Unit II: Interfaces and Memories: Introduction to Operating System: Elementary knowledge of DOS.

Windows Operating System- Basic Features – Date, Time, Time Zone, Display, Screen saver, Fonts,
Mouse, and mouse pointers. Using accessories such as calculator, paint brush, CD player, etc. Memories:
Memory concepts and importance, Primary memory, secondary memory and Cache memory

Introduction to Operating system

Elementary knowledge of DOS

• What it is: DOS is a text-based operating system that uses a command-line interface (CLI) to
interact with the computer. It was the main operating system for IBM-compatible PCs until
Windows 95 replaced it in 1995.

• How it works: DOS is a single-tasking, single-user operating system that performs actions based
on commands. Users enter commands at the command-line prompt, which is a black screen with
a blinking cursor.

• What it can do: DOS can manage a computer's files, memory, and I/O system. It can also access
a computer's hardware, control its output, and execute programs.

• How it's organized: DOS organizes files and directories in a hierarchical structure, like a tree. The
root directory is at the top of the hierarchy, and all other files and directories are located within it
or its subdirectories.

• Some commands: Some common DOS commands include:

o RMDIR (RD): Removes an empty directory

o FORMAT: Formats a disk so it can be used with MS-DOS

o DIR: Displays the contents of a directory, or lists specific files using wildcard characters

o COPY: Copies files to a different directory or to duplicates with different names

o DEL: Deletes files from the current working directory or other directories, and can use
wildcard characters to delete groups of files
The Windows Operating System (OS) is one of the most popular and widely used operating systems in
the world. Developed by Microsoft Corporation, Windows Operating System has become the go-to choice
for both personal and business computing.

What is Windows Operating System?

The operating system window is the extension of the disk operating system. It is the most
popular and simplest operating system; it can be used by any person who can read and
understand basic English, as it does not require any special training.

However, the Windows Operating System requires DOS to run the various application programs initially.
Because of this reason, DOS should be installed into the memory and then window can be executed

Introduction:

Windows Operating System (OS) is a graphical user interface (GUI) based operating system developed
by Microsoft Corporation. It is designed to provide users with a user-friendly interface to interact with
their computers. The first version of the Windows Operating System was introduced in 1985, and since
then, it has undergone many updates and upgrades. Windows Operating System is compatible with a
wide range of hardware and software applications, making it a popular choice for both personal and
business computing. It has a built-in security system to protect the computer from malware and viruses
and provides a comprehensive file management system that makes it easy for users to organize and
access their files. Windows Operating System also allows users to run multiple applications
simultaneously, making it easy to work on multiple tasks at the same time.

The elements/ characteristics of Windows OS:

Following are the significant element of Windows Operating System (WOS) –

• Graphical User Interface
• Icons (pictures, documents, application, program icons, etc.)
• Taskbar
• Start button
• Windows explorer
• Mouse button
• Hardware compatibility
• Software compatibility
• Clip Board Memory (Cut & Paste)
• Multitasking
• OLE (Object Linking & Embedding)
• What you see is what you get.
• Plug & Play Utility
• Help, etc.
 GUI stands for Graphical User Interface: This is the first characteristic of windows by which
windows become so famous. Through this feature, a user can communicate with the help of Icons.
(The graphical representation of any program or file is called as Icon).

Clip Board (Cut & Paste): Clip board is a memory where data is stored after using cut or copy
action. This is a volatile memory because when we shutdown our computer this data will be lost.
The capacity of clip board memory is 24 clips.

Multitasking: To run more than one program at a time is called as Multitasking. Since Windows
allows multitasking so we can say, Windows gives a facility to the user to run more that one
program at a time.

OLE (Object Linking & Embedding): Through this feature user can link their file to any another
file. The facility to link any file to other file is called as linking & changing in the object or modify
the file is called as embedding.

What you see is what you get: Through this facility we can print our file actually as it is shown
in the document.

Plug & Play Utility: Through this feature the computer detects any hardware port when it is
plugged into the computer system. The hardware is detected automatically and Windows gives the
facility to the user to use this device.

Different version of Windows:

Win – 3.0 , 3.1, 95, 98, 98 SE, ME, Win NT, 2000, 2000 Server, 2000 Professional, Win XP, Win
XP Home Edition, Win Server 2003, XP Professional, Win XP SP1, Win XP SP2, Win XP SP3, Win
Vista, Win Server 2008

Booting Computer in Windows mode:

When we switch on the computer, first of all it loads operating system (all necessary files of
Windows to startup) in the working memory (RAM) and checks all hardware parts of computer.
This process is known as booting. After booting we get a screen which is known as desktop.

Desktop Feature:
After booting the computer in Windows mode, the area displayed on the screen is known as
Desktop. On desktop, we get Icons, Mouse Pointer, Start menu, Task Bar etc.

Background:
The display of Screen which is behind the icons is known as the Background of Desktop. We can
set or change it. We can change the background through following ways: Changing the

Background & Screen Saver:

Right Click (in a free Space) on Desktop→ A popup menu displays →

Features of Windows Operating System

Here are some features of the Windows Operating System:

1. Control Panel: The control Panel is a centralized location within Windows where users can
manage various system settings, including security and privacy, display, hardware and sound,
and programs. It provides users with access to a range of tools and settings, making it easy to
customize the Windows experience.
 2. Internet Browser: An Internet Browser is a software application that allows users to access and
browse the Internet. Windows provides a built-in internet browser called Microsoft Edge, which
includes features such as tabbed browsing, search suggestions, and web notes.

3. File Explorer: File Explorer is a file management tool that allows users to browse, open, and
manage files and folders on their computers. It provides a user-friendly interface for users to
view and manage files and includes features such as search, copy, move, and delete.

4. Taskbar: Taskbar is a horizontal bar that appears at the bottom of the Windows desktop. It
provides quick access to frequently used applications and displays open windows and programs.
The taskbar also includes system icons such as volume, network, and battery status.

5. Microsoft Paint: Microsoft Paint is a graphics editing software that allows users to create and
edit images. It provides users with basic drawing tools such as a pencil, brush, and eraser, and
allows users to add shapes, text, and images to their designs.

6. Start Menu: Start Menu is a menu that appears when users click the Start button on the
Windows taskbar. It provides access to frequently used applications, settings, and files, and
includes a search bar that allows users to quickly find files and applications.

7. Task Manager: Task Manager is a system tool that allows users to view and manage running
applications and processes. It provides users with information about CPU and memory usage and
allows users to end unresponsive programs and processes.

8. Disk Cleanup: Disk Cleanup is a system tool that allows users to free up space on their hard
drives by removing unnecessary files and data. It scans the system for temporary files, cache,
and other unnecessary data, and provides users with the option to remove them.

9. Cortana: Cortana is a virtual assistant software that allows users to interact with their
computers using voice commands. It provides users with access to information, and reminders,
and can perform tasks such as sending emails and setting reminders.

Once you are logged in a window computer system, you will get dozens of applications, so you can
choose an option of your requirement. Many of the options have shortcut icon readily available on your
computer screen; however, in some computers, you may not find any such option on the screen; in such
a case, you can take the help of menu button (as shown in the image given below) −
Start Menu Options
The following table lists down the options that appear after clicking on the Start menu −

Option & Description

1. All programs
It displays all those programs, which are installed in your system.
2. Document
It displays a list of folders used by the user.
3. Recent file
It displays the recently used file.
4. My picture
It displays a list of pictures.
5. My music
It displays a list of music/song, etc.
6. My computer
It displays the drives of computer where user keeps his/her work, file, folder,
song, video, picture, e-book, etc.
7. Control panel
It displays all the installed computer programs (software).
8. Printer
It displays the installed printers (if printer is installed in the system, user can
take print easily).
9. Help (support)
It helps users to know how to do a particular task.
10. Search
It helps a user to find a file in computer.
11. Run
It helps to start an application program or execute a DOS command.
12. Setting
It has different options that help to manage different settings of the computer,
software as well as hardware.
13. Log Off
It helps a user to log off the currently logged in user of the system.
14. Sleep
It makes the system non-functional; however, puts the ongoing work and
settings in memory and also keeps drawing small amount of power.
15. Hibernation
Hibernation puts the open documents and programs on hard disk and then turns
off your computer; in comparison to ‗sleep‘, it uses very low power.
16. Restart
Its function is to shut down and again start (log on) computer; it is done
normally to refresh computer especially when computer is hanged.
17. Shut down
It simply shuts down the system.
Recycle Bin
Recycle Bin is a trash location where deleted files remain stored. Once you delete
any sort of file, it gets stored (automatically) into recycle bin; therefore, if you
mistakenly deleted some important file, don‘t panic, go to recycle bin and restore
it. However, if you deleted file from recycle bin as well, then it is very difficult to
restore that permanently deleted file.

Accessories

Windows operating system ships with some handy applications known as

Windows accessories. Calculator, Notepad, Paint, Explorer, WordPad are
some of the most frequently used accessories.

Calculator
Windows Calculator is a calculating application included in all the versions of Windows. It
can be used to perform simple calculation, scientific calculation and Programming
calculation.

• Choose Start >> Programs >> Accessories >> Calculator to start Calculator
application, or
• Alternately you can open Run dialog box (Start >> Run) dialog box then type calc
and hit enter.
• From View menu choose the required type of calculator – Standard,
Scientific, Programmer, Statistical
• Edit >> Copy and Paste commands can be used to input the numbers into calculator
or paste the result to other applications

Calculator was first included with Windows 1.0 as a simple arithmetic calculator. In Windows
3.0, a Scientific mode was added, which included exponents and roots, logarithms, factorial-
based functions, trigonometry (supports radian, degree and gradians angles), base
conversions (2, 8, 10, 16), logic operations, Statistic functions such as single variable
statistics and linear regression.
Paint

Paint (formerly Paintbrush for Windows) is a simple graphics painting

program that has been included with all versions of Microsoft Windows. It is often
referred to as MS Paint or Microsoft Paint. The program opens and saves files as
Windows bitmap (24-bit, 256 color, 16 color, and monochrome) .BMP, JPEG, GIF.
Paintbrush supports GIF without animation or transparency. Since Windows 98
Paint supports GIF with transparency. It also supports PNG (without alpha channel),
and TIFF (without multiple page support).

The program can be in color mode or two-color black-and-white, but

there is no grayscale mode. For its simplicity, it rapidly became one of the
most used applications in the early versions of Windows—introducing many
to painting on a computer for the first time—and still has strong associations
with the immediate usability of the old Windows workspace.
 Notepad

Notepad is a common text-only (plain text) editor. The resulting files—typically saved with the
.txt extension—have no format tags or styles, making the program suitable for editing
system files that are to be used in a DOS environment.

Notepad supports both left-to-right and right-to-left based languages, and one can alternate
between these viewing formats by using the right or left Ctrl+Shift keys to go to right-to-
left format or left-to-right format, respectively.

WordPad

Microsoft WordPad is a free rich text editor included with Microsoft Windows 95 and
the later. Earlier to Windows 95 there used to be an application called Write for the same
task. Although capable of doing much more than Notepad, WordPad is not as advanced as
Microsoft Word.

WordPad can format and print text, but lacks intermediate features such as a spell checker,
thesaurus, and support for tables. As such, it is suitable for writing letters or short pieces,
but underpowered for work that relies heavily on graphics or typesetting.
Control Panel

The Control Panel is a section of Microsoft Windows that enables a user to change
various computer hardware and software features. Settings for the mouse, display,
sound, network, and keyboard represent just a few examples of what may be modified in
the Control Panel. Below the Control Panel appeared in Windows.
Various Versions of Windows Operating System
Here are some of the major versions of the Windows Operating System:

1. Windows 1.0: This was the first version of the Windows Operating System,
released in 1985. It was a graphical user interface (GUI) for MS-DOS and included
features such as a calculator, calendar, and notepad.

2. Windows 2.0: This version was released in 1987, and introduced features such
as support for VGA graphics, keyboard shortcuts, and improved memory management.

3. Windows 3.0: This version was released in 1990, and was the first widely
successful version of the Windows Operating System. It introduced features such as
Program Manager, and File Manager, and improved support for graphics and multimedia.

4. Windows 95: This version was released in 1995, and was a major milestone for
Windows. It introduced the Start menu, taskbar, and support for plug-and-play
devices. It also included the Internet Explorer web browser.

5. Windows 98: This version was released in 1998, and included

improvements to the Start menu and taskbar, as well as support for USB devices.

6. Windows 2000: This version was released in 2000, and was designed for
business use. It included features such as Active Directory, improved network
support, and support for the NTFS file system.

7. Windows XP: This version was released in 2001 and was a major
overhaul of the Windows interface. It introduced a new visual style, improved
performance, and support for wireless networks.

8. Windows Vista: This version was released in 2006, and included a new
interface called Aero, as well as improved security features.

9. Windows 7: This version was released in 2009, and included improvements

to the Start menu, taskbar, and Aero interface. It also introduced new features such
as Jump Lists and Libraries.

10. Windows 8: This version was released in 2012, and was designed for
touchscreens and tablets. It introduced the Start screen, as well as new apps and
features such as Charms and Snap.

11. Windows 10: This version was released in 2015. It includes a

redesigned Start menu, support for virtual desktops, and new apps and features
such as Cortana and the Edge browser.

12. Windows 11: It is the latest version of the Windows operating system,
released by Microsoft in October 2021. It builds upon the foundation of Windows
10, with a focus on enhancing the user experience and improving performance and
security.

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Each version of the Windows Operating System has brought new features, improvements, and
changes.

List of Commands for Windows Operating System

Below is the list of some important commands for the Windows Operating System:

1. cd: This command is used to change the current directory. For example, you can use "cd
Documents" to change to the Documents directory.

2. cls: This command is used to clear the screen of any text or commands that were
previously entered.

3. dir: This command is used to display a list of files and directories in the current
directory.

4. move: This command is used to move a file from one location to another.

5. ipconfig: This command displays the current network configuration of your computer,
including the IP address, subnet mask, and default gateway.

6. ping: This command is used to test the connection between your computer and another
device on the network. It sends packets of data to the device and measures the response
time.

7. nslookup: This command is used to query the Domain Name System (DNS) to retrieve
information about a specific domain or hostname.

8. tracert: This command is used to trace the path that data takes from your computer to
another device on the network. It shows the routers and other devices that the data
passes through.

9. sfc: This command scans and repairs system files that have been corrupted or modified.

10. attrib: This command is used to change the attributes of a file or directory, such as
read-only or hidden.

11. copy: This command is used to copy files and directories from one location to another.

12. find: This command is used to search for a specific string of text within a file.

13. del: This command is used to delete a file or directory.

Difference between Linux and Windows Operating System

Here is a table comparing some of the key differences between Linux and Windows operating
systems:

Windows Operating
Feature Linux Operating System
System

Allows use of command Offers more features for

Command
line, but not as powerful administration and daily
Line
as Linux. tasks.

More reliable and secure

Reliability Less reliable than Linux.
than Windows.

The installation process is

Easier to use, but the
complicated but once
Usability installation process can
installed it can perform
take more time.
complex tasks easily.

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 Windows Operating
Feature Linux Operating System
System

Vulnerable to malware More secure than

and viruses, but security Windows, with less
Security
is improved in recent vulnerability to malware
years. and viruses.

Gives users full control

Regular updates can be
over updates, which are
Updates frustrating for users, and
quicker to install and do
take longer to install.
not require a reboot.

Does not allow

modification of software, Allows modification and
Licensing only available on reuse of source code on
systems with a Windows any number of systems.
license key.

Conclusion
In conclusion, the Windows operating system has evolved over the years to become one of the most
widely used operating systems in the world, with a range of features and functionalities that cater to
the needs of different users. From its intuitive graphical user interface to its command-line interface,
Windows offers a variety of options for users to interact with the system.

FAQs
Here are some frequently asked questions about the Windows Operating System:
Q1: What is the purpose of Windows Task Manager in the Windows Operating System?
Answer: The purpose of Windows Task Manager in the Windows Operating System is to provide
users with information about running processes and applications on their system. It allows users to
monitor system performance and can be used to end unresponsive programs and processes.
Q2: What is the Windows Registry in Windows Operating System?
Answer: The Windows Registry is a database that stores settings and configurations for the
Windows Operating System. It includes information about user accounts, software applications,
system settings, and hardware configurations.
Q3: What is Windows Defender in Windows Operating System?
Answer: Windows Defender is a built-in antivirus software that provides protection against malware
and viruses. It is included with Windows 10 and is available for download on other versions of the
Windows Operating System.
Q4: What is the purpose of Disk Cleanup in the Windows Operating System?
Answer: The purpose of Disk Cleanup in the Windows Operating System is to free up space on your
hard drive by removing unnecessary files and data. It scans the system for temporary files, cache,
and other unnecessary data, and provides users with the option to remove them.
Q5: Can I use multiple users accounts on Windows Operating System?
Answer: Yes, you can use multiple user accounts on Windows Operating System. You can create
separate user accounts for each user, and each user can have their own settings and preferences.
Q6: What is the difference between Windows 10 Home and Windows 10 Pro?
Answer: Windows 10 Home is designed for home users and includes basic features such as
Windows Defender, Cortana, and the Start menu. Windows 10 Pro is designed for business users
and includes additional features such as Remote Desktop, BitLocker, and Hyper-V.
https://www.prepbytes.com/blog/operating-system/windows-operating-system/

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MS Windows 4
ADDITIONAL FEATURES

Popup Menu

Properties Option

Fig: 1.7 Popup Menu on free space at Desktop

Click on “Properties” option, a dialog box, ”Display

Properties” appears. In this dialog box we get
Desktop Tab. Click on Desktop Tab → Choose the
background file (we can also choose another file on
different location for the background with the help of
Browse option) → Set this background as (Tiled,
Center or Stretch) by using Position option→ Apply it
and Click on OK.

Screen Saver:
Screen Saver is a graphical program which starts
automatically when the computer is left idle for quite
some time (Wait Time). It protects the screen and
when user touches the mouse or hit keyboard, Fig: 1.8 display Properties Dialog box
it automatically disappears. Screen Saver starts
automatically after a fixed time as user feed it.
There are different types of screen savers; user can change it and set it as he/she wants.
We can change or set the screen saver in following ways:

Right Click on Desktop→ Choose the “Properties” option in popup menu →A dialog box
“Display Properties” appears. Choose Screen Saver Tab→ Choose the type of Screen Saver
as you want to set→ After this give the wait time of Screen Saver→ To check it click on
preview option→ To apply it, click on Apply Button→ and finally click on OK button.

Start Button:
At the extreme bottom on desktop we get a bar called as “Task bar”. On this Task bar we
get a very important button better known as “Start” button. Click on start button and start
menu appears in the form of a list. Start menu contains many options related to the
computer system & programs. Here we get all programs option to start any program
which is loaded in our computer system, Search option to the search the files & folders,
Help & Support, Control Panel for the setting of computer programs, Hardware parts and
Printer & Fax setting, Run option to run any program etc. All the running tasks (programs)
is displayed on task bar.

Quick Launch Icons:

Those icons which are displayed on the task bar are known as Quick Launch Icons. By
these icons we can start any program directly & also minimize the entire window at a time
(Show desktop icon). We can also include new programs in it.

System Tray (Date & Time):

In the system tray we can see some icons of system software which are currently
activated or deactivated. One can Set the date & time of computer system & manage the
task bar. To set the date & time of computer system double click on task bar where date &
time are being displayed. Now we can adjust our system date & time according to our
desire.

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MS Windows 3

(This symbol means a

secondary menu is attached to
option)

To modify system setting

To install Printer and to get

information

To get help from here

Search for Files and Folder

Open items and Run other

Fig: 1.4 Start Button

Mouse:
It’s an input device. Some times it is also taken as pointing device. We input data and
instructions through mouse. Apart from these we can point or select any item or object
with the help of mouse. Generally it has two buttons, called as left button and right button
respectively. Some mouse has three buttons. Sometime we have a wheel between the
buttons of the mouse; through which scrolling can be done (These mice are known as
Scroll Mouse).

Single click:
Clicking (pressing and immediately releasing the mouse button) once the left button of
mouse is known as single click. We can choose or select the item by single click. To select
the item press left button of your mouse on the item and then release immediately.

Double click:
Double click is the method by which we can open any folder or file. To double click, press
the left button of mouse twice quickly.

Drag & Drop:

Drag & Drop is an action by which we can drag our files or folders from one position to
another. To drag any file or folder, click the left button of the mouse and without releasing
the same drag it till the target position, now release the left button. Thus the file or folder
can be moved from one position to another.

Right Click:
Clicking the Right button of mouse is known as right click. Right click is a special
command by which we can find out related option about the selected item in a listed
format. For Right Click, click right button of mouse once. As you press the right button of
mouse, a popup menu appears and it displays some related option in it to choose from. To
choose any option, click on it once.

Terminologies about the topics:

Desktop:
The very first window which displays different icons like My Computer, My Documents, and
Recycle Bin etc is known as Desktop. At the background we can place some pictures
known as wallpaper.

Icon:
A graphical representation of a program, file, folder, or application etc is known as an
Icon. There are three types of Icons.

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MS Windows 4

System Icon: These icons are related with the computer system, through which we can
get any information about the system.

Program Icon: These icons are related with the programs of computer system; through
which we can start any program on our computer system.

Folder Icon: These icons are created by the user which can be any file or any folder. To
open any file or folder, simply double click on its icon.

Folder:
Folder is a specific in any of the secondary memories space where user can store their
files. We can make a new folder through the following ways:
Firstly select that location where you want to create a new folder. Click the right button of
mouse on free space. A popup menu appears on the screen. Choose the “New” option and
again a submenu appears. Choose the “New Folder” Option. A new folder will be created
on the selected location. The name of the new folder will be seen selected. Simply type
the name of the folder. Folder is created.

Subfolders:
A folder which is created in an existing folder is known as Subfolder. We can create more
than one folder in a selected folder and all folders will be called as subfolders. To create a
new subfolder, select the folder where you want to create a new subfolder. Open the
folder and press the right button of mouse in a free space. Choose the “New” option in the
popup menu and a submenus appears and then choose the Folder option. A new folder
appears. Give a name to this subfolder.

File:
The data which is now stored in a folder or a sub folder is called as a file. We even can
store a file in root directory too; but it is strongly recommended to store the same in a
folder or sub folder. File can be saved while working on a software through its “Save As”
command. The changes in the file can be saved through “Save” command.

My Computer:
My computer is a system icon. It contains the information about our computer system. We
can get the information regarding hard drive, floppy drive, CD drive & Document etc
through My Computer. Any drive can be opened directly by clicking the icons of the drives
in MY Computer window. It can also show the information about the drive which are
selected. It gives the information about My Document, My Network Place, Shared
Document, Control Panel etc. We can also change or modify the settings of the selected
item.

My Document:
My Document is a storage location created by Windows, where all files are saved by
default when user does not specify any specific location to save the file. This is the default
location where the files are stored when a user chooses the save option.

Recycle Bin:
It’s again a by default location where all our deleted file and folders are stored. This is a
system icon & found at Desktop. The deleted files or folders can be restored or deleted
permanently from the recycle bin. Open Recycle Bin and select any item in it. Now one
can delete the item by pressing the delete key on keyboard. After pressing the delete key
the files or folder will be deleted permanently from Recycle Bin. If we want to restore the
file or folder, right click on it. A list of options is displayed in a popup menu (Restore,
Delete, Cut) choose the option what you want to do. Press the restore option to restore
the file. Through “CUT” option we can remove the file from Recycle Bin and can paste the
same at any other desired location.

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MS Windows 5

My Network Places:
It is also a system icon. It contains the information about the network of computers.
Through My Network Places we can get the information as to how many computers are
connected with our computer. We can share the data & information from this location.

Icons

Background

Start Button
System Tray

Quick Launch Icons

Fig 1.5: Desktop of Windows

Standard Toolbar Address Bar
Title Bar Menu Bar

Working Space
or Body

Fig: 1.6 Diagram of a Window

Window:
A rectangular area on the screen where any program can run or start is known as window
of the program.

Different Bars in a window:

There are different bars in a window. These are as following-

Title Bar: At the top position of any window we get a bar that is known as Title Bar. Title
Bar Displays the title of the program and the file name in the left side of the bar and in
the right side we get three buttons that are Minimize, Restore, and Close.
Menu Bar: Menu bar appears beneath title bar. On menu bar we get different menus to
ease out of our work. In each menu we get sub menus or the options related to the
program.
Tool Bar: Toolbar appears below the menu bar. Toolbar contains the tools by which we
can work in the work space. Many tools are available in tool bar. The tools in the tool bar
are used for quick and rapid computing action.

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MS Windows 6

Address Bar: This bar is used to give the address of the location where we want to store
the data or want to go to any selected destination. (e.g.: My computer, Local Disk C:\, D:\
etc.)

Task Bar: Task Bar displays at the bottom of the window. On Task Bar we get the
information about the task that how many programs are opened currently.

Use of (Minimize, Maximize/Restore & Close Buttons)

Minimize, Maximize/Restore and Close Buttons are available on the Title Bar at the
extreme right side. They all have their different application as given below.

Minimize Button:
This button appears on the title bar at the left side of restore button. If we press this
button, the window shrinks and is placed within the task bar. To restore this window to its
previous position, just click the tab of the related windows at task bar.

Restore Button:
This button appears in the middle of minimize & close button on the title bar at the right
side. This button is used to restore the size of the window. After pressing the left button of
mouse on restore button the size of window becomes small. We can also adjust it
according to our requirements.

Maximize Button:
This button appears after restoring the window size. We can maximize the screen area by
clicking this button. Again if pressed, it reduces the screen area; so that items beneath
this window can be seen.

Close Button:
This button appears on the title bar at right position of the restore button. This button is
used to close the program window. While working on any software if close button is
pressed, you will be prompt to save the changes made to the file. Make sure to press on
“Yes” button to save the file and to prevent the data loss.

Cut, copy & Paste:

Cut: Removing any folder (Item) from its location in such a way that the same can be
fixed at some other location, it called “Cut”.
Copy: Making copy of any folder (Item) from any location in such a way that the copy can
be fixed at any other location is called “Copy”.
Paste: Fixing any already cut or copied Folder (Item) at any new location is called
“Paste”.

Folder Creation & Browsing through My Computer:

Firstly select that location (Suppose D:\ Drive) where you want to create a new folder.

Free Space

Fig: 1.9 Free space for creating New Folder

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 MS Windows 7

To choose the location, open My Computer and open D:\ Drive. Click the right button of
mouse on any free space. As you click the right button of mouse, a popup menu appears
on the screen. Click on the “New” option and again a submenu appears. Click on the
“Folder” Option.
New option
to create a Choose older
new Folder Option

Type the name of

folder here

Fig: 1.10 Folder Creation

A new folder will be created on the selected location. Type the name of the folder
Cut a folder:
Step 1: To cut a folder choose folder that you wants to cut
Step 2: Right Click on the folder
Step 3: Popup menu appears and click on “Cut” Option

Folder

Cut option

Copy a folder:
Step 1: To copy a folder choose folder that you wants to copy
Step 2: Right Click on the folder
Step 3: Popup menu appears and choose “Copy” Option

Folder
After using cut or copy option we can paste
folder at any selected location

Copy option

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MS Windows 8

Paste:
To paste a folder after using cut or copy option
Step 1: choose the location where you want to paste the folder
Step 2: Click the right button of mouse on a free or selected area
Step 3: A popup menu appears, click on the paste option

Paste option

Free area
where we want
to paste the
folder

After using paste option we can see the folder (which was previously cut or copied)

Pasted Folder

To delete a folder:
Step 1: Choose the folder
Step 2: Right Click on selected folder
Step 3: A Popup menu appears, choose “Delete” option
Step 4: A dialog box displays to make sure that you want to delete the folder

Selected Folder

Confirmation Dialog box to delete the

selected Folder

Delete option

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MS Windows 9

Step 5: Click on “Yes” option to send your folder in recycle bin.

Rename a folder
To change the name of a folder
Step 1: Choose the folder which you have to rename Selected Folder

Step 2: Right Click on folder

Step 3: Choose “Rename” option
Step 4: Type the name of folder as you want

Rename option
New name of folder

Use of My Network Places:

We can share our data, file or folder from one computer to another by using the My
Network Place & also get the information about the attached computers. Apart from the
data sharing, we also can share the recourses like printers and others peripherals
connected with the network. Using client & server based software we can use the
application software in multi user interface where data is stored on a main computer
called as server and on all nodes we get the interface of the software.
To share the data, file or folder or get the information of
attached computer
Step 1: Open My Network Place Folder from desktop
Step 2: You will get the list of attached computer or drives
My Network Place
Step 3: Right click on given node icon.
Step 4: Chose open option to get more information about the

Clipboard:
The clipboard is a temporary storage space for data that is being copied or moved. The
clipboard generally stores only one set of data which can be almost of any size of length.
The contents of the clipboard are cleared each time when you select a new set of data and
choose either cut or copy command again. Clip board is a memory where data are stored
after using cut or copy option. This is a volatile memory because when we shut our
computer this data will be lost. The capacity of clip board memory is of 24 clips.

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MS Windows 10

Basic Windows Accessories:

The Windows operating system comes
equipped with basic accessories
software like Calculator, Paint, Notepad,
WordPad etc.

Notepad:
It’s a Windows by default application
software. It’s a word processor used for Title Bar Menu Bar
typing. Note pad can be used to open files
that do not need formatting and are less
then 64K

To open Notepad click Start→ Point to All

Programs→ Point to Accessories→ and
then click → Notepad. Task Bar

A Typical window of Note Pad

Word pad:
It’s a text editing software which can be used to create and edit simple text documents or
documents with complex formatting and graphics. Word pad is used to open and format
small document larger than 64K.
To open WordPad click Start→ Point to All Programs→ Point to Accessories→ and then
click WordPad.

Title Bar
Menu Bar
Tool Bar
Formatting Toolbar

Working Space

Status Bar

A Typical window of Word Pad

Paint:
Paint is used to create, edit and view pictures. We can paste a Paint picture into another
document which we have created. A Paint picture can be set as desktop background. We
can even use Paint to view and edit scanned photos.
To start Paint click at Start→ Point to All Programs→ Point to Accessories →and then click
at Paint.

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MS Windows 11

A Typical window of Paint

Freeform Select
Select

Eraser Fill Colour

Pick Colour Magnifier
Pencil Brush
Airbrush Text
Line Curve
Rectangle Polygon

Windows Explorer:
Windows Explorer displays the hierarchical structure of files, folders, and drives on your
computer. It also shows any network drives that have been mapped to drive letters on
your computer. Using Windows Explorer, you can copy, move, rename, and search for
files and folders. For example, you can open a folder that contains a file you want to copy
or move, and then drag the file to another folder or drive.
• To open Windows Explorer, click Start, point to Programs, point to Accessories, and
then click Windows Explorer. (or)
• Open any window through My Computer. Click on “View” menu, point to “Explorer
Bar” and then point to “Folder”.

Window of Windows Explorer

We see the screen spitted into parts, left and right. In left part we see all the drives,
folders and sub folders in tree structure where as in right part any drive, folder or sub
folder can be seen in opened position. Cut, copy, paste or move actions can be
performed easily as discussed before.

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 12

Shutting Down the Computer:

When we are finished with working on computer, we are
ready to switch off our computer. But, we need to properly
shutdown our computer. If we properly shut down our
computer, our operating system firstly saves any Windows
setting that we changed and writes any information that is
currently stored in memory to our hard disk. This prepares
our computer to be turned off safely.
To shut down our computer click the start button and then click “Turn Off” Computer. The Turn
Off computer Dialog box pops up. Click on Turn Off button (To restart the computer click on
Restart button)

Memory (Primary, Cache, and Secondary)

Memory is most often used to refer to the primary storage, such as RAM. Memory is also the
location of information processing. Memory is of three types.
The data and instructions required to process raw input and generate output are stored in a
computer’s memory. A computer’s memory is split into many tiny pieces known as cells. Each cell
has a unique address ranging from 0 to memory size minus one. There are two forms of memory
in a computer: volatile (RAM) and non-volatile (ROM). Secondary memory (hard disc) is stored
rather than memory. However, if we classify memory in terms of space or location, we may divide
it into four types:
1. Register memory
2. Cache memory
3. Primary memory
4. Secondary memory

What is the significance of memory in a computer?

Each component in the computer functions at a different pace and memory provides a location for
your computer to retrieve data swiftly. A computer would be substantially slower if the CPU had to
wait for a secondary storage device, such as a hard disc drive.

What is Register Memory?

Register memory is the smallest and fastest memory in a computer. It is not a part of the main
memory and is in the CPU in the form of registers, which are the smallest data holding elements. A
register temporarily holds frequently used data, instructions, and memory address that are to be
used by CPU. They hold instructions that are currently processed by the CPU. All data is required to
pass through registers before it can be processed. So, they are used by CPU to process the data
entered by the users.
Registers hold a small amount of data around 32 bits to 64 bits. The speed of a CPU depends on
the number and size (no. of bits) of registers that are built into the CPU.

Registers can be of different types based on their uses. Some of the widely used Registers include
Accumulator or AC, Data Register or DR, the Address Register or AR, Program Counter (PC), I/O
Address Register, and more.

What is Primary Memory?

Primary memory is a computer’s memory that is accessed first or directly by a processor or
computer. It enables a processor to access ongoing execution apps and services temporarily saved
in a specified memory. The term “primary memory” may also refer to “primary storage” or “main
memory.”
Primary memory is the volatile storing mechanism of a computer system. It may refer to random
access memory (RAM), cache memory, or data buses, although it is most often connected with a
computer’s RAM.
Primary memory loads all running programmes, including the basic operating system (OS), user
interface, and any user-installed and running software utility, as soon as a computer boots up.
When a programme or application is launched in the main memory, it interacts with the system
processor to complete all application-specific tasks. Secondary memory is said to be slower than
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primary memory.

Types of Computer Memory

Although there are different types of memory in a computer, the most fundamental difference is
between primary memory, also known as system memory, and secondary memory, often known
as storage.

The significant distinction between primary and secondary memory is access speed.

Primary memory, which consists of ROM and RAM, is positioned near the CPU on the computer
motherboard, allowing the CPU to access data from primary memory relatively rapidly. It is used to
store data that the CPU needs immediately to avoid waiting for it to be delivered.

On the other hand, secondary memory is often housed in a separate storage device such as a hard
disc drive or solid-state drive (SSD), which is linked to the computer system either directly or over
a network. Secondary memory has a far cheaper cost per gigabyte, but the read and write speeds
are substantially slower.

Cache Memory
Cache memory is a tiny sort of volatile computer memory that stores frequently used computer
programmes, applications, and data and offers high-speed data access to a CPU. The cache is
temporary memory storage that enables data retrieval to be simpler and more efficient. It is the
computer’s quickest memory, and it is usually built into the motherboard and immediately
incorporated into the processor or primary random access memory (RAM).
Cache memory decreases the average time it takes to access data from the Main memory. The
cache is a smaller and speedier memory that stores duplicates of data from frequently accessed
central memory locations. A CPU has several caches that store instructions and data.

Difference Between Primary, Cache and Secondary Memory

Parameter Primary Memory Cache Memory Secondary Memory

Definition Primary memory Cache Secondary memory is
is computer memory temporarily non-volatile and
memory that a stores frequently persistent in nature and is
processor or used instructions not directly accessed by a
computer and data. computer/processor.
accesses first or
directly.
Proximity Comparatively far Comparatively closer Far
with CPU
Speed Slow Faster Slow
Cost Not as expensive Expensive Less expensive than
primary
Capacity Capacity is more Capacity is low Capacity is substantial

Conclusion
Computer memory is like the human brain but is used to save information and inputs. It is the
storage space in a computer where data is to be processed, and processing instructions are kept.
Memory is split into a vast number of small sections known as cells. Each place or cell has a
specific address that ranges from 0 to memory size – 1. There are three types of memory: Cache
Memory, Primary Memory/Main Memory, and Secondary Memory.

Common Questions:

What are the different kinds of memory in a computer?

Ans: There are two kinds of memory in a computer: primary and secondary memory. Random
Access Memory (RAM) is a kind of volatile memory, while Read-Only Memory (ROM) is non-volatile
memory.
Is cache a kind of memory?
Ans: Cache memory, often known as cache, is a supplemental memory system that temporarily
 14
stores frequently used instructions and data for faster processing by a computer’s central
processing unit (CPU). The cache supplements and extends a computer’s primary memory.
What are the different kinds of memory in a computer?
Ans: There are two kinds of memory in a computer: primary and secondary memory. Random
Access Memory (RAM) is a kind of volatile memory, while Read-Only Memory (ROM) is non-volatile
memory.
Is ROM a kind of memory?
Ans : RAM (random access memory) and ROM (read-only memory) are present in a computer.
RAM is a kind of volatile memory that briefly holds the data you are working on. ROM is a non-
volatile memory that has instructions for your computer indefinitely.

What is an auxiliary memory?

Ans : Auxiliary memory stores programmes and data for later use, and since it is non-volatile (like
ROM), it is used to store inactive programmes and data. Punched paper tape, punched cards, and
magnetic drums were early kinds of extra storage.

What is the primary memory of a computer?

Ans : Primary memory, sometimes known as RAM, is the central, internal workspace in a
computer. RAM capacity is generally denoted by specifications such as 4 GB, 8 GB, 12 GB, and 16
GB. Disk or solid-state storage capabilities on a computer, on the other hand, are often 128 GB or
256 GB or more significant.