Operating

Systems
and Windows
 What is an Operating
System?
•The most important
program that runs on your
computer. It manages all
other programs on the
machine.

•Every PC has to have one

to run other applications or
programs. It’s the first thing
“loaded”.
 Operating
System
•It performs basic
tasks, such as:

•Recognizing input from the

keyboard or mouse,

•Sending output to the

monitor,
 Operating
System
•Keeping track of
files and directories
on the disk, and

•Controlling
peripheral devices
such as disk drives
and printers.
Is There More Than One
Type of OS?
•Generally, there are four
types, based on the type of
computer they control and the
sort of applications they
support.

1.Single-user, single
task

This type manages the

computer so that one user
can effectively do one
 Types of Operating
Systems
2. Multi-user, multi-task

Allows two or more users to run

programs at the same time. Some
operating systems permit hundreds or
even thousands of concurrent users.
 Types of Operating
Systems
3. Real Time Operating
Systems

RTOS are used to control machinery,

scientific instruments, and
industrial systems.

There is typically very little user-

interface capability.

Resources are managed so that a

particular operation executes
precisely the same every time.
 Types of Operating
Systems
4. Single-user, Multi-tasking

This is the type of operating system most

desktops and laptops use today.
Microsoft’s Windows and Apple’s MacOS are
both examples of operating systems that
will let a single user have several programs
in operation at the same time.
 OS’s Manage
Applications
•Operating systems provide
a software platform on top
of which other “application”
programs can run.

• The application programs

must be written to run on a
particular operating system.

• So, your choice of operating

system determines what
application software you can
run.
 Operating System
Functions
•Besides managing
hardware and software
resources on the system,
the OS must manage
resources and memory.

•There are two broad

tasks to be accomplished.
OS - Memory Storage and
Management
1. Each process must have
enough memory in which
to execute, and

It can neither run into the

memory space of another
process,

Nor be run into by another

process.
OS - Memory Storage and
Management
1. The different types of memory
in the system must be used
properly so that each process
can run most effectively.
 Cache
Memory
•Cache - A section of a
computer's memory
which temporarily
retains recently
accessed data in order
to speed up repeated
access to the same data.
•It provides rapid
access without having
to wait for systems to
load.
 RAM
Memory
•Random access
memory (RAM) is
the best known
form of computer
memory.

•RAM is considered
"random access" because
you can access any
memory cell directly if you
know the row and column
that intersect at that cell.
 RAM
Memory
• The more RAM your computer has,
the faster programs can function.
The two main types are called
DRAM and SRAM. SRAM is faster
than DRAM, but, more expensive.

Remember, that if the power is turned off,

then all data left in RAM, that has not been
saved to the hard drive, is lost.
 Virtual
Memory
•Virtual Memory – a method of using
hard disk space to provide extra
memory. It simulates additional
RAM.

•In Windows, the

amount of virtual
memory available,
equals the amount of
free RAM plus the
amount of disk space
allocated to the
swap file.
 Virtual Memory –
Swap File

A swap file is an area of your hard disk that is

set aside for virtual memory. Swap files can be
either temporary or permanent.
Okay – So Now
What?
 OS - Wake up
call
•When you turn on the power to
a PC, the first program that
runs is a set of instructions
kept in the computer's read-
only memory (ROM).
 OS - Wake up
Call
•It checks to make sure
everything is
functioning properly.

•It checks the CPU,

memory, and basic input-
output systems (BIOS) for
errors.
 OS – Wake up
Call
•Once successful, the
software will begin to
activate the
computer's disk
drives.

•It then finds the first

piece of the operating
system: the bootstrap
loader.
 OS - Booting
the PC
•The bootstrap loader is a
small program that has a
single function: It loads the
operating system into
memory and allows it to
begin operation.
 OS - Booting
the PC
•The bootstrap loader sets up
the small driver programs that
interface with and control the
various hardware.

•It sets up the divisions of

• memory
• user information, and
• applications.
 OS - Booting
the
•It establishes thePC
data structures
needed to
communicate within
and between the
subsystems and
applications of the
computer.

•Then it turns control

of the computer over
to the operating
system.
Windows
Desktop

Your Desktop may

look like this…
Windows
Desktop

…Or like this.

How Do I Tell The OS What I
Want To Do?
•You must continue to give
the operating system
commands that are accepted
and executed.
•The first command was
pushing the “ON” button which
started the “boot” process.
 Enter
Commands
•Commands can be
entered several ways:
•Through a keyboard.

•Pointing or clicking on
an object with a mouse.
(Graphical User Interface or GUI)

•Sending a command
from another program.
 Windows and
Mac are GUI’s
•Microsoft Windows and Apple
Macintosh operating systems are
“graphical user interfaces” or GUI’s.

GUI is defined as: A picture used in place of

a word or words to issue commands.
 GUI –
Standards
• GUI interfaces have standards that
are usually the same or similar in all
systems and applications.

• Standards apply to:

• Pointers and pointing devices
• Icons, desktops, windows and menus
 Windows - GUI
Pointers
•GUI uses pictures, symbols, or icons
rather than words to represent some object
or function. For example:
•A pointer or mouse pointer is a
small arrow or other symbol that
moves on the screen as you move
a mouse.

• An I-Beam pointer is used by

many desktop publishing
systems and word processors to
mark blocks of text and move
the insertion point.
 GUI – Cursors /
Pointers
•The term
“cursor” typically
is used to show
where your typing
will appear.
Otherwise, the
term “pointer” is
the better choice.
 Windows - GUI
Icons
• Icon - A small picture that represents a
command, object, file, or window.

•Point and click with a mouse to execute a

command or convert the icon into a window.

•Icons are moveable around the display

screen, just like moving things around on
your desk.
 Object Icons & Shortcut
Icons
•You can
•One type create and
of icon is use a
an object shortcut icon
icon. It to open any
allows you application
to open quickly. You
applications don’t have to
and use the Start
documents Menu to
on your PC. access a
program or
document.
Windows - GUI Windows &
Desktop
• You can divide the screen
into different areas.
• In each window, you can
run a different program or
display a different file.
• You can move windows around
the display screen, and
change their shape and size
at will.
 Windows - GUI
•Menu - Menus
is an on-screen list
of options for using a
program. It can also be a
list of categories with many
other menu options under
it. Menus can "pop up" or
"pull down."
 GUI – Share
Data
•Because the formats are well-defined,
different programs that run under a common
GUI can share data. This makes it possible,
for example, to copy a graph created by a
spreadsheet program into a document
created by a word processor.
Parts of the
Desktop
 Windows -
Taskbar
•Taskbar – shows you the windows
or programs that are currently open
on the desktop. You can switch
between windows by clicking on the
applicable button.
 Windows – System
Tray
•System Tray – shows you running
programs that were started
automatically by the operating
system, like anti-virus programs, the
clock and volume controls. These
programs are running in the
background.
Windows - Quick Launch
Toolbar
•Quick Launch Toolbar – contains
one-click buttons, or shortcuts,
which open programs. You can
customize this toolbar however you
like.
 Start
Button
•The start button allows you to
easily access your computer
programs or configure Windows. By
default the start button is located at
the bottom left side of the screen.
Parts of a
Window
 Title
Bar

•At the top edge of the window, inside

its border, is the title bar which extends
across the width of the window. It
contains the title of the application or
document.

•A small icon in the far left corner of

the title bar represents the object being
viewed in the window.
Minimize, Maximize and Resize
Windows

•The title bar contains three little

buttons in the upper right-corner of the
window and are used to manage the
window size or close it altogether.
 Minimize -
•The firstMaximize
button is the minimize
button and it will hide the window.
The window can be opened again
by clicking its button on the
taskbar.

•The second button is

maximize, which makes the
window take up all the screen
space. Clicking again turns the
window back to the size it was.
The double-box image is known
as the restore button.
 Close
Window
•The last button will
close a window. If it is
the last window of a
certain type of
program, it will exit or
quit that program.
 Move a
Window
•You can move a window to any
location on the desktop by “clicking
and dragging” the title bar with
your mouse.
•This is also referred to
as “drag and drop”.

•You can also

drag and drop
icons to move
the location of
files or shortcuts.
 Menu
Bar

•Menu bar - The horizontal bar near

the top of a window that displays the
names of menus from which you can
access features and perform tasks for
the current application.
Types of Menu
Items
• Arrow: another menu
will cascade from it.

• Three dots: a dialog

box will open,
containing choices
for you to make.
 Types of Menu
Items
•Checkmark:
clicking this item
will toggle the
feature on or off.

•If a keyboard
shortcut is shown in
the menu, you can
use those keys to
run the command
without having to
open the menu.
 Scroll
Bar
•Scroll bar - the narrow
rectangular bar at the
far right of windows.
•Clicking on the up or down
arrow enables you to move
up and down through a
document.
•A movable square
indicates your location in
the document.
 Windows Frame &
Resizing
•You can also resize
a window by a click
and drag move.

Put the mouse cursor on the

edge of a window (that is
not maximized) and when
the pointer changes to a
double arrow, click and
drag for the new size. Some
windows have a handle on
them for resizing.
 Status
Bar
•Status bar – is located at the
bottom of a window and
contains information about
formatting options, errors,
prompts, messages, or the
status of an application.
 Dialog
Boxes

1. List box
2. Spin control box
3. Slide
4. Drop-down list
5. Radio button
6. Checkbox
7. Text box
 Windows – Start
Menu
• Start Menu – gives you access to all
programs and functions on your
PC, including “help” files and
“search” capabilities.
 Windows
•Access HELPWindows 95 HELP menu
Windows
HELP through
the Start
menu.
 Windows
HELP98 HELP menu
Windows
 Windows
HELP
•Windows XP HELP
menu
 Windows System
Programs
•Windows has a number of internal
programs as part of the operating system
that help keep you organized and your
PC healthy.

•Here are a few:

 Windows - My
Computer

Al
so
the kn
Ex Win own
p d
lor ow sa
er s

•My Computer – inside this icon you can find every

folder and file that your PC has access to.
 Windows – Recycle
•Recycle Bin
Bin – Deleted files and folders go
here first, where they wait to be permanently
deleted by you, or by rules that you set up.
This is a temporary storage area on your hard
drive.
 Windows – My
Docs
•My Documents – a place to
store the documents and files
you create. Clicking on this
opens an explorer window
displaying the detail.

•It’s wise to keep the files you

create separate from the program
files, so when you backup your
data, it’s all located in one
location. You can then backup
just this area of your storage.
My Documents – Explorer
Window
Windows – Network
Neighborhood
•Network Neighborhood –
serves as a window into the
network resources you have
on your PC.

•If you are connected to a

network you will see all
the other PC’s linked to
your network and you can
share files, printers or
other hardware.
Network
Neighborhood
 Logo
ff
•If your have multiple users on a
PC with separate “profiles” or user
logons, use the logoff process to
close out of your profile or to
switch users.
 Shutdown
Windows
•There is a “graceful” way of
shutting down your PC that will
save your program settings
and files.
• This shutdown process basically puts
the operating system to bed.
 Which
Explorer?
•Tip: Don't confuse Windows Explorer
with Internet Explorer.

•Windows Explorer is the

program that lets you explore
things "inside" your own
computer.

•Internet Explorer lets you

explore things "outside" your
computer -- namely things on the
Internet.