Chapter 8

Types of Utility Programs and

Operating Systems

Discovering
Computers 2012
Your Interactive Guide
to the Digital World
Objectives Overview

Define system
Describe the Summarize the
software and identify
functions of an startup process on a
the two types of
operating system personal computer
system software

Summarize the Summarize the

Briefly describe
features of several features of several
various server
stand-alone operating embedded operating
operating systems
systems systems

Explain the purpose

of several utility
programs

See Page 397 Discovering Computers 2012: Chapter 8 2

for Detailed Objectives
System Software

• System software consists of the programs that

control or maintain the operations of the
computer and its devices

Operating Utility
systems Programs

Page 398 Discovering Computers 2012: Chapter 8 3

Operating Systems

• An operating system (OS) is a set of programs containing

instructions that work together to coordinate all the
activities among computer hardware resources
Start and shut
Provide a user Manage Manage
down a
interface programs memory
computer

Establish an
Coordinate Configure Monitor
Internet
tasks devices performance
connection

Automatically Control a Administer

Provide utilities
update network security

Pages 398 - 399 Discovering Computers 2012: Chapter 8 4

Operating Systems

Pages 398 – 399 Discovering Computers 2012: Chapter 8 5

Figure 8-1
Operating System Functions

• The process of starting or restarting a computer is

called booting
Cold boot Warm boot

• Turning on • Using the

a computer operating
that has system to
been restart a
powered off computer
completely

Page 400 Discovering Computers 2012: Chapter 8 6

Figure 8-2
Page 401 Discovering Computers 2012: Chapter 8 7
Figure 8-3
Operating System Functions

A boot drive is the drive from

which your computer starts
• You can boot from a boot disk
• A recovery disk contains a few system
files that will start the computer
Page 402 Discovering Computers 2012: Chapter 8 8
Operating System Functions

• An operating system includes various shut down

options

Sleep mode saves any open

documents and programs to Hibernate saves any open
RAM, turns off all unneeded documents and programs to
functions, and then places a hard disk before removing
the computer in a low- power from the computer
power state

Page 402 Discovering Computers 2012: Chapter 8 9

Operating System Functions
• A user interface
controls how you
enter data and
instructions and
how information is
displayed on the
screen
• With a graphical
user interface
(GUI), you interact
with menus and
visual images
Pages 402 – 403 10
Discovering Computers 2012: Chapter 8
Figure 8-4
Operating System Functions

• With a command-line interface, a user uses the

keyboard to enter data and instructions

Page 403
Figure 8-5
Operating System Functions

• How an operating system handles programs

directly affects your productivity
Single tasking
Single user and Foreground and
and
multiuser background
multitasking

Multiprocessing

Pages 404 - 405 Discovering Computers 2012: Chapter 8 12

Page 404 Discovering Computers 2012: Chapter 8 13
Figure 8-6
Operating System Functions

• Memory management optimizes the use of RAM

• Virtual memory is a portion of a storage medium
functioning as additional RAM

Page 406 14
Figure 8-8
Operating System Functions

• The operating system determines the order in

which tasks are processed

Page 407 Discovering Computers 2012: Chapter 8 15

Figure 8-9
Operating System Functions

A driver is a small
Plug and Play
program that tells the
automatically
operating system how
configures new devices
to communicate with a
as you install them
specific device

Page 408 Discovering Computers 2012: Chapter 8 16

Operating System Functions

• Operating systems typically provide a means to

establish Internet connections

Page 408 17
Figure 8-10
Operating System Functions

• A performance monitor is a program that

assesses and reports information about various
computer resources and devices

Pages 408 – 409

Figure 8-11
Operating System Functions

• Operating systems often provide users with the

capability of:
Searching for Viewing Securing a
Managing files
files images computer

Uninstalling Cleaning up Defragmenting Diagnosing

programs disks disks problems

Backing up Setting up
files and disks screen savers

Page 409 Discovering Computers 2012: Chapter 8 19

Operating System Functions

• Automatic update automatically provides updates

to the program

Page 409 20
Figure 8-12
Operating System Functions

• Some operating systems • A network

are designed to work administrator uses the
with a server on a server operating system
network to:
• A server operating – Add and remove users,
system organizes and computers, and other
devices
coordinates how
– Install software and
multiple users access
administer network
and share resources on security
a network
Page 410 21
Discovering Computers 2012: Chapter 8
Operating System Functions

• Each user has a user

account
– A user name, or user ID,
identifies a specific user
– A password is a private
combination of
characters associated
with the user name

Page 410 22
Discovering Computers 2012: Chapter 8
Figure 8-13
Page 412 Discovering Computers 2012: Chapter 8 23
Figure 8-14
Stand-Alone Operating Systems

• A stand-alone operating systemis a complete

operating system that works on a desktop
computer, notebook computer, or mobile
computing device
Windows
Mac OS X
7

UNIX Linux
Page 412 Discovering Computers 2012: Chapter 8 24
Stand-Alone Operating Systems

• Windows 7 is Microsoft’s fastest, most efficient

operating system to date and is available in
multiple editions:
Windows 7
Windows 7
Home
Starter
Premium

Windows 7 Windows 7
Ultimate Professional

Pages 413 - 414 Discovering Computers 2012: Chapter 8 25

Stand-Alone Operating Systems

• Windows 7 provides programs such as:

Windows Windows DVD

Firewall Maker

Windows Desktop
Media Player Gadget Gallery

Page 414 Discovering Computers 2012: Chapter 8 26

Page 414 27
Discovering Computers 2012: Chapter 8
Figures 8-16 – 8-17
Page 414 28
Discovering Computers 2012: Chapter 8
Figures 8-16 – 8-17
Page 415 Discovering Computers 2012: Chapter 8 29
Figure 8-18
Stand-Alone Operating Systems

• The Macintosh operating systemhas set the

standard for operating system ease of use
• Latest version is Mac OS X

Page 415 30
Figure 8-19
Stand-Alone Operating Systems

UNIX is a multitasking
operating system developed
in the early 1970s

Linux is an open-source,
popular, multitasking UNIX-
type operating system

Pages 416 – 417 Discovering Computers 2012: Chapter 8 31

Figures 8-20 – 8-21
Server Operating Systems

Windows
UNIX Linux
Server 2008

Solaris NetWare

Pages 417 - 418 Discovering Computers 2012: Chapter 8 32

Server Operating Systems

• Windows Server 2008 is an upgrade to Windows

Server 2003
– Part of the Windows Server 2008 family
– Multiple editions
• Most editions include Hyper-V, a virtualization
technology
– Virtualization is the practice of sharing or pooling computing
resources

Pages 417 - 418 Discovering Computers 2012: Chapter 8 33

Embedded Operating Systems

• An embedded operating system resides on a ROM chip

on a mobile device or consumer electronic device

Windows Windows
iPhone OS BlackBerry
Embedded CE Phone 7

Google Embedded
Symbian OS
Android Linux

Pages 418 - 420 Discovering Computers 2012: Chapter 8 34

Embedded Operating Systems

Pages 419 – 420 Discovering Computers 2012: Chapter 8 35

Figures 8-22 – 8-26
Utility Programs

• A utility program is a type of system software that

allows a user to perform maintenance-type tasks

Page 421 36
Figure 8-27
Utility Programs

• A file manager is a
utility that performs
functions related to file
management
– Displaying a list of files
– Organizing files in folders
– Copying, renaming,
deleting, moving, and
sorting files and folders
– Creating shortcuts

Page 422 37
Discovering Computers 2012: Chapter 8
Figure 8-28
Utility Programs

• A search utility is a program that attempts to

locate a file on your computer based on criteria
you specify

Page 422 38
Figure 8-2
Utility Programs

• An image viewer allows

users to display, copy,
and print the contents
of a graphics file
• An uninstaller removes
a program, as well as
any associated entries
in the system files

Page 423 39
Discovering Computers 2012: Chapter 8
Figure 8-30
Utility Programs

• A disk cleanup utility searches for and removes

unnecessary files
– Downloaded program
files
– Temporary Internet
files
– Deleted files
– Unused program
files

Page 423 Discovering C 40

Figure 8-31
Utility Programs

• A disk defragmenter reorganizes the files and

unused space on a computer’s hard disk so that the
operating system accesses data more quickly and
programs run faster
– Defragmenting

Pages 423 – 424 41

Discovering Computers 2012: Chapter 8
Figure 8-32
Utility Programs

• A backup utility allows

users to copy files to
another storage
medium
• A restore utility
reverses the process
and returns backed up
files to their original
form

Page 424 42
Discovering Computers 2012: Chapter 8
Figure 8-33
Utility Programs

• A screen saver causes a • A personal firewall

display device’s screen detects and protects a
to show a moving image personal computer
or blank screen if no from unauthorized
activity occurs for a intrusions
specified time

Discovering
Utility Programs

A virus describes a potentially damaging computer

program that affects a computer negatively

A worm copies A Trojan horse An antivirus

itself hides within or program
repeatedly in looks like a protects a
memory or legitimate computer
over a network program against viruses

Pages 425 - 426 Discovering Computers 2012: Chapter 8 44

Pages 425 – 426 45
Figures 8-36 – 8-37
Utility Programs

Spyware is a program placed on

Adware displays an online
a computer without the user’s
advertisement in a banner or
knowledge that secretly collects
pop-up window
information about the user
• A spyware remover detects • An adware remover is a
and deletes spyware and program that detects and
other similar programs deletes adware

Page 426 Discovering Computers 2012: Chapter 8 46

Utility Programs

• Filters are programs that remove or block certain

items from being displayed

Web filtering Anti-spam

software programs

Phishing Pop-up
filters blockers
Pages 426 - 427 Discovering Computers 2012: Chapter 8 47
Utility Programs

• A file compression utility shrinks the size of a file(s)

– Compressing files frees up room on the storage media
– Two types of compression
• Lossy
• Lossless
• Compressed files sometimes are called zipped files
– Can be uncompressed

Page 427 Discovering Computers 2012: Chapter 8 48

Utility Programs

• A media player allows you to view images and

animation, listen to audio, and watch video files
on your computer

Page 427 Dis

Figure 8-38
Utility Programs

• Disc burning software

writes text, graphics,
audio, and video files
on a recordable or
rewritable optical disc

Page 428 50
Discovering Computers 2012: Chapter 8
Figure 8-39
Utility Programs

• A personal computer
maintenance utility
identifies and fixes
operating system
problems, detects and
repairs disk problems,
and includes the
capability of improving
a computer’s
performance

Page 428 51
Discovering Computers 2012: Chapter 8
Figure 8-40
Summary

Definition of an Functions common to

operating system most operating systems

Variety of stand-alone
operating systems,
server operating Several utility programs
systems, and embedded
operating systems
Page 429 Discovering Computers 2012: Chapter 8 52
Chapter 8
Types of Utility Programs and
Operating Systems

Discovering
Computers 2012
Your Interactive Guide
to the Digital World
Chapter 8 Complete