Living in a Digital World Discovering Computers 2011Objectives Overview Define system software and identify the two types of system software Describe the functions of an operating system Summarize the startup process on a personal computer Summarize the features of several stand-alone operating systems Briefly describe various server operating systems Summarize the features of several embedded operating systems Explain the purpose of several utility programs Discovering Computers 2011: Living in a Digital World Chapter 8 2 See Page 397 for Detailed ObjectivesSystem Software • System software consists of the programs that control or maintain the operations of the computer and its devices Discovering Computers 2011: Living in a Digital World Chapter 8 3 Page 398 Operating systems Utility ProgramsOperating Systems • An operating system (OS) is a set of programs containing instructions that work together to coordinate all the activities among computer hardware resources Discovering Computers 2011: Living in a Digital World Chapter 8 4 Pages 398 - 399 Start and shut down a computer Provide a user interface Manage programs Manage memory Coordinate tasks Configure devices Establish an Internet connection Monitor performance Provide utilities Automatically update Control a network Administer securityOperating Systems Discovering Computers 2011: Living in a Digital World Chapter 8 5 Pages 398 – 399 Figure 8-1Operating System Functions • The process of starting or restarting a computer is called booting Discovering Computers 2011: Living in a Digital World Chapter 8 6 Page 400 Figure 8-2 Cold boot • Turning on a computer that has been powered off completely Warm boot • Using the operating system to restart a computerOperating System Functions Discovering Computers 2011: Living in a Digital World Chapter 8 7 Page 401 Figure 8-3 Click to view Web Link, click Chapter 8, Click Web Link from left navigation, then click Windows Registry below Chapter 8Operating 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 Discovering Computers 2011: Living in a Digital World Chapter 8 8 Page 402Operating System Functions • An operating system includes various shut down options Discovering Computers 2011: Living in a Digital World Chapter 8 9 Page 402 Sleep mode saves any open documents and programs to RAM, turns off all unneeded functions, and then places the computer in a low-power state Hibernate saves any open documents and programs to a hard disk before removing power from the computer Click to view Web Link, click Chapter 8, Click Web Link from left navigation, then click Sleep Mode below Chapter 8Operating 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 Discovering Computers 2011: Living in a Digital World Chapter 8 10 Pages 402 – 403 Figure 8-4Operating System Functions • With a command-line interface, a user uses the keyboard to enter data and instructions Discovering Computers 2011: Living in a Digital World Chapter 8 11 Page 403 Figure 8-5Operating System Functions • How an operating system handles programs directly affects your productivity Discovering Computers 2011: Living in a Digital World Chapter 8 12 Pages 404 - 405 Single user and multiuser Single tasking and multitasking Foreground and background Preemptive multitasking MultiprocessingOperating System Functions Discovering Computers 2011: Living in a Digital World Chapter 8 13 Page 404 Figure 8-6Operating System Functions • Memory management optimizes the use of RAM • Virtual memory is a portion of a storage medium functioning as additional RAM Discovering Computers 2011: Living in a Digital World Chapter 8 14 Page 406 Figure 8-8Operating System Functions • The operating system determines the order in which tasks are processed Discovering Computers 2011: Living in a Digital World Chapter 8 15 Page 407 Figure 8-9 Click to view Web Link, click Chapter 8, Click Web Link from left navigation, then click Spooling below Chapter 8Operating System Functions Discovering Computers 2011: Living in a Digital World Chapter 8 16 Page 408 Click to view Web Link, click Chapter 8, Click Web Link from left navigation, then click Plug and Play below Chapter 8Operating System Functions • Operating systems typically provide a means to establish Internet connections Discovering Computers 2011: Living in a Digital World Chapter 8 17 Page 408 Figure 8-10Operating System Functions • A performance monitor is a program that assesses and reports information about various computer resources and devices Discovering Computers 2011: Living in a Digital World Chapter 8 18 Pages 408 – 409 Figure 8-11Operating System Functions • Operating systems often provide users with the capability of: Discovering Computers 2011: Living in a Digital World Chapter 8 19 Page 409 Managing files Searching for files Viewing images Securing a computer Uninstalling programs Cleaning up disks Defragmenting disks Diagnosing problems Backing up files and disks Setting up screen saversOperating System Functions • Automatic update automatically provides updates to the program Discovering Computers 2011: Living in a Digital World Chapter 8 20 Page 409 Figure 8-12Operating System Functions • Some operating systems are designed to work with a server on a network • A server operating system organizes and coordinates how multiple users access and share resources on a network • A network administrator uses the server operating system to: – Add and remove users, computers, and other devices – Install software and administer network security Discovering Computers 2011: Living in a Digital World Chapter 8 21 Page 410Operating 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 Discovering Computers 2011: Living in a Digital World Chapter 8 22 Page 410 Figure 8-13Types of Operating Systems Discovering Computers 2011: Living in a Digital World Chapter 8 23 Page 412 Figure 8-14Stand-Alone Operating Systems • A stand-alone operating system is a complete operating system that works on a desktop