Module III: SOFTWARE

Overview:

This module focuses on operating system software and application software it enables the
hardware system to operate and to run application software. Discusses application software,
including some important basic concept and characteristic, as well as an overview of some of
the most common types of application software used today namely word processing,
spreadsheet, database, presentation, graphics and multimedia software.

Lesson 6. Operating System Software

Learning Outcomes:

After successful completion of this lesson, you should be able to:

• 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

Course Materials:

System Software

• System software consists of the programs that control or maintain the operations
of the computer and its devices
– Operating systems
– Utility Programs
Operating Systems

• An operating system (OS) is a set of programs containing instructions that work

together to coordinate all the activities among computer hardware resources
– 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

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 – Administer security
Operating System Functions

• The process of starting or restarting a computer is called booting

Operating System Functions

– Cold boot
o Turning on a computer that has been powered off completely
– Warm boot
o Using the operating system to restart a computer

Operating 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
An operating system includes various shut down options

• 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
• 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

• With a command-line interface, a user uses the keyboard to enter data and instructions

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 • How an operating system handles programs directly affects your productivity
– Single user and multiuser
– Single tasking and multitasking
– Foreground and background
– Preemptive multitasking
– Multiprocessing
• Memory management optimizes the use of RAM
• Virtual memory is a portion of a storage medium functioning as additional RAM

• The operating system determines the order in which tasks are processed

– A driver is a small program that tells the operating system how to communicate with a
specific device
– Plug and Play automatically configures new devices as you install them

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 • Operating systems typically provide a means to establish Internet connections
• A performance monitor is a program that assesses and reports information about
various computer resources and devices

• Operating systems often provide users with the capability of:

– 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 savers

• Automatic update automatically provides updates to the program

• 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

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 • A network administrator uses the server operating system to:
• Add and remove users, computers, and other devices
• Install software and administer network security
• 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

Types of Operating Systems

Stand-Alone Operating Systems

• A stand-alone operating system is a complete operating system that works on a

desktop computer, notebook computer, or mobile computing device
– Windows 7
– Mac OS X
– UNIX
– Linux
• Windows 7 is Microsoft’s fastest, most efficient operating system to date and is
available in multiple editions:
– Windows 7 Starter
– Windows 7 Home Premium
– Windows 7 Ultimate
– Windows 7 Professional
• Windows 7 provides programs such as:
– Windows Firewall

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 – Windows DVD Maker
– Windows Media Player
– Desktop Gadget Gallery

• The Macintosh operating system has set the standard for operating system ease of
use
• Latest version is Mac OS X

• UNIX is a multitasking operating system developed in the early 1970s

• Linux is an open-source, popular, multitasking UNIX-type operating system
Server Operating Systems

– Windows Server 2008

– UNIX
– Linux
– Solaris
– NetWare
• Windows Server 2008 is an upgrade to Windows
Server 2003
– Part of the Windows Server 2008 family
– Multiple editions

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 • Most editions include Hyper-V, a virtualization technology
– Virtualization is the practice of sharing or pooling computing resources
Embedded Operating Systems

• An embedded operating system resides on a ROM chip on a mobile device or

consumer electronic device
– Windows Embedded CE
– Windows Phone 7
– Palm OS
– iPhone OS
– BlackBerry
– Google Android
– Embedded Linux
– Symbian OS
Utility Programs

• A utility program is a type of system software that allows a user to perform maintenance-
type tasks
• A file manager is a utility that performs functions related to file management
• Displaying a list of files
• Organizing files in folders
• Copying, renaming, deleting, moving, and sorting files and folders
• Creating shortcuts
• A search utility is a program that attempts to locate a file on your computer based on
criteria you specify
• An image viewer allows users to display, copy, and print the contents of a graphics file
• An uninstaller removes a program, as well as any associated entries in the system files
– A disk cleanup utility searches for and removes unnecessary files
– Downloaded program
files
– Temporary Internet
files
– Deleted files
– Unused program
files
A disk cleanup utility searches for and removes unnecessary files
– Downloaded program files
– Temporary Internet files
– Deleted files
– Unused program files

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 • A backup utility allows users to copy files to another storage medium
• A restore utility reverses the process and returns backed up files to their original form

A screen saver causes a display device’s screen to show a moving image or blank screen if no
activity occurs for a specified time

A personal firewall detects and protects a personal computer from unauthorized intrusions

A virus describes a potentially damaging computer program that affects a computer

negatively

• A worm copies itself repeatedly in memory or over a network

• A Trojan horse hides within or looks like a legitimate program

An antivirus program protects a computer against viruses

• Spyware is a program placed on a computer without the user’s knowledge that secretly
collects information about the user
A spyware remover detects and deletes spyware and other similar programs
• Adware displays an online advertisement in a banner or pop-up window
An adware remover is a program that detects and deletes adware

Filters are programs that remove or block certain items from being displayed
• Web filtering software
• Anti-spam programs
• Phishing filters
• Pop-up blockers
A file compression utility shrinks the size of a file(s)
• Compressing files frees up room on the storage media
• Two types of compression
• Lossy
• Lossless
Compressed files sometimes are called zipped files
• Can be uncompressed
A media player allows you to view images and animation, listen to audio, and watch
video files on your computer

• Disc burning software writes text, graphics, audio, and video files on a recordable or
rewritable optical disc

A personal computer maintenance utility identifies and fixes operating system problems, detects
and repairs disk problems, and includes the capability of improving a computer’s performance

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