System Software

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 System Software
• System software
o Consists of all the programs that enable the
computer and its peripheral devices to function
smoothly
o Divided into two main categories:
• The operating system
• System utilities (utility programs)

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 The Operating System

• Five basic functions

o Starts the computer
o Manages applications
o Manages memory
o Handles input and output
device messages
o Provides a user interface for
communication

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 The Operating System
• Starting the computer
o Booting—loading the OS into RAM
• Cold boot: Starting computer when it has not
yet been turned on
• Warm boot: Restarting a computer that is
already on

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The Operating System
The Six Steps of Booting a System

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 The Operating System
• Step 1: Activate the BIOS and
Setup Program
o BIOS (Basic Input/Output System) instructions provide
the computer with descriptions of the internal equipment
• Bios is encoded on ROM (read-only memory)
• Does not control external devices
o Adjustable energy settings
o Setup program
• Includes settings that control computer hardware
• Do not alter—making incorrect changes to a BIOS device
will cause the system not to boot
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 The Operating System
• Step 2: Initiate the Power-On
Self-Test
o Power-on self-test (POST)—to confirm that
both the computer and its peripheral devices are
working properly
o If the POST fails:
• A beep will sound.
• An error message will appear on the monitor.
• The computer will stop.

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 The Operating System
• Step 3: Load the Operating
System
o BIOS
• Looks for the operating system
• Loads the kernel into memory—the central part of
the operating system
o The operating system loads the system configuration
information.

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 The Operating System
• Step 4: Configure the System
o Operating system
• Checks the registry
o Database that stores information about software
and peripherals choices, for configuration
information
• Checks the configuration for drivers
o Utility programs containing instructions for the
proper functioning of peripheral devices.
• Automatically detects plug-and-play (PnP) devices
• Checks for conflicts between devices
• Installs and loads needed drivers
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 The Operating System
• Step 5: Load System Utilities
o Antivirus software
o Speaker volume control
o Power management options

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 The Operating System
• Step 6: Authenticate a User
o Verifies authorized users
• Enter an authentication/login user name and
password
o Profile—a record of a specific user’s preferences for
the desktop theme, icons, and menu styles
o Account—for multiuser computer systems each user
has an account
• Consists of user name, password, and storage
space
• Created by server/computer administrator
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 The Operating System
• Managing applications
o Single-tasking operating systems—run only one
application at a time
o Multitasking operating systems—permit more
than one application to run at the same time
• The foreground application is the active one.
• Background applications appear inactive.
o Preemptive multitasking—ensures all
applications have fair access to the CPU

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The Operating System

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 The Operating System
• Managing memory
o Buffer
• Area that holds data and instructions
temporarily
• Makes programs run faster
o RAM memory functions as the buffer.
o OS gives each program a portion of RAM
memory and keeps them from interfering with
each other.

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 The Operating System
• Managing memory (con’t.)
o Virtual memory—uses portion of hard disk to
extend RAM

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 The Operating System
• Managing memory (con’t.)
o Adding more RAM—best way to improve computer
performance:
• Paging slows computer.
• Accessing data from hard disk is slower than accessing
from RAM.
o Windows Vista and Windows 7 come with Windows
ReadyBoost
• Allows allocation of space on removable memory devices
such as USBs that can be used to increase the size of RAM
• Better performance than hard disk virtual memory
because accessing files on flash memory is quicker than
accessing the hard drive
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 The Operating System
• Providing the user interface
o Allows the user to:
• Start application programs
• Manage storage devices
• Safely shut down the computer

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 The Operating System
• Types of user interfaces
o Graphical user interface (GUI)
o Menu-driven user interface
o Command-line user interface

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 The Operating System
• Types of user interfaces (con’t.)
o Graphical user interface (GUI)
• Uses icons—small images that:
o Represent computer resources used to initiate
actions
o Appear on the desktop
• Work area created after the OS loads into memory
• Sidebar—invisible 1-inch vertical strip on the right
side of the desktop, holds user designated gadgets
• Programs you open will appear in the center of the
desktop.

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The Operating System

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 The Operating System
• Windows 7 is the most recent Microsoft OS

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 The Operating System
• Types of user interfaces (con’t.)
o Menu-driven user interface
• Provides text-based menus
• Displays available user options
o Command-line user interface
• Requires the user to type commands to instruct the
OS to perform the desired actions
• Uses complicated rules of syntax

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 Exploring Popular
Operating Systems
• Three categories of operating
systems
o Stand-alone operating systems—used by single users
o Server operating systems—used in client/server
network environments
o Embedded operating systems—found on ROM chips in
portable or dedicated devices

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Exploring Popular
Operating Systems

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 Stand-Alone
Operating Systems
• Windows Operating Systems Timeline

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 Stand-Alone
Operating Systems

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 Stand-Alone
Operating Systems
• Microsoft Windows 7
o Six versions
• Starter
• Home Basic
• Home Premium
• Professional
• Enterprise
• Ultimate
o More efficient than previous versions
o Compatibility issues resolved
o New features
• Jump list
• Pin
• Snap
• Windows Search

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 Stand-Alone
Operating Systems
• Microsoft Windows Vista
o Five versions
• Basic
• Home Premium
• Business
• Ultimate
• Enterprise
o Replaced Windows XP
o Supports tablet PCs and other mobile devices
o New and improved features, such as:
• Search
• Networking tools
• Integrated speech recognition
• Gadgets—applications that appear as icons
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 Stand-Alone
Operating Systems
• Mac OS
o Used on Macintosh personal computers
o Stable, simple to use
o Latest version is Mac OS X Lion (previous:
SnowLeopard)

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 Stand-Alone
Operating Systems

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 Stand-Alone
Operating Systems
• UNIX
o Features preemptive multitasking
o Has many versions that are not compatible
o Hard to use—defaults to a command-line user
interface
o Mac OS X is based on UNIX

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 Stand-Alone
Operating Systems
• Linux
o Developed by Linus Torvalds in 1991
o Open source software—source code is available to users
o Powerful, free
o Features such as
• Multitasking
• Virtual memory
• Internet support
• GUI
o Gaining acceptance for Web servers
o Disadvantages
• Lack of technical support prevents adoption in corporate
environments
• Difficult to run Microsoft Office applications
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 Stand-Alone
Operating Systems
• PC Versus Mac Versus Linux
o Platform—determined by combination of microprocessor chip & OS
o PCs
• Dominate marketplace
• Windows OS
• Intel or AMD chip
• More software available
o Macs
• Mac OS
• Motorola/IBM or Intel Chip
• Most current OS can run Windows software
• Creative fields are almost exclusive to Mac
o Linux
• Can be installed on PC or Mac
• More secure—fewer viruses
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 Stand-Alone
Operating Systems

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 Stand-Alone
Operating Systems
• Server operating systems
o Microsoft Windows Server 2008
• Used in corporate environments to support client/server systems
• Benefits include:
o Security
o Web server
o Administration
o Virtualization
o Other server operating systems
• Unix
• Linux
• Netware by Novell
• Solaris
• Mac OS X Server
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 Stand-Alone
Operating Systems
• Embedded operating systems
o Designed for specific applications
o Compact and efficient
o Eliminate many unneeded features of OSs
o Used in PDAs, cell phones, kitchen appliances,
point-of-sale devices, industrial robots, etc.

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 Stand-Alone
Operating Systems
• Microsoft Windows
Mobile
o Designed for smartphones and PDAs
o Includes simplified versions of Windows
programs
o Supports handwriting recognition and
voice recording
o Supports synchronizing with
corresponding programs on desktop
computers

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 Stand-Alone
Operating Systems
• More embedded operating systems
o Window CE
• Used in devices such as hand-held PCs, video game
players, digital cameras, and industrial products such
as barcode readers
o Palm OS
• Developed for PDAs—currently used in smartphones
such as Palm Pixi
o Symbian OS
• Open industry standard operating system for data-
enabled mobile phones with many add-on devices

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 Stand-Alone
Operating Systems
• More embedded
operating
systems
o Android
o iPhone OS

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 System Utilities:
Housekeeping Tools
• System utilities (utility
programs)
o Software programs—essential to effective
management of the computer system
o Perform tasks such as:
• Backing up files
• Providing antivirus protection
• Searching for and managing files
• Compressing files
• Providing accessibility utilities to individuals with
special needs
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 System Utilities:
Housekeeping Tools
• Backup software—copies
data found on the hard disk to
a backup device
o Full backups—include all files and
data
o Incremental backups—include
only those files changed or added
since the previous backup
o Drive imaging software—creates a
mirror image of the entire hard drive

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 System Utilities:
Housekeeping Tools

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 System Utilities:
Housekeeping Tools
• Antivirus software—
protects the computer from
viruses
o Popular antivirus programs:
• BitDefender Antivirus
• Kaspersky Anti-virus
• Webroot AntiVirus wit
SpySweeper
• Norton AntiVirus
• ESET Nod32 Antivirus

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 System Utilities:
Housekeeping Tools
• Searching for and managing
files
o File manager—utility software that organizes
and manages data
• Copy files
• Determine how and where files are stored
• Delete files
o Search utility—enables you to locate files

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 System Utilities:
Housekeeping Tools

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 System Utilities:
Housekeeping Tools

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 System Utilities:
Housekeeping Tools
• Scanning and defragmenting
disks
o Disk scanning programs—find and resolve disk file storage problems
• Bad sector—irregularity on the disk’s surface that renders a portion
of the disk unable to store data reliably
o Disk cleanup utilities—remove unnecessary files to save space
o Fragmented disk—results from computer creating and erasing files on
hard disk
• Causes disk access to slow while system looks in several locations to
find all file segments
o Disk defragmentation programs—reorganize stored data in a more
efficient manner

Copyright © 2012 Pearson Education, Inc. Publishing as Prentice Hall 47

 System Utilities:
Housekeeping Tools
• File compression utilities
o Decrease the size of files, resulting in faster
downloads
o Create archives by storing files in a special
format

Copyright © 2012 Pearson Education, Inc. Publishing as Prentice Hall 48

 System Utilities:
Housekeeping Tools
• Accessibility
utilities
o Designed to make
computing easier for
individuals with special
needs
• Magnifier
• On-screen keyboard
• Speech recognition
• Narrator

Copyright © 2012 Pearson Education, Inc. Publishing as Prentice Hall 49

 System Utilities:
Housekeeping Tools
• Systems update
o Windows Update for
Windows 7 and Vista
automatically downloads
and installs updates.
o Includes service packs,
version upgrades, and
security updates

Copyright © 2012 Pearson Education, Inc. Publishing as Prentice Hall 50

 System Utilities:
Housekeeping Tools
• Troubleshooting
o Keep a boot disk (emergency disk)—to load
the operating system for emergencies
o Use the Windows Help and Support utility
o Shut down the system properly.
• Use correct procedure; don’t just turn the
power off.
• Put in sleep mode, a low-power state, as an
alternative.

Copyright © 2012 Pearson Education, Inc. Publishing as Prentice Hall 51

 System Utilities:
Housekeeping Tools
• Safe mode
o Windows loads a
minimal set of drivers
known to function
correctly
o Use Control Panel to
discover devices that
are causing the
problem

Copyright © 2012 Pearson Education, Inc. Publishing as Prentice Hall 52

 System Utilities:
Housekeeping Tools
• Reliability and Performance
Monitor
o Helps determine when system’s performance began to
degrade
o Gives details about events that may have caused the
problem
• Help and Support
o Available from Start menu
o Includes several ways to manage and maintain the
computer

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