Operating System

An operating interface between user and computer which directs the

processing of programmes and controls the operation of computer.

Some of the functions of Operating system are:

 It supervises all the hardware on a computer and monitors

each device’s status, including whether it’s in use or not.
 It also checks whether the device is functioning properly or
not.
 It also controls software resources of the computer.
 It controls how much memory is used by the computer,
keeping track of which memory is free and which memory
is being used by which software.
 It controls how a computer system’s files and directories
are organized.
 It keeps track of the amount of disk space used by a
specific file.
 It allows you to create, copy, move and delete files.
Types of Operating Systems

The different types of operating systems are as follows:

Interactive (GUI-based) – An operating system that is user-friendly

has a graphical user interface where commands can be entered by
clicking, double-clicking, or right-clicking the mouse. Windows is the
example of Interactive Operating System.

Single-user , single-task operating system – This kind of operating

system only permits one person to use the computer at a time for one
job.

Single-user, multi-task operating system – This kind of operating

system is used on desktop and laptop computers, which allow one
user to run multiple programmes simultaneously. Examples of single-
user multitask operating systems are Windows and Apple MacOS.

Multi-user – A multi-user operating system enables multiple users to

work on the same computer at different times or simultaneously.

Real Time – A computing environment that responds to input within a

specific period of time. is known as a real-time operating system. It
controls the computer’s resources so that each operation is completed
in exactly the same amount of time each time. Real-time operating
systems include Lynx OS and Windows CE.

Distributed – A distributed operating system runs on a set of

computers that are interconnected by a
network. It combines the different computers in the network into a
single integrated computer and
storage location. Windows, UNIX, and LINUX are examples of
distributed operating systems.

Menu, icons, and task bar on the Desktop

The components of Windows are as follows – 

Taskbar – The long horizontal bar at the bottom of the screen is
called the taskbar. The Start button is located to the left of the
Taskbar, and Date/Time is located to the right. On the Taskbar, you
can also see icons for open programmes and a few shortcuts.

Start button – It is located on the left of the taskbar. Clicking the Start
button opens the Start menu and provides access to programs and
features.

Recycle Bin – The user’s deleted files and folders are kept in the
Recycle Bin. You can restore accidentally deleted files or folders from
the recycle bin.
Creating and managing files and folders
Files – Every single thing you keep on your computer is kept as a file.
A file system is a method for naming, storing, and retrieving files.

Creating File

1. Right-click anywhere in the blank area of the right-

column. 
2. In the Shortcut menu, click New and select the type of the
file you want to create. 
Renaming folders and files 

1. Right-click the file or the folder. 

2. From the shortcut menu, select Rename option. 
3. Type the new name or edit the existing name and press the
Enter key.  
4. Or Just select the file/folder and press Function key F2.
5. Right-click anywhere in the blank area of the right-
column. 
6. In the Shortcut menu, click New and select the type of the
file you want to create. 
Folder – Folders and directories are groups which contain single of
multiple files. There may be related files and/or subfolders in each
directory and folder. One or more files and other sub-folders may be
located inside a sub-folder. This makes files easily accessible.

Creating Folder

1. Double-click the Computer icon.

2. Select the drive in which you want to create a new folder.
Say, Local Disk D:.
3. Window will open up showing files and folders in Local
Disc D:
4. Click New Folder on the toolbar
5. A new folder is created with name New Folder highlighted.
 6. Type a name for the folder Creating a file
Renaming folders and files 

1. Right-click the file or the folder. 

2. From the shortcut menu, select Rename option. 
3. Type the new name or edit the existing name and press the
Enter key. 
4. Or  Just select the file/folder and press Function key F2.
Deleting files or folders

1. Click the file or the folder. 

2. Press the Delete key. 
3. Or Right-click and select Delete option from the Shortcut
menu.
Apply Basic Skills for Care and Maintenance of
Computer
Computer systems require maintenance in order to function properly.
System failure may result from poor maintenance. You may be able to
keep it in good working order by giving it routine care and
maintenance. Installing updates, security, creating backups, and
scanning are all part of routine system maintenance.

To keep the computer system’s maintained you should follow the

following activity –

1. Keep the computer dust free. 

2. Do not eat or drink while working on the computer. Food
or drink may spill on the system. 
3. To keep the keyboard clean, make sure your hands are
clean before using it. 
4. CDs and DVDs should be handled carefully so that it does
not get any scratches. 
5. Keep keyboard covered when not in use.
Cleaning the computer components
Computer components needs proper care to last longer. Preventive
maintenance increases the life of the components.

General precautions to be taken while cleaning the computer

components are: 

 Always Power Off the computer system before cleaning. 

 Never spray cleaning fluid directly on the component of
the computer. First spray the liquid on the cloth and then
wipe the component. 
 Do not allow the cleaning liquid to drip near the circuit
board. 
 Preferably use anti-static wrist band which helps to prevent
building up of static electricity near electronic device.
Computer monitor

To clean the computer monitor, you can use a soft lint-free cloth, like
cotton and water or special cleaning liquid. You should not spray
water or cleaning liquid directly on the computer monitor as it may
run through the seams. 

Keyboard

The keyboard might be harmed by dirt and dust. If dirt gets inside the
keyboard’s keys, the keys could not work properly. Every now and
then, move the keyboard while holding it upside-down to clean it.

Optical Mouse 

With a clean, lint-free cloth, you can clean the optical mouse’s bottom.
Air or a cotton swab can be used to clean the lens region.

Digital camera

Never touch the camera’s lens. You can use a soft lens brush or a soft,
dry cloth to remove the dust. You can use a special lens cleaning
solution to remove tenacious dust, but first you should apply it to a
tissue before wiping the lens. Never spray fluid over the lens directly.

CDs and DVDs

Keep CD/DVD in proper case to prevent damage. If there is some dirt

on the CD or DVD, it may not work at all. Finger prints and dirt can be
removed by lightly rubbing with a clean lint-free cotton cloth.

Preparing maintenance schedule

Regular maintenance of the computer system is very important. 

Some of the maintenance activities are: 

 Keep the components of the computer, like keyboard,

mouse, monitor, etc. clean. 
 Replace hardware that is not functioning properly 
 Keep food items away from the computer 
 Cables and chords should not be messed up 
 Removing unauthorized software from the computer 
 Take regular backup of the data 
 Ensure backups are working properly by periodically
restoring or checking of data. You should use external hard
drive for backup of data on your computer. 
 Run anti-virus periodically 
 Keep anti-virus software up to date 
 Do not overcharge the batteries
 Do not block the vents 
 Always shut down the computer properly
Protecting computer against viruses 
An Illegal programme known as a computer virus attaches to other
programmes and modifies their behaviour. A virus might or might not
cause harm. Some viruses damage computer programmes or delete
data. Vital Information Resource Under Seize is referred to as VIRUS.
A computer can get infected with virus in any of the following
ways: 

Infected files 
 Infected pen drives 
 Infected CD-ROMs/DVD-ROMs 
 Through infected file attachment of e-mails 
A computer virus cannot do the following: 

It cannot infect files on CD or DVD, if they are closed for


writing. 
 It cannot infect computer hardware like, keyboard, mouse,
etc.
How do we know that our computer is infected with virus?

 Computer runs very slow 

 There is change in the file size 
 Computer often stops responding 
 There is an increase in number of files (unusual) 
 Unusual error message appears on the screen 
 Computer restarts on its own
Scanning and cleaning viruses and removing SPAM files,
temporary files and folders

 Install and use anti-virus software. 

 Keep anti-virus software updated. 
 Scan all the files that you download from the Internet 
 Do not open e-mails of an unknown person/sender 
 Don’t allow any untrustworthy person to use your system. 
 New use unknown pen drive/CD on your computer 
 Never click on the windows that pop-up when you are
surfing the Internet. 
Preparing computer against virus

For an anti-virus program to be work effective do the following:

  It needs to run in the background at all times. 
 Keep the anti-virus software updated so that it can
recognize new viruses. 
 Run full disk scans periodically.
Types of viruses:-

1. Worms: These are viruses that replicate Worm virus themselves

and spread to all files once they attack a computer. This makes it
very difficult to remove them.
2. Trojan Horse: A Trojan Horse disguises itself i.e., it appears to be
a useful software program but once it reaches a computer it
starts behaving like a virus and destroying data. Threats to
Computer •
3. Online Predator: Online predators are people who trap you into
inappropriate relationships. They may be older people posing to
be your age, bullying you into doing illegal activities online and
sometimes face to face. •
4. Internet Scams: Sometimes you may receive very attractive offers
saying you have won a huge money in a lottery and that you can
claim the prize by depositing a certain amount of money. When
you deposit the money using credit card or online banking, you
not only lose the deposit money but your card / account
information may be misused later.
Removing Temporary Files 
When you use computer programmes, temporary files are created
automatically. A TMP file is also known as Temporary file and it is
created in the Microsoft Windows and Windows apps. Web browsers
also create temporary files to store your browsing history.

1. Double-click Computer icon on the desktop. 

2. The Computer Window opens. 
3. Right-click Local Disk C: and select Properties option from
the Shortcut menu
4. The Properties window opens. Click Disk Cleanup. 
5. The Disk Cleanup for C: window appears 
 6. Click the Check box next to Temporary Files, Temporary
Internet files, etc. that you want to delete. 
7. Click OK. 
8. A confirmation message will appear 
9. Click Delete Files.
10. Windows will delete all the temporary files on the
computer.
Removing files of Temporary Folder

1. Press Windows button + R on the keyboard. 

2. The Run dialog box appears. 
3. Type %temp% 
4. The Temp folder opens Click Ctrl + A to select all the files
in the folder. Press Delete key. 
5. A message box appears. Click Yes to confirm. 
Firewall 
A computer firewall is a network security system, software, or
programmable device that monitors and regulates incoming and
outgoing network traffic in accordance with user-defined security
rules.

Computers connected to a network, such as a LAN or the Internet, are

more securely protected by firewalls. Typically, a firewall creates a wall
between a trusted internal network and an unreliable external
network, like the Internet. Each packet of data, whether it is coming in
or going out, is examined by the firewall, which then decides whether
it should be permitted to pass or stopped.

Cookies 
When you visit an internet website, a user’s computer stores a little file
known as a cookie on it. These files are used to store information
personal to a given client and website.
A cookie is sent by a website when you visit it and is saved on your
computer in a file. A cookie can only be read by the website that
created it. This information cannot be accessed by other servers.