COMPUTER FILE MANAGEMENT

Computer booting. This is the process that starts operating system when the user
turns on a computer system. Or it is the process of loading the operating system
into the main memory (RAM).

Boot sequence
This is the initial set of operation that the computer performs when power is
switched on.

Types of computer booting

There are two main types of computer booting namely;
 Cold booting (hard booting)
 Warm booting (soft booting)

Cold booting
This is the process of starting the computer for the first time, the computer which
doesn’t have any history from the previous time it runs.

Warm booting
This is the process of restarting the computer which has been on but for some
other reasons. Shortcut for restarting CTRL+ALT+DEL.

Reasons for warm booting

 When you have installed new hardware
 When you have installed new software
 When you have changed the CMOS battery (complementary oxide
semiconductor)
 When the computer has frozen i.e. taking long to respond

Circumstances for having new operating system in place

 When your computer has crushed
 Presence of virus in the computer system/chunk files
 Need to upgrade to more advanced operating system.
Booting process
1. Step by step booting process
2. The computer is initially off, turn it on
3. Inside the computer, a tiny program located in ROM is started. This program is
called bios and does the following things;
4. Perform power on self test, testing the computer hardware such as monitor,
keyboard mouse and others.
5. Once the hardware is tested, the bios looks for the program called operating
system.
6. Often a computer is set to first check for an operating system on the diskette
or computer disk.
7. Once the operating system is found, DOS is loaded into the computer primary
storage (RAM)
8. Special configuration files might be used by the operating system. This file
contains information between the computer and its configurations plus
peripheral devices.
9. Special utility programs may be loaded and started e.g. antivirus
10.Finally, DOS now stars a graphical user interface and other programs e.g.
window xp, window 2000.

Summary of booting process

Computer is off; turn it on from the main power switch/socket.
A signal is sent to the motherboard to ignite power supply. Motherboard is a
circuit board where the internal parts are connected or mounted on.post (power
on self test) will carry out its duty by checking whether the internal parts of the
computer are having enough power. After post, bios (basic input output system)
will cheap in by confirming the functionality of the internal devices, then searches
for boot sector .it is the responsibility of the boot sector to load the operating
system into the main memory (RAM).
Finally, sub-graphic system and other programs are initiated such as window xp,
window 2000 etc.

Programming languages
These are rules or an instruction that commands the computer hardware on how
to perform a given function or these are sets of rules that provide the way of
instructing a computer on what operation to perform.
Computer programming languages have been divided into two namely:
o Low level language (machine code) binary digits (0 and 1)
o High level language (human readable language)

Low level language

This is a machine code that can be understood directly by the computer without
the need of the compiler or interpreter programs. For a program to run on the
computer, instructions and data must be expressed in terms of binary digits .it
can only understand machine code (language) 0 and 1. The symbol 0 stands for
absence of electric signals and 1 stands for presence of electric signals therefore
acomputer recognizes electric pulses.

Advantages of using low level language

o They are faster and efficient when using a computer
o They are suitable to develop the operating system
o They don’t require translators to translate the codes.

Disadvantages
o They are very difficult to learn since both data and instructions are expressed
into binary digits (0 and1).
o Program statement is lengthy and time consuming while writing.
o All memory addresses have to be remembered.
o Programs are machine dependant hence difficult to be used by machines of
different family.

High level language

They are very close to human vocabulary. They allow a problem solution to be
specified in a human and problem oriented manner.
Examples
 COBOL-common business oriented language
 Fortran-formula translation
 Basic-beginner all purpose symbolic instruction code
 C++
 Java script

Advantages
 They are very easy to learn because they use English like vocabularies.
 The programs are machine independent; they can run on any family of
computer hardware.
 Programs are easy to modify correct errors (bugs) and maintain.
N/B
A bug is a programming error that a programmer encounters while designing a
program

Disadvantages
 They require translator to convert the instructions and data into the machine
code.
 They take a lot of time to run because they consume large amount of memory.

Language translators
Any program that is not written in machine language has to be translated before
it is executed by the computer or machine. Therefore language translator is a
program that is used to convert or translate high level language (human readable
language) into machine code before execution.

There are three types of language translators

 Compilers
 Assemblers
 Interpreters

Compiler; is a program that translates an entire high level language into machine
code, the language computer can understand.

Assembler; an assembler is a program that translates a program written in

assembly language into machine language.

Interpreter; an interpreter is a program that translates the source of high level

programming language into machine code line by line while the program is
running.

File management
Refers to the skillful use of file operational tools to create, edit, rename, store,
format and read the file.
File: this is a collection of related data under name.
Folder: this is nothing more than a location where files and sub-folders are kept in
a computer system.
Window: this a rectangular border that covers the all screen.
Window control buttons
Close: means exit the program
Maiximum: to enlarge the window
Restore: to reduce the size of the window
Minimum: hiding the window to the status bar
Desktop: this is a free working area that covers the screen

Mouse: this is an example of an input device used to select, open and drag items
from one point to another.

Scroll bar

Left button Right button

Mouse terminologies
Click: means pressing the left button (primary button) once.
Double click: pressing the left button twice at higher speed lesser than one
second.
Right click (secondary button): means pressing the right button to display
shortcut commands.
Press, hold and drag: pressing the left button and hold it down and move on the
surface towards the direction you want.
Scroll: means moving up and down of the windows or page.

Creating a folder on a desktop

Procedures
 Right click on the desktop
 Move the mouse to new
 Click on the folder
Creating a file
Procedures
 Right click on the desktop
 Move to new
 Select the required file

Renaming a folder
Procedures
 Select the folder
 Right click on the folder
 Click on the rename
 Type the name of the folder

Renaming a file
Procedures
 Select the file
 Right click on the file
 Click on the rename
 Type the name of the file

Delete a folder
Procedures
 Select the folder to be deleted
 Right click on it
 Click delete

Moving commands (cut, copy and paste)

Cut: it means to extract completely the folder /file from its original position to the
final destination leaving the original place blank.
Copy: to duplicate a file or folder.

Opening a folder/file
Procedures
o Highlight the folder/file to be opened.
o Right click on it
o Click open
Alternatively
Select the folder
Double click on it

File extension
File extension: this is a suffix that comes at the end of a file or is what identifies
the kind of the file you are using.
File types file extensions
Microsoft word doc
Ms excel xls
Image jpeg
Ms PowerPoint ppt
Ms Publisher pub
Ms Access dbm
System file sys
Compressed zip
Mpeg audio file mp3

File directory
File directory: it is a virtual container /path that show where files, folders and sub-
folders are kept in a system.
Example
C/guest/bethel/okoth/Kenya/microsoftword.doc
C- Drive name
Guest-user account
Bethel-system folder
Kenya-file name
Microsoft word-file type
Doc-file extension

F/desktop/David/s6paper2/sheet.ppt
F- Drive name
Desktop- system folder
S6paper 2-file name
Sheet-file extension
Ppt-file extension

C/user/desktop/TCN/senior 6 paper1/doc
C-drive name
User-account name
Desktop-system folder
TCN-sub-folder
Senior6paper 1-file name
Doc-file extension (ms word)

Explain the major icons on the desktop

An icon: it is a graphical representation of information /program.

Examples of icons
My computer: this displays the content of your computer drive e.g. memory card,
hard disk flask disk etc.
My document: stores documents, graphics, and other files which are recently
created.
Recycle bin: it contains files and folders which were deleted accidentally or
intentionally.
Folder: it is nothing more than allocation where files and sub-folders are kept in a
system.

Utility programs
These are programs specifically designed to enhance /improve /fine tune the
performance of the operating system or
These are sets of programs installed to enhance and maintain the computer in a
good working position. These include;
 Sort utility
 File compression
 Diagnostic utility
 Disk scanner
 Screen saver
 Merge utility
 Disk defragmenter
 Uninstaller utility
 Data recovery utility
 Anti-virus utility
 Back- up utility
 Disk repair

File compression utility

It reduces or compresses the size of a file to provide more storage space on any
storage media

Disk diagnostic utility

It compiles technical information about computer hardware and system software
program and then repairs a report outlining any identified problems

Disk scanner utility

This is a utility that detects and corrects both physical and logical problems on a
hard disk.

Disk defragmenter utility

It is a utility that re-organizes the files and unused space on a computer hard disk
so that data can be accessed more quickly and programs can run faster.

Uninstaller utility
It is a utility that uninstalls unnecessary program installed in the computer.

Back -up utility

Allows a user to copy selected files of the entire hard disk into another disk or
tape.

Anti -virus utility

A program that prevents detects and removes virus from computer memory
/storage media.

Screen saver
It is a utility that uses a motor screen to display a moving objects or image if no
keyboard or mouse activity occurs for some period of time.

Sort utility
It is a program that is used to arrange the records within a file according to some
sequence. The arrangement can either be ascending or alphabetical order.
Merge utility
It is a program used to combine the content of two or more input files to produce
one output file

Data recovery utility

It is used to resurrect or undelete a file or information that has been accidentally
deleted. The data or program that you try to recover may be on the hard disk or
diskette.

Disk repair
It checks your hard disk drive for defects and make repair on the bad spot areas of
the hard disk.

Virus
Virus is malicious program that copies itself in a computer memory without the
user’s knowledge with the aim of destroying files and folders
V-vital
I-information
R-resource
U-under
S-siege

Types of virus
 Boot sector virus; destroys the booting information on the storage device.
 File virus; they attach themselves to files in the computer system.
 Hoax virus; comes as a result of email with an attractive substance and
launches itself when the email is open.
 Trojan horse; a computer that may spread itself by sending copies of itself
from the host computer to other computer (clients)

Ways through which virus can affect computer

By infecting the removable media (flash disk, memory card, and external disk)
By infecting the network files.
By infecting shared resources.
When local area network is connected to the internet.
Signs and symptoms of computer virus.
 When the computer is aborting the booting process (the computer refuses
to start up)
 When the file refuses to open and indicates it is corrupted
 When the document has invalid file extension
 When abnormal user account appears to be mysteriously created in the
computer.
 When an open document replicates copies of itself.
 When computer freezes.

Ways of eliminating virus

 By installing a strong anti -virus program (software)
 By doing /performing scan disk periodically
 Avoid using contaminated storage media
 By installing firewall.

Examples of anti virus

 AVG
 Smadav
 A vast
 Tool kit Norton
 Virus scan
 Karpape
 Kaspersky