Course Name: Computer Applications

Course Code: F010103TB

Program: BBA

Semester I

Unit II

Components of a computer system:

An Elements of Computer in Unit I.

Generation of computer and computer:

There are five generations of the computer, which can be classified as below:

First Generation (1946 - 1959): During the first generation, computers were based on
electronic valves (Vacuum Tubes). Some popular computers of first-generation are ENIAC,
EDVAC, UNIVAC, etc.

Second Generation (1959 - 1965): During the second generation, computers were based on
Transistors. Some popular computers of second-generation are IBM 1400, IBM 1620, IBM
7000 series, etc.

Third Generation (1965 - 1971): During the third generation, computers were based
on Integrated Circuits (ICs). Some popular computers of the third generation are IBM 360,
IBM 370, PDP, etc.

Fourth Generation (1971 - 1980): During the fourth generation, computers were based
on very large scale integrated (VLSI) circuits. Some popular computers of fourth-generation
are STAR 1000, CRAY-1, CRAY-X-MP, DEC 10, etc.

Fifth Generation (1980 - Present): The fifth generation is still ongoing. The computers are
based on multiple technologies, such as ultra large scale integration (ULSI), artificial
intelligence (AI), and parallel processing hardware. The fifth generation of computers includes
Desktop, Laptop, NoteBook, etc.

Languages:

A programming language defines a set of instructions that are compiled together to perform a
specific task by the CPU (Central Processing Unit). The programming language mainly refers
to high-level languages such as C, C++, Pascal, Ada, COBOL, etc.

Each programming language contains a unique set of keywords and syntax, which are used to
create a set of instructions. Thousands of programming languages have been developed till
now, but each language has its specific purpose. These languages vary in the level of
abstraction they provide from the hardware. Some programming languages provide less or no
abstraction while some provide higher abstraction. Based on the levels of abstraction, they can
be classified into two categories:

o Low-level language
o High-level language

The image which is given below describes the abstraction level from hardware. As we can
observe from the below image that the machine language provides no abstraction, assembly
language provides less abstraction whereas high-level language provides a higher level of
abstraction.

Low-level language

The low-level language is a programming language that provides no abstraction from the
hardware, and it is represented in 0 or 1 forms, which are the machine instructions. The
languages that come under this category are the Machine level language and Assembly
language.

Machine-level language

The machine-level language is a language that consists of a set of instructions that are in the
binary form 0 or 1. As we know that computers can understand only machine instructions,
which are in binary digits, i.e., 0 and 1, so the instructions given to the computer can be only
in binary codes. Creating a program in a machine-level language is a very difficult task as it is
not easy for the programmers to write the program in machine instructions. It is error-prone as
it is not easy to understand, and its maintenance is also very high. A machine-level language is
not portable as each computer has its machine instructions, so if we write a program in one
computer will no longer be valid in another computer.

The different processor architectures use different machine codes, for example, a PowerPC
processor contains RISC architecture, which requires different code than intel x86 processor,
which has a CISC architecture.

Assembly Language

The assembly language contains some human-readable commands such as mov, add, sub, etc.
The problems which we were facing in machine-level language are reduced to some extent by
using an extended form of machine-level language known as assembly language. Since
assembly language instructions are written in English words like mov, add, sub, so it is easier
to write and understand.

As we know that computers can only understand the machine-level instructions, so we require
a translator that converts the assembly code into machine code. The translator used for
translating the code is known as an assembler.

The assembly language code is not portable because the data is stored in computer registers,
and the computer has to know the different sets of registers.
The assembly code is not faster than machine code because the assembly language comes
above the machine language in the hierarchy, so it means that assembly language has some
abstraction from the hardware while machine language has zero abstraction.

Differences between Machine-Level language and Assembly language

The following are the differences between machine-level language and assembly language:

Machine-level language Assembly language

The machine-level language comes at the lowest level in the The assembly language comes above the mach
hierarchy, so it has zero abstraction level from the hardware. means that it has less abstraction level from th

It cannot be easily understood by humans. It is easy to read, write, and maintain.

The machine-level language is written in binary digits, i.e., The assembly language is written in sim
0 and 1. language, so it is easily understandable by the

It does not require any translator as the machine code is In assembly language, the assembler is used t
directly executed by the computer. assembly code into machine code.

It is a first-generation programming language. It is a second-generation programming langua

High-Level Language

The high-level language is a programming language that allows a programmer to write the
programs which are independent of a particular type of computer. The high-level languages are
considered as high-level because they are closer to human languages than machine-level
languages.

Personal computers in Business

The personal computer was first introduced by IBM -- International Business Machines -- in
1981, according to the Computer History Museum. Since that time, the use of personal
computers in business have spread pervasively. In 2011, almost every employee has a personal
computer on their desk. Business professionals use computers for many functions, such as
creating letters, calculating numbers or performing research on the Internet. Personal
computers can also be used for many functions and applications for business.

sending emails
Emails are one of the most pervasive ways to communicate in the business world. Business
professionals from executives to marketing analysts use personal computers for sending emails.
Secretaries use company emails to apprise other managers and employees of meetings or
special functions. Managers often use email to attach and disseminate important documents,
such as reports and memos. Additionally, emails can be used externally to inform customers
about new products or services. Advertising professionals often send emails out to thousands
of businesses at the click of a button to generate leads and product orders.
creating documents
Business professionals frequently use personal computers to create documents, such as memos,
reports, business forms, shipping invoices and order forms. Marketing research managers use
personal computers to write questionnaires. These questionnaires can then be printed in mass
quantities for conducting customer services. Secretaries sometimes use personal computers to
print shipping labels for mailing packages. Advertising copywriters use publishing software to
produce brochures or fliers on personal computers. A company can also use personal computers
to design advertisements or create newsletters.

creating spreadsheets
Business professionals use personal computers to create spreadsheets. For example, a finance
manager may create a personal computer spreadsheet to keep track of his company's budget. A
spreadsheet is a software application that is divided into many different columns and rows.
Each individual section of a spreadsheet is called a cell. The finance manager may enter
department names in the rows and types of expenses various departments incur across columns
of the spreadsheet. Personal computer spreadsheets are extremely useful for making
calculations, as business professionals can create formulas for specific cells. Subsequently,
totals will automatically be calculated each time a manager enters additional numbers to the
spreadsheet.

creating databases
Companies use personal computers to create databases, which are massive lists of names or
numbers. The most important consideration when creating a database is deciding what data
will be used, according to Inc. magazine. Marketing managers may use personal computer
databases to keep track of customers who order products. For example, the marketing manager
may enter the date a customer ordered a product and how much they spent. Periodically, the
marketing manager may send out brochures or coupons to customers announcing new products
or sales. Entrepreneurs may use a personal computer database to track the results of an
advertising campaign. That way the advertising manager can determine which ads are
profitable.

PC-software Packages

The term "software package" has multiple uses in IT. Its most common use is to refer to
multiple software programs bundled together and sold as a set. There is also the use of
"software package" to describe a set of software that fulfils a particular function, for example,
installation on the desktop.

In a traditional sense, a software package is simply multiple applications or code modules that
work together to meet various goals and objectives. One of the most prominent examples is
something like the Microsoft Office package, which includes individual applications such as
Word, Excel, Access and PowerPoint.

In some ways, a software package today is similar to what it was 20 years ago. In other key
ways, the software package is decidedly different. The Microsoft example is a good one.
Although the Microsoft Office suite is still sold as a package, and still includes many of the
same branded components, the ways in which it is sold are very different. In the past, users had
a single option to purchase a software package off the shelf and install it. That same option is
still available, along with other options including web-delivered software packages and
subscriptions on an annual or monthly basis.
An Introduction to windows

Windows is a graphical operating system developed by Microsoft. It allows users to view

and store files, run the software, play games, watch videos, and provides a way to connect to
the internet. It was released for both home computing and professional works.

Microsoft introduced the first version as 1.0

It was released for both home computing and professional functions of Windows on 10
November 1983. Later, it was released on many versions of Windows as well as the current
version, Windows 10.

In 1993, the first business-oriented version of Windows was released, which is known
as Windows NT 3.1. Then it introduced the next versions, Windows 3.5, 4/0, and Windows
2000. When the XP Windows was released by Microsoft in 2001, the company designed its
various versions for a personal and business environment. It was designed based on standard
x86 hardware, like Intel and AMD processor. Accordingly, it can run on different brands of
hardware, such as HP, Dell, and Sony computers, including home-built PCs.

Editions of Windows

Microsoft has produced several editions of Windows, starting with Windows XP. These
versions have the same core operating system, but some versions included advance features
with an additional cost. There are two most common editions of Windows:

o Windows Home
o Windows Professional

Windows Home

Windows Home is basic edition of Windows. It offers all the fundamental functions of
Windows, such as browsing the web, connecting to the Internet, playing video games, using
office software, watching videos. Furthermore, it is less expensive and comes pre-installed with
many new computers.

Windows Professional

Windows Professional is also known as Window Pro or win Pro. It is an enhanced edition of
Windows, which is beneficial for power users and small to medium-size businesses. It contains
all features of Windows Home as well as the following:

o Remote Desktop: Windows Professional editions allow users to create a remote

desktop connection. It provides users the option to connect with another computer
remotely, including share the control of its mouse, keyboard, and view display. It is
mainly accessed with the help of port 3389. Additionally, we can also use the
TeamViewer or VNC application to create a remote desktop connection.
 o Trusted Boot: It provides security as encrypting to the boot loader and protects the
computer from rootkits (Collection of software tools that allow users to enter another
computer through an unauthorized way known as rootkits).
o Bitlocker: It allows users to encrypt a storage drive by using AES (Advanced
Encryption Standard) algorithm. This feature is present in Windows 7, and Windows
Vista (Only ultimate and Enterprise versions), including Windows Server 2008.

Business laptops or computers mainly use the Bitlocker feature to protect their data on the
computer. As if your computer has been stolen, it is very difficult to break the Bitlocker
password. It can be unlocked by entering the correct password only. Furthermore, if you forget
your Bitlocker password, it cannot be retrieved.

o Windows Sandbox: A sandbox is located on a computer, network, or an online service

enables users to experiment or test computer security without interrupting the system.
o Hyper-V: It stands for a hypervisor, and developed by Microsoft Corporation on 26
June 2008. It is also called Windows Server Virtualization. Hyper-V is used for
virtualization of x86-64 servers, running virtual machines and third party software like
VirtualBox.
o Group policy management: An admin can specify group policies in an organization
to manage different Windows users.
o It provides support for the systems that have more than 128 GB of RAM.
o Furthermore, it also offers more Windows update installation options as well as flexible
scheduling and postponement around 34 days.

Why is Microsoft Windows called Windows?

When Microsoft Windows was not introduced, all of the Microsoft users were used MS-DOS
operating system. Microsoft gave one word to most of its products; it required a new Word that
can represent its new GUI

operating system. Microsoft decided to call it Windows because it has the ability to perform
several tasks and run applications simultaneously.

Another reason behind calling it Windows was that you could not trademark a common name
like Windows. Its official name was Microsoft Windows, the first version 1.0 of Windows was
introduced in 1995.

History of Microsoft Windows

Since 1983, Microsoft is producing Windows. The founder of Microsoft 'Bill

Gates' announced for Microsoft Windows on 10 November 1983 and released the first version
of Windows in 1985. The following table contains history of Windows from edition 1 to 10.
Version History

Windows 1.0 Microsoft introduced Windows with its first version 1.0. It was released on 20 Novemb
at the beginning, it was sold for $100.00. Additionally, it was the first effort by Microsof
a graphical user interface in 16-bit.

Windows 2.0 The second version, Windows 2.0, was produced by Microsoft on 9 December 1987 as w
introduced the Window 386 on the same day. Initially, the price was the same $100.00 fo
Windows in the
It came with new features such as it was able to overlap each other, and it also introduced
to maximize and minimize the window, instead of using 'zooming' and 'iconizing'
Furthermore, it also included the control panel feature where several system settings and c
options are available in one place. Even Microsoft Word and Excel were also used for the
Windows 2.

Windows 286 It was released in June 1988, and at the beginning, its price was $100.00.

Windows 3.0 It was the first Windows that needed a hard drive. It was launched by Microsoft on 22 May
version was sold for $149.95, and the updated version was $79.95. Additionally, the
supported Windows 3 was introduced in October
Windows version 3.0 gained more success, and it became a challenge for Apple's Macin
Commodore Amiga GUI as it was provided pre-installed on computers by PC compatible m
as well as Zenith Data
It was also able to run the MS-DOS program in Windows that allowed multitasking in lega
as well as supported 256 colors, which made the interface more colorful and advanced.

Windows 3.1 It was launched in April 1992, when it was in development its code name was Sparta
commonly used operating system for the PC graphical user interface. In the first two mo
release, more than one million copies were sold. It made the Windows usable publishing pla
first time by introducing the TrueType fonts. Minesweeper was also used for the first
Windows
It was needed only 1MB of RAM to run, and it allowed users to control the MS-DOS progr
help of a mouse for the first time. Furthermore, it was also the first operating system to be d
a
Some other generations of version 3.1 are as follows:
o In 1992, the Windows for Workgroups 3.1 was launched.
o Microsoft introduced Windows NT 3.1 on 27 July 1993.
o An updated version of Windows 3.1, Windows 3.11, was introduced on 31 Decemb
o In February 1994, the Windows for Workgroups 3.11 was launched.
o On 21 September 1994, the Windows NT 5 was introduced.
o The next version Windows NT 3.51, was introduced on 30 May 1995.

Windows 95 As the name specifies, Windows 95 was launched on 24 August 1995, and within four days
more than one million copies were sold. It introduced the Start button and Start menu fea
first time, including important features such as a 32-bit environment, multitasking,
 Furthermore, MS-DOS still played a vital role in Windows 95, with the help of some p
elements.
Internet Explorer was also used on the Windows 95 for the first time, but it could not be
default, it needed the Windows 95 plus pack for it. Later, Windows 95 improved and inc
browser by default.

Windows 95 It was introduced on 24 February 1996.

Service Pack

Windows NT On 29 July 1996, Windows NT 4.0 was launched.

4.0

Windows CE
o The first version 0 of Windows CE was introduced in November 1996.
o The Second version 0 of Windows CE was launched in November 1997.
o The next version 1 of Windows CE was released in July 1998.
o The third version, 3.0 of Windows CE, was introduced in 1999.

Windows 98 It was developed on Windows 95, and introduced in June 1998. It was released, includ
Explorer 4, Windows Address Book, Outlook Express, Microsoft Chat, and NetS
The second version of Windows 98 was introduced on 5 May 1999, in this version the Net
was replaced by Windows Media Player 6.2. It was also brought with the address bar and b
navigation buttons in Windows Explorer, and more other
Windows 98 came with the new feature Windows Driver model for computer com
accessories, which offered support to all future editions of Windows. Furthermore, it was im
support including USB mice and USB hubs.

Windows On 17 February 2000, it was launched.

2000

Windows ME It was invented in September 2000, and it was the last operating system, which was based
and in the Windows 9x line. According to the enterprise market, it was considered con
Windows with the Windows 2000. It was also provided some useful features for consume
more automated system recovery
Additionally, an Internet Explorer, Windows Movie Maker, and Windows Media Player 7
Windows ME for the first time.

Windows It was introduced on 17 February 2000. Basically, it was based on Microsoft business-ori
2000 Windows NT, and later it provided the base for the Windows XP. Furthermore, the autom
feature made their appearance for the first time on Windows 2000, and it was the first oper
to support hibernation.

Windows XP Windows XP was considered the best edition of Windows; it was introduced on 25 Octo
followed Windows ME and provided consumer-friendly elements. The 64-bit version of W
was introduced on 28 March 2003. Furthermore, Its Professional x64 version was intro
April
The start button and taskbar were replaced by including the green Start button, blue task b
 wallpaper, as well as several shadows and more visua
It also brought some important features, such as ClearType, which helps to read content on L
autoplay from CDs and other media, different automated update, and reco
Additionally, It was used for the longest time, and even when it was discontinued, it wa
estimated 430 m PC.

Windows It was introduced by Microsoft In January 2007. It was brought the better look and feel u
Vista and included transparent elements, security, and search. When it was in the development ph
name was "Longhorn." Windows Media Player 11 and Internet Explorer 7 were made thei
for the first time on Windows Vista, included Windows Defender, an anti-spyware program
provided some useful features such as Windows DVD Maker, speech recognition, and Ph
Furthermore, it was the first operating system to be distributed on DVD.

Windows On 27 February 2008, Microsoft introduced Windows Server 2008.

Server 2008

Windows 7 It was introduced on 22 October 2009 to overcome all problems that were faced by Wind
was released with user-friendly features and less dialogue box overload. It was more stabl
easy to use as compared to release other previous versions. Additionally, the handwriting
feature was used for the first time on Wind
As IE was the default browser in Microsoft Windows, the antitrust investigations used
Europe for making it a default browser. Consequently, it had to provide the users the opti
and install the browser on the first boot.

Windows On 4 September 2012, Microsoft was released Windows Server 2012.

Server 2012

Windows 8 It was introduced by Microsoft on 26 October 2012. It was released with new features, s
operating system, support for the USB 3.0 devices, and Web store. The Web store is a plac
can download different types of Windows applications; its full-screen mode was run for the
Windows 8.

Windows 8.1 It was launched by Microsoft on 17 October 2013. It was re-launched the Start button, wh
to display the Start screen from the desktop view of Windows 8.1. Furthermore, it provid
select boot directly into the desktop.

Windows 10 On 29 July 2015, Microsoft introduced Windows 10. It was released with some new fea
switching between a keyboard and mouse mode and a tablet mode, which was beneficial
who use computers like surface Pro 3 with a detachable keyboard. It was designed for
platforms across several devices, as well as Windows tablets and Phones, includi
applications.

Features of Windows

Microsoft Windows includes a lot of features to help users. Some of its excellent features are
as follows:

Control Panel: Windows provides a Control Panel feature that includes many tools to
configure and manage the resources on their computer. For example, users can change settings
for audio, video, printers, mouse, keyboard, network connections, date and time, power saving
options, user accounts, installed applications, etc.

Cortana: Windows 10 introduced a feature named Cortana, which is able to accept voice
commands. It can perform various tasks such as it can answers your questions, search data on
your computer, online purchases, set reminders, and appointments, etc. Furthermore, it acts
like other voice-activated services such as Google Assistant, Alexa, or Siri, including one more
benefit of searching the information on your computer. To open the Cortana in Windows 10,
press Window key + S.

File Explorer: It is also known as Windows Explorer, which displays your files and folders
on the computer. It allows users to browse the data on the hard drive, SSD and other inserted
removable disks like pen drives and CDs, and you can manage the content according to the
requirements such as delete, rename, search, and transfer the data.

Internet browser: As the internet browser is very important to search for anything, view
pages, online shopping, play games, watch videos, etc. Windows come with a pre-installed
internet browser. in Windows 10, the Edge internet browser is the default browser.
Furthermore, Internet Explorer was the default browser in Microsoft Windows from the
Windows edition 95 to 8.1 version.

Microsoft Paint: Since November 1985, Microsoft Windows comes with pre-installed
Microsoft Paint. It is a simple software to create, view, and edit an image. It offers several tools
to draw an image, crop, resize, and save an image with a different file extension.

1. Taskbar: Windows comes with a taskbar that displays currently opened programs, it
also allows users to access any specific programs. Additionally, it includes the
notification area on the right side that shows date and time, battery, network, volume,
and other background running applications.

2. Start menu: Microsoft Windows contains a start menu to the left side of the taskbar. It
displays programs and utilities that are installed on the computer. It can be simply
opened by clicking on the Start menu button or pressing the start key on the keyboard.
3. Task Manager: Windows includes the task manager feature that provides detail of the
running applications or programs on the computer. You can also check how much of
the system resources, such as RAM, CPU, disk I/O, are being used by each of the
applications.
4. Disk Cleanup: It is used to free up disk space with the help of deleting temporary or
unnecessary files. It also helps to enhance the performance of the computer, and boost
storage space to download the programs and documents. To open Disk Cleanup, follow
the below steps:
1. Open the File Explorer by pressing Window + E.
2. Then, right-click on any disk drive and select Properties option from the drop-
down list.
3. Now, click on the Disk Cleanup.
GUI

GUI stands for Graphical User Interface. It refers to an interface that allows one to interact with
electronic devices like computers and tablets through graphic elements. It uses icons, menus
and other graphical representations to display information, as opposed to text-based commands.
The graphic elements enable users to give commands to the computer and select functions by
using mouse or other input devices.

Basic Components of a GUI

o Pointer: It is a symbol that appears on the display screen. It can be moved to select
commands and objects.
o Pointing device: It allows you move the pointer and select objects on the screen, e.g.
mouse or trackball.
o Icons: It refers to small images on the display screen that represent commands, files,
windows etc. Using pointer and pointing device, you can execute these commands.
o Desktop: It is the display screen that contains the icons.

GUI KEY Benefits

o It allows you to place more information within a program.
o The graphics allow users to use complex programs with greater ease.
o It saves time as you do not need to edit configurations manually.
o You can easily memorize the tasks (point-and-click).
o Helps create user-friendly software with a point-and-click interface.