is the lower part of the windows. It consists’ of

the start button, task bar and time.

Start Button: it contain everything needed to work with

windows, start icon of the windows consists of several options in
form of sub-menu. Hence, when you click on start button, a sup-
menu appears as follows:

(i) Program: it displays the list of software available in the

windows environment for the user to utilize.

(ii) Document: it displays the list of documents that have been

opened previously.

(iii) Setting: it list out all the computer components which their
setting can be changed e.g. setting date and time, changing
window screen etc.

(iv) Find: it is used to find and locate a particular file, folder and
e-mail messages.

(v) Help: it shows the steps involve in performing a particular

task. It equally serves as a tutor.
7 Windows Operating System

(vi) Run: it is mainly used to run or execute Ms-command and

other application packages.

(vii) Shut Down: it is used to shut down or re-start the computer.

It should be noted that the system must be properly shut down
before switching off the system.

Task Bar : Each time an operation is performed, a button

representing that window appears on the task bar. To switch from
the window to another click on the button for the window you
want in the task bar.

Notification Area : It shows at the extreme end of the status bar.

It displays the current time.

Folder : A folder is a directory, which stores files and other

folders. Or a folder is a directory through which users can access
files and other folders.
8 Windows Operating System

Windows Operating Devices :

These are electronic devices used in manipulating windows. It

could be input device or output device.

Input Device : An input device is a peripheral (piece of computer

hardware equipment) used in sending in data, control signals and
graphics to the computer memory or any other information
processing system allowing you to interact with and control the
computer. They include keyboard, mouse scanner, joystick, light
pen etc.

(i) Computer Keyboard: it is a rectangular tray of electronic keys

used as input device to send data, instructions, commands and
signals into the computer. It is the ‘primary computer input unit
device.

(ii) Mouse: this is a rat-like pointing device used as input device

to send command to the computer by point, click and drag
operations. Mouse could be an optical mouse or rolling ball
mouse, a PS/2 mouse, a Serial mouse or the padded (as found on
laptops PDAs).

(iii) Scanner: this is a graphic puts service that sends graphics,

picture, and images to the computer memory for processing. It
consists of tubes light that takes the picture of an object and send
it to the memory for processing.
9 Windows Operating System

Output Device: An output device is a piece of computer

hardware that receives data from a computer and then translates
that data into another form. That form may be audio, visual,
textual, or hard copy such as a printed document.

The key distinction between an input device and an output device

is that an input device sends data to the computer, whereas an
output device receives data from the computer.

For example, using a microphone to record a podcast is an

example of using an input device. Listening to the recorded
podcast through a connected speaker is an example of using an
output device. Both output and input devices are examples of
auxiliary or peripheral devices. Examples of Output Devices :

1- Monitor

2- Printer

3- Headphones

4- Computer Speakers

5- Projector

6- GPS

7- Sound Card

8- Video Card

9- Braille Reader

10- Speech-Generating Device

10 Windows Operating System

Discussion :

1 .List 5 input devices apart from the keyboard, mouse and

scanner.

2 .What does an input device send to a computer?

3 .What is the difference between an input device and output

device?

4 .What is window operating system

5 .List 3 types of window operating system with date and major

features.

6. What is the difference between status bar and task bar.

*****

Sources :

1- MATHEMATICS, COMPUTER & BIOLOGY, Ogun State,

Nigeria, Editors: Prof. Abayomi A. Arigbabu, Prof. Oluwole S.
Banjo, Prof. Olugbemiga O. Oworu , Second Edition 2016,
Chapter: 7, Publisher: College of Science and Information
Technology .

2- https://www.researchgate.net/publication