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Definition
• A series of detailed instructions that
control the operation of a computer
system.
Computer Software • Software exists as programs that
are developed by computer
programmers

Categories of software Systems software

• Systems software:
– This form of software manages and – Is an interface or buffer between
controls the operation of the computer application software and hardware
system as it performs tasks on behalf of – Controls the computer hardware
the user.
and acts as an interface with
– System software is computer software
applications programs
designed to operate the computer
hardware and to provide and maintain a
platform for running application software

Examples Of Systems Software

• The computer BIOS and device
Firmware,
– which provide basic functionality to
Operating
Application and operate and control the hardware
software systems connected to or built into the computer.
software

Users
Hardware

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BIOS and device Firmware

BIOS and device Firmware
• The BIOS is boot firmware, designed
• BIOS is a term that stands for basic
to be the first code run by a PC when
input/output system.
powered on.
• BIOS is really the link between
• The initial function of the BIOS is to
hardware and software in a system.
identify, test, and initialize system
• Most people know the term BIOS by devices such as the video display
another name device drivers, or just card, hard disk, and floppy disk and
drivers. other hardware

BIOS and device Firmware BIOS and device Firmware

• BIOS programs are stored on a chip • The portion of the BIOS contained in
and are built to work with various ROM chips both on the motherboard
devices. and in some adapter cards is
• They provide a small library of basic sometimes called firmware,
input/output functions that can be • which is a name given to software
called to operate and control the stored in chips rather than on disk.
peripherals such as the keyboard,
text display functions and so forth.

Utility Software Examples Of Systems Software

• The Operating System
• Utility software consists of programs – prominent examples being
which are designed to help with the Microsoft Windows, Mac OS X and
maintenance of the computer and to
Linux.
ensure sure that it works correctly
and efficiently. – Linux is an open-source, popular,
multitasking UNIX-type operating
– e.g. disk defragmenter, anti-virus,
firewall, backup, compression, disk system
cleaners, screensavers etc. – UNIX is a multitasking operating
system developed in the early
1970s

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The Operating System The Operating System

• The operating system(OS) is the • Modern operating systems are
piece of software required by the typically stored on Hard disk and
computer to make sure that it works loaded into RAM when the computer
correctly and efficiently. is switched on.
• It manages the computer and allows • Storing the OS on disk means that it
the user to communicate with the can be easily updated.
hardware.
• Windows Vista and XP are updated on
a daily basis.

Operating System Functions

Input/Output Management
– Perform common computer hardware
functions (Input/Output) •Input/Output Management has to do with
all the actual data transfers and issue the
– Provide a user interface appropriate control signals to the
– Provide a degree of hardware peripheral devices.
independence .• Input/Output Management has to send

– Manage system memory the correct signals to the Hard Disk to

– Manage processing tasks tell it to access and read the data and
– Provide networking capability send it to RAM.
– Control access to system resources
– Manage files 16

User Interface User Interface

• User interface • Graphical user interface (GUI)
• A function of the operating system • A user interface that uses pictures
that allows individuals to access and (icons) and menus displayed on the
command the computer screen to send commands to the
• Command-based user interface computer system
• A particular user interface that • E.g. Windows, MAC OS
requires text commands be given to
the computer to perform basic
activities
• E.g., unix, DOS

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Operating System Functions Memory Management

• Hardware independence • Memory management…
– Operating system (OS) provides – Controls how memory is accessed and
hardware independence for application
software maximizes available memory and storage
– Application software interfaces with
the operating system which interfaces
with the hardware
– When the hardware is changed, the
operating system is changed so that the
application software is not required to
be changed

Memory Management Virtual Memory & Paging

• Virtual memory
Application – Memory that allocates space in
OS
Software secondary storage to supplement the
Fetch
What is Flash K50 immediate, functional memory capacity
the price from
of Flash
of RAM
hard disk,
(Flash track 1, – Paging
K50) sector 7
• A function of virtual memory allowing the
computer to store currently needed pages in
RAM while the rest of the pages wait in
secondary storage
Flash K50

Manage processing tasks

Memory Disk
Program 1 (a few pages)
• Multitasking
– A processing activity that allows a user
Program 2 (a few pages)
to run more than one application at the
Program 3 (a few pages) Operatin same time
g system
Program 4 (a few pages) and Programs • Multithreading
system and other
Program 5 (a few pages) software
software – A processing activity that is basically
multitasking within a single application
Program 6 (a few pages)
• Time-sharing
Other memory requirements
– A processing activity that allows more
than one person to use a computer
system at the same time

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Operating System Functions BOOTING

• Network capability
– Aids in connecting the computer to a • The process of starting or restarting a
network computer is called booting
• Access to system resources
– Provides security for unauthorized access Cold boot Warm boot
• File management
• Turning on a • Using the
– Ensures that files in secondary storage
are available when needed, and they are computer that operating
protected against unauthorized usage has been system to
powered off restart a
completely computer
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BOOTING CMOS - Complementary Metal

Oxide Semiconductor)
• This is a type of memory chip which stores
information about the computer
components, as well as settings for those
components.
• The CMOS setup lets you change the time
and date and settings for how devices are
loaded at start up, like hard drives, disc
drives, and floppy drives.
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Applications software
• A set of programs that enable users
BOOTING to perform specific information-
A boot drive is the drive from processing activities
– that may be general-purpose or
which your computer starts – application-specific

• You can boot from a boot disk

• A recovery disk contains a few
system files that will start the
computer
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Applications software Applications software

• General Purpose applications:
• Application-specific software:
– This is also known as productivity
software and describes a category of – This is intended to serve a specific
computer software that aims to support purpose, for example software used in
users in performing a variety of common the marketing and accounting functions
tasks. (e.g. word processor,
spreadsheet, DBMS).

Questions