Chapter 4 : System Software

• System software: • Starting the computer

- Consists of all the programs that enable -Booting—loading the OS into RAM
the computer and its peripheral devices o Cold boot: Starting computer when it
to function smoothly has not yet been turned on
- Divided into two main categories: o Warm boot: Restarting a computer that
1) Operating System (OS) is already on
2) System utilities (utility programs)
-The Six Steps of Booting a System-
• Step 1: Activate the BIOS and
1] Operating System (OS):
Setup Program
• Five basic functions:
-BIOS (Basic Input/Output System)
1. Starts the computer
instructions provide the computer with
2. Manages applications
descriptions of the internal equipment
3. Manages memory
(typically the hard disk, RAM…)
4. Handles input and output
o BIOS is encoded on ROM (read-only
device messages memory)
5. Provides a user interface for o Does not control external devices (jump
communication drives and speakers)
-Setup program
o Includes settings that control computer
hardware
o Do not alter—making incorrect changes
to a BIOS device will cause the system not to
boot

figure in slide [3]

• OS coordinates:
-Interactions of hardware components to
each other
-Interactions between application
figure in slide [8]
software and computer hardware
• The OS is most often located on a After the BIOS is located, you may briefly
hard disk, although it can be stored and see the BIOS screen, a text-only screen
that provides information about
loaded from a USB drive, CD, or DVD.
BIOS-controlled devices.

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• Step 2: Initiate the Power-On • Step 6: Authenticate a User
Self-Test -Verifies authorized users
-Power-on self-test (POST)—series of Authentication/login user name and
tests to confirm that both the computer password
and its peripheral devices are working -Profile—a record of a specific user’s
properly preferences for the desktop theme, icons,
-If the POST fails: and menu styles
o A beep will sound. -Account—for multiuser computer
o An error message will appear on the systems, each user has an account
monitor. o Consists of user name, password, and
o The computer will stop. storage space
o Created by server/computer
• Step 3: Load the Operating System administrator
-BIOS initiates search for OS
o Usually in HD then optical disk (search -Now OS is loaded and running
order) ready to manage applications-
o Loads the kernel into memory—central • Managing applications:
part OS -Single-tasking OSs— run only one
-OS takes control of computer and loads the
application at a time
system configuration information
-Multitasking OSs (current)— permit
more than one application to run at same
• Step 4: Configure the System time
-Operating system o Foreground application is the active one
o Checks the registry- Database that o Background applications appear inactive
stores configuration information about -Preemptive multitasking—ensures all
software and peripherals choices
applications have fair access to the CPU
o Installs and loads needed drivers (Utility
programs containing instructions for the
proper functioning of peripheral devices) • Managing memory:
o Automatically detects plug-and-play -If OS had to constantly access program
(PnP) devices instructions from their storage location
o Checks for conflicts between devices on your computer’s HD, programs would
run very slowly
• Step 5: Load System Utilities -Buffer—Area that holds data and
-Antivirus software instructions temporarily to make
-Speaker volume control programs run faster
-Power management options -RAM memory functions as the buffer
-When the operating system finishes -OS gives each program a portion of
loading, you may see a request for a user RAM memory and keeps them from
name and password (authentication or interfering with each other
login) -Today’s OSs can make the computer’s
RAM seem larger than it really is

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• Managing memory (cont.): • Coordinating Tasks:
-Virtual memory—uses portion of HD to -Device drivers—enable communication
extend RAM between computer and devices
o When RAM is full, OS temporarily stores -Interrupts—signals created by input
copies of pages in a swap file, a special hard and output devices that notify the OS
disk file when actions are taken
o When the pages are needed, they are -Examples: the user pressing a key, the
copied back into RAM mouse moving to a new position, or
o Transferring files between RAM and the
notice that a document is waiting to print
hard disk— paging
-Interrupt request (IRQ)—actual
o Pages—units of fixed size, contain
program instructions and data
interrupting of an event by an interrupt
o Excessive paging—thrashing it slows signal
down the system -Interrupt handlers—mini-programs
that immediately respond when an
interrupt occurs
-Interrupt vector table—in case of
multiple interrupts, it holds responses
from multiple interrupts in RAM, where
the OS processes them in highest to
lowest priority order

figure in slide [18] • Providing the user interface

allows the user to:
-Adding more RAM is the best way to
-Start application programs
improve computer performance:
o Paging slows computer
-Manage storage devices
o Accessing data from hard disk is slower -Safely shut down the computer
than accessing from RAM • Types of user interfaces
-With sufficient RAM, the OS makes 1. Graphical user interface (GUI)
minimal use of virtual memory 2. Menu-driven user interface
3. Command-line user interface
• Instead of using the hard drive for
virtual memory,Windows Vista and
Windows 7 come with Windows
ReadyBoost, a feature that allows for
the allocation ofspace on removable
memory devices that can be used to
increase the size of RAM memory.
• ReadyBoost performance is better
than hard disk virtual memory figure in slide [23]
because accessing files on flash
memory (USB flash drives) is quicker
than accessing information on a hard
drive.
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• Graphical user interface (GUI) : • Linux :
-Uses icons—small images that represent -Open source software—source code is
computer resources used to initiate available to users
actions (Appear on the desktop—work -Powerful and free
area created after the OS loads into -Features such as:
memory) o Multitasking o Internet support
-Sidebar—invisible 1-inch vertical strip o Virtual memory o GUI
on the right side of the desktop, holds -Disadvantages:
user designated gadgets o Lack of technical support prevents
-Programs you open will appear in the adoption in corporate environments
center of the desktop. o Difficult to run Microsoft Office
applications
• Menu-driven user interface :
Provides text-based menus to display
• PC vs Mac vs Linux :
available user options
-Platform—determined by combination
• Command-line user interface :
of microprocessor chip & OS by specific
-Requires the user to type commands to
type of computer
instruct the OS to perform the desired
-PCs:
actions o Dominate marketplace
-Uses complicated rules of syntax o Windows OS
o Intel or AMD chip
• Three categories of OS o More software available
1. Stand-alone OSs—used by single users -Macs:
2. Server OSs—used in client/server o Mac OS
network environments o Motorola or IBM chip, then switched to
3. Embedded OSs—found on ROM chips Intel chip
in portable or dedicated devices o Most current OS can run Windows
software
-Stand-alone Operating Systems- o Creative fields are almost exclusive to Mac
• UNIX : -Linux:
o Can be installed on PC or Mac
-Free OS installed primarily on
o More secure—fewer viruses
workstations
-Features preemptive multitasking
-Has many versions that are not
compatible
-Hard to use—defaults to a command-line
user interface. A number of GUI
interfaces have been developed for
UNIX, improving its usability
- Mac OS X is based on UNIX

figure in slide [32]

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-Server Operating Systems- • Drive imaging software—creates a
• Server operating systems are mirror image of the entire hard drive
designed for network use. including the OS and applications, as
• Normally, they are complete OSs well as all files and data
with a file and task manager.
• Additional features like a Web • Antivirus software—protects the
server, directory services, and a computer from viruses
messaging system may also be -Popular antivirus programs:
included. o BitDefender Antivirus
o Kaspersky Anti-virus
o Webroot AntiVirus wit SpySweeper
-Embedded Operating Systems-
o Norton AntiVirus
• Designed for specific applications o ESET Nod32 Antivirus
• Compact and efficient
• Eliminate many unneeded features • Searching for and managing files:
of OSs -File manager—utility software that
• Used in PDAs, cell phones, kitchen organizes and manages data files
appliances, point-of-sale devices, o Copy files o Delete files
industrial robots, etc. o Determine how and where files are
stored
-Search utility—enable you to locate files
2] System Utilities:
Housekeeping Tools: • Scanning and defragmenting
• System utilities (utility disks:
programs) -Disk scanning programs—find and
-Software programs—essential to resolve disk file storage problems such as
effective management of the computer bad sectors
system -Disk cleanup utilities—improves
-Perform tasks such as: system performance and increases
o Backing up files storage space by removing files that you
o Providing antivirus protection
no longer need
o Searching for and managing files
-Fragmented disk—results from
o Compressing files
o Providing accessibility utilities to computer creating and erasing files on
individuals with special needs hard disk (Causes disk access to slow
• Backup software—copies data while system looks in several locations to
find all file segments)
found on the hard disk to a backup
-Disk defragmentation programs—
device such as flash drives, DVDs,
reorganize stored data in a more efficient
external HD, or online storage manner
location
-Full backups—include all files and data
-Incremental backups—include only
those files changed or added since the
previous backup
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Fragmented vs Defragmented Files • Adding a new peripheral device
such as an external hard drive or
new printer may cause conflicts that
could interfere in the boot cycle

• Safe Mode:
-Windows loads a minimal set of drivers
known to function correctly
-Use Control Panel to discover devices
figure in slide [41] that are causing the problem

• File compression utilities:

-Decrease size of files, resulting in faster • Reliability and Performance
downloads
Monitor:
-Create archives by storing files in a
-Helps determine when system’s
special format
performance began to degrade
-Gives details about events that may have
• Accessibility utilities: caused the problem
-Designed to make computing easier
for individuals with special needs • Help and Support:
o Magnifier o Narrator -Available from Start menu
o On-screen keyboard
-Includes several ways to manage and
o Speech recognition
maintain the computer
• System update:
-Power Modes-
-Windows Update for Windows 7 and
• Sleep mode transfers the current
Vista automatically downloads and
installs updates
state of your computer to RAM, turn
-Includes service packs, version off all unneeded functions, and place
upgrades, and security updates the system in a low-power state.
• Hibernate mode saves battery
• Troubleshooting power. Used primarily in notebooks,
-Keep a boot disk (emergency disk)—to this mode puts your open documents
load a reduced version of the OS that can and programs on your hard disk and
be used for troubleshooting purposes then actually turns off your
-Use the Windows Help and Support computer. When you restart your
utility system, it is returned to the state
-Shut down the system properly, use the prior to hibernation. Returning from
correctprocedure; don’t just turn the Sleep mode is faster than returning
power off. from Hibernate due to the state of
the computer being held in memory
in the sleep mode.

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 • Hybrid sleep is a combination of • Complete:
sleep and Hibernate mode and puts 1. ................ are units of fixed size which
open documents and programs in contain program instructions and data.
2. ................ are signals created by input and
both RAM and on your hard disk,
output devices to notify the OS when
and then places the system in a low actions are taken.
power state so you can quickly 3. ................ is a compact and efficient OS
resume your work. If power is used in PDA and cell phones.
suddenly terminated, the Hibernate 4. ................ copies data found on the hard
portion of this mode guarantees that disk to another device.
your work can be restored. 5. Accessing data from hard disk is
................ than accessing from RAM.
6. When RAM is full, copies of pages are
#Exercises: temporarily stored in a ................ , a special
• Match: hard disk file.
Column A Column B
1. System utilities A. Database that stores information about
software and peripherals choices, for
configuration information
• Differentiate between:
2. Kernel B. Confirm that both the computer and its 1. Cold and warm boot
peripheral devices are working properly 2. Full and incremental backup
3. Embedded OS C. An emergency disk to load the operating
system for emergencies 3. Disk cleanup and defragmentation
4. Registry D. A backup that includes only those files 4. User profile and account
changed or added since the previous
backup 5. Interrupt handler and vector table
5. Boot disk E. Software programs responsible for 6. Operating system and system utilities
backing up & compressing files and
providing antivirus protection
7. Backup and troubleshooting utilities
6. Power-on self-test F. Found on ROM chips in portable or 8. Single and multi-tasking OSs
dedicated devices
9. Sleep and safe modes
7. Incremental backup G. Central part of OS

ans. : 1-E 2-G 3-F 4-A 5-C 6-B 7-D • Put True (T) or False (F):
1. Compression utilities create archives by
• Sort: storing files in a special format.
When you start or restart a computer, it 2. BIOS is encoded on RAM.
reloads OS into the computer’s memory. A 3. A bad sector represents an irregularity
computer goes through six steps at on the disk’s surface which causes a
startup. portion of the disk to unreliably store data.
Sort them. 4. An interrupt handler holds responses
A. loading the OS from multiple interrupts in RAM, where
B. loading the BIOS the OS processes them in highest to lowest
C. loading system utilities priority order.
D. performing the power-on self-test 5. RAM memory functions as the buffer.
E. configuring the system 6. Preemptive multitasking ensures all
F. authenticating users applications have fair access to the hard
disk.
• List: 7. Server OS eliminates many unneeded
-Categories of OS -Power modes features of OSs used in client/server
-Types of user interfaces environments.
-Examples on system utilities ans. : 1-T 2-F 3-T 4-F 5-T 6-F 7-F