How Computer Works _ _ Learn Introduction to Computer Working
How Computer Works _ _ Learn Introduction to Computer Working
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If you are looking for simple introduction to how computer works then you have
The entire computer functions can be broadly grouped into four basic operations.
These functions include input operations, storage operations, data processing and
output operations.
The computer system consist of both hardware components and the software
components. The software provides a set of instructions which directs the various
Course Contents
SECTION – 1
Types Of Computers
SECTION – 3
SECTION – 4
SECTION – 5
SECTION – 6
Computer Bus System
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SECTION – 7
SECTION – 8
SECTION – 9
SECTION – 10
Procedural Programming
Programming Paradigms
Program Compilation
SECTION – 11
Software Engineering
Application Software
This is a comprehensive step by step guide for you to learn the entire logical
System Software
sequence of operations performed by the computer system.
SECTION – 12
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Let us take a quick look at the series of operations performed by the computer Database Normalization
from the start till the shut down when computer is powered off. Database Keys
SECTION – 16
SECTION – 17
The computer performs power supply Check ( POST ).
MySQL RDBMS
The Computer Booting Process Is Initiated.
SECTION – 18
The Firmware BIOS Initiates the process to loads the operating System.
Android Development
The BIOS performs initial hardware check.
SECTION – 19
The BIOS Loads the operating system.
Java Programming Basics
The BIOS hands over the system control to main operating system.
SECTION – 20
The Operating System becomes fully operational.
What Is Computer Hardware ?
The user starts to interact with computer via operating system.
What Is Computer Motherboard ?
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The user can store the processed data into the permanent memory.
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What is a computer ?
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various user specified operations such as data processing, calculations, computer What Is Web Hosting ? | How to select
Best Web Hosting ? | Hosting Types
graphic, word processing and many such applications.
A computer basically works by performing four basic operations. These four basic
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A computer basically works by performing four basic operations. These four basic
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A binary code is represented using binary number system in which each number
is represented using only two numbers that is either numeric zero ( 0 ) or one ( 1
).
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YouTube
operate the computer hardware components and also to perform user specified
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The user may use the computer for various operations such as data processing ,
The computer software can be broadly grouped into two categories that is system
The system software components are used by the computer itself to operate and
control the various hardware components and other hardware devices connected
to the system .
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Whereas, the application software are computer program specially created to allow
the user to perform various operations such as creating documents , image editing ,
the specifications. The system architecture also defines the various performance
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The system architecture does not specify any specific brand for various components
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The computer architecture is also defied as set of rules and methods that defines
specific instruction set architecture ( ISA ) and its implementation into the
processor microarchitecture.
The ISA defines the machine code that processor can decode and execute the
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computer programs are generally written in using any high level programming
languages .
Since computer understands only machine code instructions in binary , a high level
program first needs to be converted into machine code instructions in Binary. This
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The binary machine instructions can be directly executed by the computer system .
The low level machine code in binary consist of only patterns of 0 ( zero ) and 1 (
one ).
And therefore , the computer programs are first written using a human friendly high
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type of system software that gets loaded first into the memory each time when the
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The operating system also performs some of the most important functions such as
management.
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The computer hardware components include of all the electronic components and
the system.
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These external components attached to the system are also commonly referred to
as peripheral devices .
The peripheral devices include input devices such as keyboard , mouse , scanner ,
camera and other input devices . The standard output peripheral devices include
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Computer Case
The computer case ( cabinet ) provides a secured enclosed space to the system in
The computer case also provides secure mechanical slots in which various internal
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The internal hardware components are placed inside casing include power unit (
Microprocessor ( CPU )
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The central processing unit ( CPU ) is the brain of the computer . The CPU is also
The CPU is responsible to perform all the arithmetic calculations and logical
operations . The CPU is securely mounted inside CPU socket present on the
motherboard .
The CPU mainly provides the processing power to the computer and therefore the
system performance is significantly depends upon the processor type and speed .
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The motherboard is the main circuit board inside the computer system .The
motherboard also works as a junction point where other vital components are
RAM modules mounted inside slots , integrated controller chipset north bridge and
The motherboard also provide various connection sockets to connect the hard disk
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What Is Motherboard ?
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The main memory RAM is considered to be the main system memory. The Random
Access Memory modules are mounted inside slots present on the motherboard.
The CPU starts the program execution only when it is loaded into the main
memory. The most commonly used RAM size for is 4 GB , 8 GB and 16 GB.
The main system memory is a critical resource that is managed by the operating
system . The main memory RAM is also referred as primary memory or volatile
memory .
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The main memory RAM has limited capacity and therefore , the computer makes use of
another storage device called disk memory. Disk memory is also referred as secondary
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memory.
The disk memory is installed in the system either as hard disk inside the cabinet or
The disk memory is considered to be the secondary memory. The hard disk
memory is mounted inside the specific mechanical slot inside the system casing.
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The disk memory has relatively much higher capacity as compared to the main
memory RAM and it is managed by the operating system . The disk memory is also
The power supply unit ( SMPS – Switched Mode Power Supply ) is responsible to
The SMPS power supply unit is connected to the input power source ( 110 V US ,
220 V UK , India ) . The SMPS provides power output with multiple output wires for
This power supply to the system is managed and checked by the power unit
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The input and output devices are standard feature for almost all computer systems.
Input Devices
The computer system use different types input devices which allow the user to
interact with the computer system and accept the user input data .
The most commonly used input devices include keyboard , mouse , scanner , bar-
code reader , camera , mic and other such devices.
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Output Devices
The computer system use different types output devices to allow the user to use
the processed data for different applications and display the processed data or
The most commonly used Output devices include display monitor , printer , plotter ,
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The computer system use two types of software components which includes both
Application Software
The application software are designed to provide various functionality . The user
needs different types of application software to perform various operations .
For example , the most commonly used application software include Microsoft
Office . The MS Office internally consist of group of software and each provides a
specific functionality to the use such as MS Word , Power Point and MS Excel.
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System Software
operating system is the most commonly used operating system present in every
computer .
The operating system internally use other system software components such as
The operating system interacts with various hardware components with the help of
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So far we have learned the basics of computer system , various software and
The entire computer functions can be broadly grouped into four basic operations
which include input operations , storage operations , data processing and output
operations
Let us now understand how computer works step by step and the interaction that
happens between the various components after the system is powered on.
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Step - 1
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When the computer system is first powered on , the first job for the computer is to
ensure that the computer is getting adequate and designated power supply to the
system .
The system power supply unit carries out self-test called POST. The POST stands for
The POST test checks the computer systems internal hardware for compatibility ,
connection and ensures that no errors exist before loading the operating system .
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Only after successful completion of the POST , the bootstrap loader routine on
the BIOS chip is invoked to load the operating system . If the POST fails then
After successfully completing the POST ( Power On Self Test ) , the BIOS then
attempt to loads the operating system ( OS ) into the main system memory RAM (
The OS is located either on the internal hard disk attached to the computer system
OR from bootable OS disk in the CD ROM drive. The BIOS will pass the control to
the operating system once the it is fully loaded
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Step - 2
The user can start using the computer when the operating system is fully loaded
and operational . And therefore , the microprocessor’s first job is to locate and
initiate the process of loading the operating system every time the computer
system is switched on .
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The CPU loads the Operating system with the help of another system utility
BIOS stands for Basic Input Output System. The BIOS is a system utility program
which loads the operating system when computer is switched on. Learn More :
Step - 3
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The operating system allocates the necessary resources in terms of memory ( RAM )
The operating system then loads the executable copy of the program ( machine
code instructions ) and associated data into the main memory RAM .
The operating system efficiently manages the memory requirement needed for
accommodate the memory requirement for the processes that exceeds the
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Step - 4
The microprocessor is the brain of the computer system which provide the
The CPU initiates the program execution by fetching the program instructions and
The CPU executes the program instructions one by one and operates on the data as
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In order to execute the program , the CPU repetitively performs a sequence of four
steps called instruction cycle. Depending upon the CPU microarchitecture CPU
might internally require one or more machine cycles to execute the instruction. The
The processed data after the CPU operation is sent back and stored into the main
memory . This processed data can be sent to any output device such as display
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What Is Machine Cycle ? | Difference Between Machine Cycle And Instruction Cycle | CPU Cycle
The instruction cycle is the time required by the CPU to execute one program
instruction. It is the time taken by CPU to fetch , decode and execute one single
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instruction.
Depending upon the processor architecture , the processor takes either one or
READ MORE
What Is Instruction Cycle ? | Fetch , Decode And Execute Cycle Explained Step By Step
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