Chapter 3
Operating Systems: Software in the Background
1
Objectives
Describe the systems software.
Describe the functions of an operating system.
Explain the basics of a personal computer operating
system.
Describe the advantages of a graphical operating
system.
List the different versions of Microsoft Windows.
Describe the meaning of files management.
List several utility programs and their functions.
2
Systems Software
All programs related to coordinating
computer operations.
Examples
Operating systems
Language translators
Convert program code to machine-readable form
Utility programs
Perform secondary chores.
3
Operating System: Hidden Software
A set of programs that lies
between applications software
and the hardware
Manages computer’s resources
(CPU, peripheral devices)
Establishes a user interface
Determines how user interacts with
operating system
Provides and executes services
for applications software
4
Kernel
The most important program, which manages
the operating system
Loaded from hard drive into memory when
computer is booted (resident)
Booting (bootstrapping) refers to starting the computer
5
Operating Systems for Personal
Computers
Platform: combination of computer hardware
and operating system software.
Wintel (Microsoft Windows running on an Intel-based
PC) is most common
Common Platforms
MS-DOS
Windows
MAC OS
6
File Management
Managing your computer is essential in
becoming computer fluent.
You need to learn two main things for file
management:
What files, folders, and paths are.
The specifics of actually managing your
files.
13
Files, Folders, and Paths
A file is a storage device for digital data.
Files are organized in folders.
Folders may have subfolders, or folders
within folders.
The computer follows a path to find a file.
Primary
Storage Primary Secondary Tertiary File
Device Folder Folder Folder
+ + + +
Drive C: Classes Biology 101 Assignments plant_diseases.doc
14
File Naming Conventions
Each file needs a specific filename.
The filename has two parts:
The name
The extension
The extension identifies the type of data
the file contains.
Example filename: [Link]
15
Commonly Used Extensions
Extension File Type
.exe Program Application
.doc Microsoft Word
.xls Microsoft Excel
.ppt Microsoft Power Point
.mdb Microsoft Access
.pdf Adobe acrobat reader
.txt Simple Text
.htm or .html Web Pages
.jpeg or .jpg Image Format
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File Management Utilities
My Computer is the main file management
utility.
Left Pane– Right Pane– Lists
Displays links stored files and
to system devices attached
tasks to the computer.
17
Creating Folders
A folder structure, an organized set of folders,
can be created in two steps.
Step 1. Click Step 2. Choose
on the drive in File, New, and
which you then Folder.
want to create
a folder.
18
Transferring Folders and Files
There are two basic ways to transfer your files
and folders.
Method 1 Method 2
To move the files
To copy or
and folders within
move the files
the same drive,
and folders,
left-drag them to
right-drag them
the new location.
to the new
location. When left-dragging
between drives, a
copy is created.
19
Utility Programs
Perform secondary chores
Examples
File compression.
Back up and restore.
Disk Defragmenter.
Anti-Virus software.
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