CHAPTER - 5

System Software
 Objectives
 Importance of System Software
 Differences between System Software and
Application Software
 Basic Functions of Operating System
 Categories of Operating system
 Purpose of utilities and utility suites
 Most essential Utilities
 Device drivers and Language Translator
 Importance of System Software
People always think about using the applications, like
 Creating Documents (Word processing)

 Using the Internet (Surfing)

But the people does not think about some more important and
behind the scene activities, which are performed by System
Software. For example;
 How the applications are loaded on screen?

 What are Computer Viruses? How to protect computers from viruses?

etc……

Therefore having the knowledge of System Software and its

functions will make our computing life more easier and safer.
 Differences
System Software Application software
 System Software Works with  Application Software are used
application Software to handle by people (end users) to carry
technical details, like out specific tasks, like
 Loading application from  Creating a document (Bio-
memory Data)
 Storing files  Creating presentations
 Converting commands into a  Creating a database
form which can be processed
by the computer system  Creating budgets
 Example: Microsoft Windows  Example: Microsoft Word
XP
 c
t
E
a
Working of System Software
e
tn
C
m
id
o
o
m
S
U
n
p
o
s
u
f
e
s
tt
re
o
w
fr
a
t
r
w
H
e
a
r
e
d
w
a
r
Major programs in System Software
1. Operating system: Most
important system Software
program.
Langu Opera
2. Utilities: Also known as service age ting
Transl Syste syste
programs. ators m m
Softw
3. Device Drivers: Allow I/O devices are
to communicate with System unit Devic
e Utilit
4. Language Translators: Convert Drive ies
rs
programming instructions into
machine language
Functions of Operating system
1. Managing Resources:
Coordination of resources like
keyboard, mouse, printer,
monitor.
Runni Oper
2. Providing User Interfaces: Mana
ng ating ging
Provides GUI (Graphical User Appli
cation Syste Resou
rces
Interface), for example icons. s m

3. Running Application: Loading

Provi
and running applications like, ding
User
Word, excel. Interf
ace
 Categories of Operating System
Sr. Operating Functions Examples
no. system
1 Embedded Used for handheld computers like Windows CE and
Operating PDAs. They are completely stored Palm OS
system within ROM memory of PDAs.
2 Network Used to control and coordinate Windows XP
Operating computers connected in a Server and UNIX
System (NOS) network. Typically installed on
Network Server.
3 Stand- Alone Controls a single Desktop or Windows, Mac OX
Operating Notebook computer. They are and Linux.
system stored on Hard Disks of Desktop
Computer.
 Desktop Operating systems
Popular desktop
Windows Mac OS Linux Others
Operating Systems
are; 7 10 % 1%
%
 Windows
 Mac OS
 Linux
The chart shows 82 %
popularity of various
O.S (approximate)
 Microsoft Windows
 Microsoft’s Windows is designed to run on Intel and Intel
Compatible Microprocessors such as Pentium-VI. Some
Features of Windows are;
 Desktop: Graphical User Interface also called as Luna.
 Windows: Rectangular boxes to display programs and information.
 Multitasking: Ability to run more than one programs simultaneously.
 Icons: Used to represent Commonly used features and programs.
 Files: Used to store data and programs .
 Folders: Used to store related files
 Start Menu: Provides variety of functions like, change hardware settings,
online help, Internet Explorer (browser) to display web pages.
 Notepa
d

Text User Interface

 User
Icons Interface

Desktop

Icon
s
 Folder
s
File
s

Start
Menu Windo
w
Mac OS
 Mac OS is Designed to run on
Macintosh Computers.
 Its Latest Version is Mac OS X
with following features;
 Aqua: Is Intuitive User Interface.
Mac OS
 Dock: Flexible tool for organizing X
files.
 Sherlock: Locates information on
web as well as on the user’s
computer.
Mac OS
 User
Interface
Aqua
Sherlock
UNIX and LINUX
 UNIX was originally designed
to run on minicomputers in
network environment.
 LINUX is a free version of
UNIX developed by Linus
Trovalds with following
features;
 Non proprietary: It is available for
free
 Open Source: Users are
LINUX
 Importance of Utilities
Microcomputers may face several problems,
like;
 Internal hard disks can crash.
 Viruses can damage your files.
 Computer operation may slow down, etc……
To overcome these problems system software
provides important programs called as Utilities.
Utilities are service programs designed to make
computing easier and safer.
 Most essential utilities
 Troubleshooting Utilities recognize and correct problems, before they
become serious.
 Antivirus programs guard your computer system against viruses or damaging
programs which can invade your computer system.
 Uninstall programs allow you to safely and completely remove unneeded
programs and related files. It can be used to free up some space on your hard
disk.
 Backup programs make copies of important files.
 File Compression programs reduce the size of files so they require less
space on hard disk and can be sent more efficiently on the Internet.
 Disk Cleanup is a troubleshooting utility which identifies and eliminates
nonessential files.
Troubleshooti
ng Utility

IF computer is not properly turned-off, some files

may be lost or damaged. Windows
Troubleshooting utility finds and corrects
problems before they become serious.
 VIRU
S
Antiviru
s
Progra
ms
 u p
a ck m s
B g ra
o
Pr
 Disk Defragmenter
When we store large file, it is broken up into parts and
these parts are stored on hard disk at non contagious
sectors. This process is called as fragmentation.
A fragmented file takes more time to open, which slows
the computer operation.
Disk Defragmenter is a utility program that
eliminates unnecessary fragments a re arranges files in
contagious sectors on hard disk.
This improves computer working.
 Disk
Defragment
er
Utility Suites
 Utility suites combine several
utility programs into one
package.
 Three well known utility suites
are
 Esafe Desktop, McAfee Office
and Norton system Works .
 Norton system works is a popular
utility suite which combines
several utility programs .
 Norton system Works
 Some important utilities of Norton System Works are;

 Norton Utilities are collection trouble shooting utilities, which fix and
rectify problems, improve system performance etc.
 Norton Antivirus can protect your computer from over 21000 different
viruses.
 Norton Clean sweep remove unnecessary programs and files for your
computer.
 Connection Keep Alive protects internet connection form timing out.

 Go back personal Edition will restore system settings.

 Device Drivers
 Every device connected to a computer, has a special software
associated with it called as device driver.
 It works with operating system to allow input and output
devices communicate with system unit.
 Whenever a new deice is installed its device driver must be
loaded into the computer.
 Windows provides hundreds of device drivers.

 Some drivers are supplied by the hardware manufacturer.

 Language Translators
 Computers only understand a language of 0’s and 1’s
called as machine language.
 In early days the computer programs were written in
machine language, which was very difficult to understand
by humans.
 To overcome this, programming languages are created
which are close to human language.
 To translate the programming instructions into machine
language the language translators are used.
 00000101111
1000
Languag
e
Translat
or
File Save