INTRODUCTIO

N TO
OPERATING
SYSTEMS
6.0 OBJECTIVES

• In this chapter we are going to study basics of an operating system, types

of an operating systems like Desktop and Network operating systems etc.
We are also going to learn functions of an OS and some features of different
operating systems.
6.1 INTRODUCTION
OPERATING SYSTEM BASICS
• An Operating system is a part of system software that is loaded in to
computer on boot up that is responsible for running other applications and
provides interface to interact with other programs that uses system
hardware.
• This interface is either command line user interface or Graphical User
Interface. Command Line User interface is used in operating systems like
MSDOS, UNIX, LINUX etc. and GUI is used with most of MS Windows
operating systems like Windows 7, 8.1, 10 etc. Most of the operating
systems supports both CLI (Command Line Interface) and GUI (Graphical
User Interface) environments
6.2 FEATURES BASIC
FEATURES
• Operating system can be divided into two groups : 1] Single process & 2]
Multi process.
• Single process operating systems are capable of working on one task at a
time while multi process operating systems can work on several processes
at once by breaking the tasks into threads. Smallest part of programs that
can be scheduled for execution is called as a thread. There are several
terms related to multiprocessing which are as follows
• Multitasking:- It is the capability of an operating system to handle more
than one task at a time. There are two types of multitasking
• 1] Co-operative Multitasking 2] Preemptive multitasking
6.2 FEATURES BASIC FEATURES
• Co-operative Multitasking - Applications can control the system resource
until they are finished. If a task caused faults or other problems, it would
cause the system to become
• unstable and force a reboot. This type of multitasking is used in Windows
3.x
• Preemptive Multitasking - Applications are allowed to run for a specified
period of time depending on how important the application is to the
operation of the system (priority basis). If a particular task is causing
problems or faults, that application can be stopped without the system
becoming unstable. Used in Windows 9.x, Windows XP, Vista and Windows 7
and all network operating systems.
6.2 FEATURES BASIC
FEATURES
• Multi user - This is similar to multitasking and is the ability for multiple
users to access resources at the same time. The OS switches back and forth
between users. For example all network operating systems like Windows
server 2003, Windows server 2008, Linux, Unix etc.
• Multiprocessing - Having multiple processors installed in a system such
that tasks are divided between them. Now all latest operating systems uses
symmetric multiprocessing. Means multiple processors works
simultaneously
6.2 FEATURES BASIC FEATURES
• Multiprogramming : It is the capability of an operating system to run
multiple programs at once. Multiprogramming is possible because of multi
threading
• Multithreading :- It is the capability of an operating system to handle
(execute) multiple threads of multiple programs at a time. One program
may have at least one thread. Thread is a smallest part of a program that
can be scheduled for execution
THERE ARE TWO BROAD CATEGORIES
OF OPERATING SYSTEMS

• 1] Desktop operating system

• 2] Network operating system
6.3 DESKTOP OPERATING
SYSTEM
• Features of Desktop operating system;
• 1] It a single user operating system.
• 2] It can support Multitasking , Multiprogramming, Multiprocessing and
Multithreading.
• 3] User interface can be command line or GUI.
• 4] Desktop PCs, workstations and laptops are used to install desktop
operating systems.
• 5] Cost of the operating system is low as compare to Network operating
system.
• 6] Desktop operating system can be configured as a client in network
environment.
• 7] Provides user level and share level security.
 DESKTOP OPERATING
SYSTEMS ARE AS FOLLOWS :
• Microsoft Windows XP, Windows 7 Windows 8.1, and Windows 10 some
Linux editions like Ubuntu, Open Linux, SuSe Linux Fedora Core etc
6.4 NETWORK OPERATING
SYSTEM
• Features of Network Operating System (Server Operating system)
• 1] It is a multi user operating system.
• 2] It is also called as server operating system.
• 3] It can support Multitasking , Multiprogramming, Multiprocessing and Multithreading and
Multi User.
• 4] User interface can be Command Line or GUI.
• 5] Generally server grade computers are used for installation of network operating system.
• 5] Cost of network operating system is very high as compared to desktop operating system.
• 6] It provides high security that includes user level, share level as well as file level.
• 7] It provides backup tools to take the backup of important data. Backup can be scheduled in
non working hours also.
• 8] It can be configured as a server to provide various types of network services like file, print,
database, mail, proxy, web etc.
NETWORK OPERATING
SYSTEMS ARE AS FOLLOWS:
• Windows Server 2008, Windows Server 2012R2, Windows Server 2016. Red
Hat Enterprise Linux Server 6.0, and 7.5, UNIX, Novell‘s Netware 4.x, 5.x
and 6.x servers etc
• Apart from being as a User interface between system hardware and User
applications operating system have other functions which are as follows
• 1] Memory management 2] Process Management 3] Disk Management 4]
I/O management 5] Device Management 6] Backup Management 7]
Security Management
CHECK YOUR PROGRESS 6.1
• I State following statements are true or false
• 1] Operating system is a part of Application software.
• 2] Smallest part of programs that can be scheduled for execution is called
as a thread.
• 3] All operating systems support Multi User feature.
• 4] Multiprocessing supports multiple processors
CHECK YOUR PROGRESS 6.2
FILL IN THE BLANKS
• 1] Desktop operating System is a ------------------ user operating system.
• 2] Desktop operating system can be configured as a ----------- in network
environment.
• 3] Network operating system is a ---------- user operating system.
• 4] Cost of network operating systems are -------- as compared to Desktop
operating system.
6.5 FUNCTIONS OF AN
OPERATING SYSTEMS
• Operating system have various functions which are as follows:
• At the simplest level, an operating system does two things:
• 1. It manages the hardware and software resources of the system. In a
desktop computer, these resources include such things as the processor,
memory, disk space and more (On a cell phone, they include the keypad,
the screen, the address book, the phone dialer, the battery and the network
connection).
• 2. It provides a stable, consistent way for applications to deal with the
hardware without having to know all the details of the hardware.
6.5 FUNCTIONS OF AN
OPERATING SYSTEMS
• The first task, managing the hardware and software resources, is very
important, as various programs and input methods compete for the
attention of the central processing unit (CPU) and demand memory, storage
and input/output (I/O) bandwidth for their own purposes. In this capacity,
the operating system plays the role of the good parent, making sure that
each application gets the necessary resources while playing nicely with all
the other applications, as well as husbanding the limited capacity of the
system to the greatest good of all the users and applications
6.5 FUNCTIONS OF AN
OPERATING SYSTEMS
• The second task, providing a consistent application interface, is especially
important if there is to be more than one of a particular type of computer
using the operating system, or if the hardware making up the computer is
ever open to change. A consistent application program interface (API)
allows a software developer to write an application on one computer and
have a high level of confidence that it will run on another computer of the
same type, even if the amount of memory or the quantity of storage is
different on the two machines
OTHER FUNCTIONS OF AN OPERATING
SYSTEMS ARE AS FOLLOWS:
• Provides a user interface
• A user interacts with software through the user interface. The two main types of
user interfaces are: command line and a graphical user interface (GUI). With a
command line interface, the user interacts with the operating system by typing
commands to perform specific tasks. An example of a command line interface is
DOS (disk operating system). With a graphical user interface, the user interacts
with the operating system by using a mouse to access windows, icons, and
menus. An example of a graphical user interface is Windows 7 or Windows 8.1 The
operating system is responsible for providing a consistent application program
interface (API) which is important as it allows a software developer to write an
application on one computer and know that it will run on another computer of the
same type even if the amount of memory or amount of storage is different on the
two machines
SYSTEM MANAGEMENT
• Without an OS, your computer would not even start up. The first task of the
OS is to manage the starting up of your computer, also known as booting
up. When this happens, the OS makes sure all the various elements of your
computer are working properly.
• Once the OS is up and running, you're ready to start using your computer.
• While the OS is multi-tasking, it is constantly managing system resources.
For example, applications require memory to run, and there's only so much
memory installed on a computer system.
• So the OS tries to balance the memory needs of all the applications that are
running. System management also includes routine maintenance tasks,
such as file management, defragmenting disks to optimize hard drive
storage, and keeping track of power supply
HANDLES SYSTEM
RESOURCES
• The operating system also handles system resources such as the
computer's memory and sharing of the central processing unit (CPU) time
by various applications or peripheral devices. Programs and input methods
are constantly competing for the attention of the CPU and demand memory,
storage and input/output bandwidth. The operating system ensures that
each application gets the necessary resources it needs in order to maximize
the functionality of the overall system
HARDWARE SERVICES

• The OS manages all the hardware and peripheral devices of your computer.
For example, when you put in a DVD to play a movie, the OS will start
reading the data from the optical drive and launch a movie player. Or when
you are saving a file to a USB flash drive, the OS checks to make sure there
is enough space on the drive to store your file
STORAGE MANAGEMENT
• Operating System also Controls the all the Storage Operations means how
the data or files will be Stored into the computers and how the Files will be
Accessed by the users etc. All the Operations those are Responsible for
Storing and Accessing the Files is determined by the Operating System
Operating System also Allows us Creation of Files, Creation of Directories
and Reading and Writing the data of Files and Directories and also Copy the
contents of the Files and the Directories from One Place to Another Place.
PROCESS MANAGEMENT
• The Operating System also Treats the Process Management means all the
Processes those are given by the user or the Process those are System ‗s
own Process are Handled by the Operating System . The Operating System
will Create the Priorities for the user and also Start or Stops the Execution of
the Process and Also Makes the Child Process after dividing the Large
Processes into the Small Processes
FILE MANAGEMENT

• The operating system also handles the organization and tracking of files
and directories (folders) saved or retrieved from a computer disk. The file
management system allows the user to perform such tasks as creating files
and directories, renaming files, coping and moving files, and deleting files.
The operating system keeps track of where files are located on the hard
drive through the type of file system. The type two main types of file
system are File Allocation table (FAT) or New Technology File system (NTFS).
SECURITY
• There are numerous security threats to your computer, in particular various
types of malware, which is short for malicious software. This includes
computer viruses, which can interfere with the normal operations of your
computer. Viruses can be very harmful and result in loss of data or system
crashes.
• The OS of a computer has a number of built-in tools to protect against
security threats, including the use of virus scanning utilities and setting up
a firewall to block suspicious network activity. One of the most common
ways to get a computer virus is by e-mail. If you have received an e-mail
message from someone you don't know with an unknown file attachment,
be careful about opening up that file since it may just contain a virus or
other malicious software
SECURITY
• While the OS has a number of built-in security tools, you may need
additional software to set up the best protection, in particular virus
scanning software. These types of utilities expand the functionality of the
OS.
• Another basic security feature is to control access to your computer by
setting up a password. Without the password someone else will not be able
to get access to the software applications and files on your computer
MEMORY MANAGEMENT
• When an operating system manages the computer's memory, there are two
broad tasks to be accomplished:
• 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.
• 2. The different types of memory in the system must be used properly so
that each process can run most effectively
• The first task requires the operating system to set up memory boundaries
for types of software and for individual applications.
MEMORY MANAGEMENT
• When applications begin to be loaded into memory, they are loaded in block
sizes determined by the operating system. If the block size is 2 kilobytes,
then every process that's loaded will be given a chunk of memory that's a
multiple of 2 kilobytes in size. Applications will be loaded in these fixed
block sizes, with the blocks starting and ending on boundaries established
by words of 4 or 8 bytes. These blocks and boundaries help to ensure that
applications won't be loaded on top of one another's space by a poorly
calculated bit or two. With that ensured, the larger question is what to do
when the 500-kilobyte application space is filled.
MEMORY MANAGEMENT
• In most computers, it's possible to add memory beyond the original
capacity. For example, you might expand RAM from 1 to 2 gigabytes. This
works fine, but can be relatively expensive. It also ignores a fundamental
fact of computing -- most of the information that an application stores in
memory is not being used at any given moment. A processor can only
access memory one location at a time, so the vast majority of RAM is
unused at any moment. Since disk space is cheap compared to RAM, then
moving information in RAM to hard disk can greatly expand RAM space at
no cost. This technique is called virtual memory management
• Disk storage is only one of the memory types that must be managed by the operating system, and
it's also the slowest. Ranked in order of speed, the types of memory in a computer system are:
•  High-speed cache -- This is fast, relatively small amounts of memory that are available to the CPU
through the fastest connections. Cache controllers predict which pieces of data the CPU will need
next and pull it from main memory into high-speed cache to speed up system performance.
•  Main memory -- This is the RAM that you see measured in megabytes when you buy a computer.
•  Secondary memory -- This is most often some sort of rotating magnetic storage that keeps
applications and data available to be used, and serves as virtual RAM under the control of the
operating system.
• The operating system must balance the needs of the various processes with the availability of the
different types of memory, moving data in blocks (called pages) between available memory as the
schedule of processes dictates
PROCESSOR MANAGEMENT
• The heart of managing the processor comes down to two related issues:
•  Ensuring that each process and application receives enough of the
processor's time to function properly
•  Using as many processor cycles as possible for real work
• The basic unit of software that the operating system deals with in
scheduling the work done by the processor is either a process or a thread,
depending on the operating system
PROCESSOR MANAGEMENT
• It's tempting to think of a process as an application, but that gives an
incomplete picture of how processes relate to the operating system and
hardware. The application you see (word processor, spreadsheet or game)
is, indeed, a process, but that application may cause several other
processes to begin, for tasks like communications with other devices or
other computers. There are also numerous processes that run without
giving you direct evidence that they ever exist. For example, Windows XP
and UNIX can have dozens of background processes running to handle the
network, memory management, disk management, virus checks and so on
PROCESSOR MANAGEMENT
• A process, then, is software that performs some action and can be
controlled -- by a user, by other applications or by the operating system.
• It is processes, rather than applications, that the operating system controls
and schedules for execution by the CPU. In a single-tasking system, the
schedule is straightforward. The operating system allows the application to
begin running, suspending the execution only long enough to deal with
interrupts and user input.
PROCESSOR MANAGEMENT
• Interrupts are special signals sent by hardware or software to the CPU. It's
as if some part of the computer suddenly raised its hand to ask for the
CPU's attention in a lively meeting. Sometimes the operating system will
schedule the priority of processes so that interrupts are masked -- that is,
the operating system will ignore the interrupts from some sources so that a
particular job can be finished as quickly as possible. There are some
interrupts (such as those from error conditions or problems with memory)
that are so important that they can't be ignored. These non-maskable
interrupts (NMIs) must be dealt with immediately, regardless of the other
tasks at hand
PROCESSOR MANAGEMENT
• While interrupts add some complication to the execution of processes in a
single-tasking system, the job of the operating system becomes much more
complicated in a multi-tasking system. Now, the operating system must
arrange the execution of applications so that you believe that there are
several things happening at once. This is complicated because the CPU can
only do one thing at a time. Today's multi-core processors and multi-
processor machines can handle more work, but each processor core is still
capable of managing one task at a time
PROCESSOR MANAGEMENT
• In order to give the appearance of lots of things happening at the same time, the
operating system has to switch between different processes thousands of times a
second. Here's how it happens:
•  A process occupies a certain amount of RAM. It also makes use of registers, stacks
and queues within the CPU and operating-system memory space.
•  When two processes are multi-tasking, the operating system allots a certain
number of CPU execution cycles to one program.
•  After that number of cycles, the operating system makes copies of all the
registers, stacks and queues used by the processes, and notes the point at which
the process paused in its execution.
•  It then loads all the registers, stacks and queues used by the second process and
allows it a certain number of CPU cycles.
•  When those are complete, it makes copies of all the registers, stacks and queues
used by the second program, and loads the first program
PROCESSOR MANAGEMENT
• Each process has a status associated with it. Many processes consume no CPU time until they
get some sort of input. For example, a process might be waiting for a keystroke from the user.
While it is waiting for the keystroke, it uses no CPU time. While it's waiting, it is "suspended".
When the keystroke arrives, the OS changes its status. When the status of the process changes,
from pending to active, for example, or from suspended to running, the information in the
process control block must be used like the data in any other program to direct execution of the
task-switching portion of the operating system.
• This process swapping happens without direct user interference, and each process gets enough
CPU cycles to accomplish its task in a reasonable amount of time. Trouble can begin if the user
tries to have too many processes functioning at the same time. The operating system itself
requires some CPU cycles to perform the saving and swapping of all the registers, queues and
stacks of the application processes. If enough processes are started, and if the operating system
hasn't been carefully designed, the system can begin to use the vast majority of its available
CPU cycles to swap between processes rather than run processes. When this happens, it's called
thrashing, and it usually requires some sort of direct user intervention to stop processes and
bring order back to the system.
DEVICE MANAGEMENT
• The path between the operating system and virtually all hardware not on
the computer's motherboard goes through a special program called a
driver. Much of a driver's function is to be the translator between the
electrical signals of the hardware subsystems and the high-level
programming languages of the operating system and application programs.
Drivers take data that the operating system has defined as a file and
translate them into streams of bits placed in specific locations on storage
devices, or a series of laser pulses in a printer
DEVICE MANAGEMENT
• Because there are such wide differences in the hardware, there are differences in the
way that the driver programs function. Most run when the device is required, and
function much the same as any other process. The operating system will frequently
assign high-priority blocks to drivers so that the hardware resource can be released
and readied for further use as quickly as possible.
• One reason that drivers are separate from the operating system is so that new
functions can be added to the driver -- and thus to the hardware subsystems -- without
requiring the operating system itself to be modified, recompiled and redistributed.
Through the development of new hardware device drivers, development often
performed or paid for by the manufacturer of the subsystems rather than the publisher
of the operating system, input/output capabilities of the overall system can be greatly
enhanced.
DEVICE MANAGEMENT
• Managing input and output is largely a matter of managing queues and
buffers, special storage facilities that take a stream of bits from a device,
perhaps a keyboard or a serial port, hold those bits, and release them to the
CPU at a rate with which the CPU can cope. This function is especially
important when a number of processes are running and taking up processor
time. The operating system will instruct a buffer to continue taking input
from the device, but to stop sending data to the CPU while the process
using the input is suspended. Then, when the process requiring input is
made active once again, the operating system will command the buffer to
send data. This process allows a keyboard or a modem to deal with external
users or computers at a high speed even though there are times when the
CPU can't use input from those sources
DEVICE MANAGEMENT
• Managing all the resources of the computer system is a large part of the
operating system's function and, in the case of real-time operating systems,
may be virtually all the functionality required. For other operating systems,
though, providing a relatively simple, consistent way for applications and
humans to use the power of the hardware is a crucial part of their reason
for existing
MULTI-PROGRAMMING
• Multi-programming is a method of operating such that several programs
appear to be running at once.
• The operating system switches jobs in and out of processor time according
to priority. For example, while one job is being allocated printer time,
another will be being processed in memory. The processor is so fast that it
seems that many jobs are being processed at the same time.
BATCH PROCESSING
• A batch processing system is where programs or data are collected
together in a batch and processed in one go. Typically the processing of
payrolls, electricity bills, invoices and daily transactions are dealt with this
way.
• This method of operation lends itself to jobs with similar inputs, processing
and outputs where no human intervention is needed. Jobs are stored in a
queue until the computer is ready to deal with them. Often batch processed
jobs are done overnight.
• Advantages: It is possible to perform repetitive tasks on a large number of
pieces of data rapidly without needing the user to monitor it
INTERACTIVE PROCESSING (ONLINE
PROCESSING)

• An interactive processing system is where the tasks on the computer

system require a continual exchange of information between the user and
the computer system. It can be seen as the opposite of batch processing.
• Advantages: Interactive or online processing enables the user to input data
and get the results of the processing of that data immediately
MULTI-TASKING
• This isn't just about running more than one application at the same time.
Multi-tasking allows multiple tasks to run concurrently, taking turns using
the resources of the computer.
• This can mean running a couple of applications, sending a document to the
printer and downloading a web page.
MULTI-ACCESS OR MULTI-
USER
• Modern personal computers can allow multi-user access. A multi-access (or
multi-user) system is one where several users can use the same system
together via a LAN.
• The CPU (central processing unit) deals with users in turn; clearly the more
users, the slower the response time. Generally, however, the processor is so
fast that the response time at the most is a fraction of a second and the
user feels they are being dealt with immediately.
CHECK YOUR PROGRESS 6.3

• Fill in the Blanks

• 1] -------------- manages hardware and software resources.
• 2] -------------- provides consistent and stable way for applications.
• 3] -------------- provides a user interface.
• 4] -------------- are special signals sent by hardware or software to the CPU.
• 5] basic security feature is to control access to your computer by setting up
a ------------
6.6 WINDOWS DESKTOP OPERATING
SYSTEMS
6.6.1 WINDOWS 7 EDITIONS
• The Windows 7 operating system comes in multiple editions. You will
sometimes see these editions referred to as Stock Keeping Units (SKUs).
Microsoft targets specific editions at
• different usage scenarios, providing cheaper editions to customers who do
not want all the
• features available in a more expensive edition. As an IT professional, your
job may involve
• providing guidance to decision makers on which edition of Windows 7
should be purchased
• for the computers in your organization. You may also need to provide
guidance to family
• and friends as to which edition of Windows 7 best meets their needs
• The Windows 7 operating system comes in multiple editions. You will
sometimes see these editions referred to as Stock Keeping Units (SKUs).
Microsoft targets specific editions at
• different usage scenarios, providing cheaper editions to customers who do
not want all the
• features available in a more expensive edition. As an IT professional, your
job may involve
• providing guidance to decision makers on which edition of Windows 7
should be purchased
• for the computers in your organization. You may also need to provide
guidance to family
• and friends as to which edition of Windows 7 best meets their needs
WINDOWS 7 STARTER
• Windows 7 Starter is available from retailers and on new computers
installed by manufacturers.
• It does not support or include the Windows Aero user interface, DVD
playback, Windows Media Center, IIS Web Server, or Internet connection
sharing. You cannot join a computer with this edition of Windows to a
domain. This edition does not support enterprise features such as
Encrypting File System (EFS), AppLocker, DirectAccess, BitLocker, Remote
Desktop Host, and BranchCache. This edition supports a maximum of one
physical processor
WINDOWS 7 HOME BASIC

• Windows 7 Home Basic is available only in emerging markets. It does not

support or include
• the Windows Aero user interface, DVD playback, Windows Media Center, or
IIS Web Server.
• You cannot join a computer with this edition of Windows 7 to a domain. This
edition does not
• support enterprise features such as EFS, AppLocker, DirectAccess,
BitLocker, Remote Desktop
• Host, and BranchCache. This edition supports a maximum of one physical
processor. The x86
• version supports a maximum of 4 GB of RAM, whereas the x64 version
supports a maximum
WINDOWS 7 HOME PREMIUM
• Windows 7 Home Premium is available from retailers and on new computers
installed by manufacturers. Unlike the Starter and Home Basic editions, the
Home Premium edition supports the Windows Aero UI, DVD playback,
Windows Media Center, Internet connection sharing, and the IIS Web Server.
You cannot join this edition of Windows 7 to a domain, and it does not
support enterprise features such as EFS, AppLocker, DirectAccess,
BitLocker, Remote Desktop Host, and BranchCache. The x86 version of
Windows 7 Home Premium supports a maximum of 4 GB of RAM, whereas
the x64 version supports a maximum of 16 GB of RAM. Windows
• 7 Home Premium supports up to two physical processors.
 WINDOWS 7 PROFESSIONAL
• Windows 7 Professional is available from retailers and on new computers
installed by manufacturers. It supports all the features available in Windows
Home Premium, but you can join computers with this operating system
installed to a domain. It supports EFS and Remote Desktop Host but does
not support enterprise features such as AppLocker, DirectAccess, BitLocker,
and BranchCache. Windows 7 Professional supports up to two physical
processors
WINDOWS 7 ENTERPRISE
AND ULTIMATE EDITIONS
• The Windows 7 Enterprise and Ultimate editions are identical except for the
fact that Windows
• 7 Enterprise is available only to Microsoft‘s volume licensing customers, and
Windows 7 Ultimate is available from retailers and on new computers
installed by manufacturers.
• The Enterprise and Ultimate editions support all the features available in
other Windows 7 editions but also support all the enterprise features such
as EFS, Remote Desktop Host, AppLocker, DirectAccess, BitLocker,
BranchCache, and Boot from VHD. Windows 7 Enterprise
• and Ultimate editions support up to two physical processors
WINDOWS 7 HARDWARE REQUIREMENTS

• Operating systems work properly only when you install them on computers
that meet the minimum hardware requirements. You should remember that
these requirements are just for the operating system itself, but most people
want to do more than just run an operating system: they also want to run
applications. Applications require memory and storage space beyond that of
the operating system minimum requirements. As someone who may be
responsible for making recommendations about the specifications of
computer hardware that your organization will purchase, you need to take
into account the hardware requirements of the operating system and the
applications that will run on it, not just the operating system itself.
WINDOWS 7 STARTER AND WINDOWS 7 HOME
BASIC HAVE THE FOLLOWING MINIMUM HARDWARE
REQUIREMENTS

•  1 GHz 32-bit (x86) or 64-bit (x64) processor

•  512 MB of system memory
•  A 20-GB (x64) or 16-GB (x86) hard disk drive, traditional or Solid State
Disk (SSD), with
•  at least 15 GB of available space
•  A graphics adapter that supports DirectX 9 graphics and 32 MB of
graphics memory
WINDOWS 7 HOME PREMIUM, PROFESSIONAL,
ULTIMATE, AND ENTERPRISE EDITIONS HAVE THE
FOLLOWING MINIMUM HARDWARE REQUIREMENTS :
•  1 GHz 32-bit (x86) or 64-bit (x64) processor
•  1 GB of system memory
•  A 40-GB hard disk drive (traditional or SSD) with at least 15 GB of
available space
•  A graphics adapter that supports DirectX 9 graphics, has a Windows
Display Driver Model (WDDM) driver, Pixel Shader 2.0 hardware, and 32 bits
per pixel and a minimum of 128 MB graphics memory
• Windows 7 supports two different processor architectures. The 32-bit version of Windows 7 is
usually labeled as being x86. You should install the x86 version of Windows 7 on computers
• with older processors, such as the Pentium IV, as well as newer small form factor laptop
computers, also known as net books. The main limitation of the x86 version of Windows 7 is
• that it does not support more than 4 GB of RAM. It is possible to install the x86 version of
• Windows 7 on computers that have x64 processors, but the operating system will be unable
• to utilize any RAM that the computer has beyond 4 GB. You can install the x64 version of
Windows 7 only on computers that have x64-compatible processors. The x64 versions of
• Windows 7 Professional, Enterprise, and Ultimate editions support up to 128 GB of RAM. The
• x64 version of Windows 7 Home Basic edition supports 8 GB and the x64 edition of Home
• Premium supports a maximum of 16 GB.
FEATURES OF WINDOWS 7

• Gadgets
• Gadgets are mini-applications (applets) for the Windows 7 desktop that give
you access to frequently changing information, such as the current time,
weather, stock quotes, news feeds, computer usage, and the like. Figure 1-4
shows you my desktop with the Gadgets Gallery window displayed
FEATURES OF WINDOWS 7
•  Clock, which shows an analog clock with the current time for any time
zone you select.
•  Slide Show, which displays a continuous slide show of the images that are
stored in your Pictures library.
•  Calendar, which shows the current day and date.
•  Weather, which shows the current temperature (and when enlarged,
weather conditions) for a selected town or city.
•  Feed Headlines, which shows you news headlines for the RSS feed you
select.
6.6.2 WINDOWS 8.1 EDITIONS
• Choose the ideal Windows 8.1 edition
• There are four Windows 8.1 editions, and each offers specific features. You
can narrow your options for selecting an opeWindows RT
• This edition comes preinstalled on tablets and similar devices that run on
ARM processors. You can‘t buy it as a stand-alone product. It won‘t run on
anything other than ARM processors, so there is no need to consider it if
you are looking for an operating system to install on a typical laptop or
desktop PC. In addition, it can run apps from the Windows Store, but it
cannot be used to install or run the traditional Windows x86/x64
applications you‘d normally obtain from the Internet, network shares, CDs,
or DVDs. Windows RT devices come with a special version of Microsoft
Office for completing tasks that require it, but they do not come with
Windows Media Player and have other limitationsrating system by learning
the basics about each:
WINDOWS 8.1

• This edition is the popular retail edition of Windows. It is most often used by
home users but might also work for some home office users. This edition
comes preinstalled on the majority of PCs available from big-box stores, and
you‘ll see it on most of the devices your end users bring to work (from
home). You can buy this edition and install it on x86/x64 platforms. The
main limitation of this edition in an enterprise is that it can‘t join a domain.
Thus, if your client needs to join a domain, this isn‘t the edition you‘ll select.
(It‘s easy to upgrade to Windows 8.1 Professional, though, should that be
necessary.)
WINDOWS 8.1
PROFESSIONAL (WINDOWS
8.1 PRO)
• This edition is used mostly by small to medium-sized businesses (with or
without a domain) and by larger enterprises. It offers features not available
in Windows 8.1 or Windows RT such as BitLocker (computers running
Windows RT, Windows RT 8.1, or Windows 8.1 can be protected using
Device Encryption, which is a customized version of BitLocker) and
BitLocker to Go, the ability to host a Remote Desktop Connection, Client
Hyper-V, and Virtual Hard Disk (VHD) Boot. If your client needs any of these
features and you don‘t have (and don‘t want) a volume licensing agreement
to purchase Windows 8.1 Enterprise, this is the edition you‘ll choose
WINDOWS 8.1 ENTERPRISE

• This edition is only available through the Microsoft volume licensing program. Customers
can purchase an Enterprise Agreement (EA), Select Agreement, or Open License.
Customers have the ability to purchase Software Assurance (SA) with each license for
Windows 8. Not all customers buy SA on Windows and therefore sometimes pay after each
product release. If you are enrolled, you‘ll get all of the features in Windows 8.1
Professional and these features that are exclusive to Windows 8.1 Enterprise: Start screen
control, Windows To Go Creator, AppLocker, BranchCache, DirectAccess, and Virtual
Desktop Infrastructure (VDI) Enhancements.
• Each Windows 8.1 edition has minimum and maximum system settings for CPU sockets
and RAM, among other things. The hardware you use to install Windows 8.1 must meet
these requirements.
• Below details minimum system requirements for Windows 8.1.
• Minimum Hardware for common resources
• ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
• 32-bit (x86)
• 64-bit (x64)
• Processor speed
• 1 gigahertz (GHz) or faster
• 1 GHz or faster
• System memory (RAM)
• 1 GB
• 2 GB
• Available hard disk space
• 16 GB
• 20 GB
• Graphics adapter
• DirectX 9 graphics adapter with WDDM driver
• DirectX 9 graphics adapter with WDDM driver
• Secure Boot
• Unified Extensible Firmware Interface (UEFI)–based BIOS
• UEFI-based BIOS
• --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
• When you first start using Windows 8.1, the changes from Windows 7 are
significant and very obvious. The biggest change is the use of the new user
interface (UI) as the default method for interacting with software programs
and apps (see below) The desktop has effectively been downgraded to an
app, but it retains all the power and functionality of Windows 7.
FIGURE BELOW SHOWS THE START SCREEN
WINDOWS
• Windows 8.1 is also the very first version of Windows to feature a built-in
antivirus as standard. The new Windows Defender software is not like the
version in Windows XP, Vista, and Windows 7, in which it was a basic
malware protection tool. In Windows 8.1, it is a fully rebadged copy of the
free Microsoft Security Essentials software everything is where you would
expect to find it—certainly when you drill down into the advanced features
on the desktop. Some of the new features may come as a pleasant surprise,
however, because they expand the core power and flexibility of Windows in
new and exciting ways
WHAT’S NEW IN WINDOWS
8.1?
• Start Screen
• First of all, what is this new UI? Why does it exist and how do you use it? The Start
screen came about in Windows 8.1 because of the need for Microsoft to get into the
tablet computing market. It is based on a design created for the company‘s
Windows Phone OS and can be traced back in various forms to the Zune media
player and even Windows Media Center before that.
• The Start screen is based around a series of ―live tiles,‖ each of which gives you
real-time information from a particular app. For example, they can display the
number of e-mails you have waiting, or the sender and subject of those e-mails.
They can show you calendar appointments, currency exchange rates, stock market
values, or the latest photographs in your collection