Chapter #5 Type of Utility Programs and Operating System

Objective 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.

System software

• System software consists of the programs that control or maintain the operations of the computer and its devices.

1. Operating systems
2. Utility Programs

Operating System

• An operating system (OS) is a set programs containing instructions that work together to coordinate all the activities among computer hardware resources.

1. Start and shut down a computer
2. Provide a user interface
3. Manage programs
4. Manage memory
5. Coordinate tasks 
6. Configure devices
7. Establish an Internet connection
8. Monitor performance
9. Provide utilities
10. Automatically update
11. Control a network 
12. Administer security

Operating System Functions

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

1. Cold boot - Turning on a computer that has been powered off completely.
2. Warm boot - Using the operating system to restart a computer.

• A boot drive is the drive from which your computer starts :

1. You can boot from a boot disk.
2. A recovery disk contains a few system files that will start the computer.

• An operating system includes various shut down options :

1. 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.
2. 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.
• How an operating system handles programs directly affects your productivity :

1. Single user and multiuser
2. Single tasking and multitasking
3. Foreground and background
4. Preemptive multitasking
5. Multiprocessing

• Memory management optimize 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.
• Operating systems typically provide a means to establish Internet connections.
• A performance monitor is a program that assesses and report information about various computer resources and devices.
• Operating systems often provide users with the capability of :

1. Managing files
2. Searching for files
3. Viewing images
4. Securing a computer
5. Uninstalling programs
6. Cleaning up disks
7. Defragmenting disks
8. Diagnosing problems
9. Backing up files and disks
10. 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.
• A network administrator uses the server operating system to :

1. Add and remove users, computers, and other devices.
2. Install software and administer network security.

• Each user has a user account

1. A user name, or user ID, identifies a specific user.
2. A password is a private combination of characters associated with the user name.

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:

1. Wiondows 7
2. Mac OS X
3. UNIX
4. Linux

• Windows 7 is Microsoft's fastest, most efficient operating system to date and is available in multiple editions : 

1. Windows 7 Starter
2. Windows 7 Home Premium
3. Windows 7 Ultimate
4. Windows 7 Professional

• Windows 7 provides programs such as :

1. Windows Firewall
2. Windows DVD Maker
3. Windows Media Player
4. Desktop Gadget Gallery

• The Macintosh operating system has set the standard for operating system ease of use .
• Latest version is Max OS X.
• UNIX is a multitasking operating system developed in the early 1970s.
• Linus is an open-source popular, multitasking UNIX-type operating system.

Server Operating Systems :

1. Windows Server 2008
2. UNIX
3. Linux
4. Solaris NetWare

•  Windows Server 2008 is an upgrade to Windows Server 2003

1. Part of the Windows Server 2008 family
2. Multiple editions

• Most editions include Hyper-V, a virtualization technology

1. 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. 

1. Windows Embedded CE
2. Windows Phone 7
3. Palm OS
4. iPhone OS
5. BlackBerry
6. Google Android
7. Embedded Linux
8. 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.

1. Displaying a list of files
2. Organizing files in folders
3. Copying, renaming, deleting, moving, and sorting files and folders
4. Creating shortcuts

• A search utility is a program that attempts to locate a file on your computer bases 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.

1. Download program files
2. Temporary Internet file
3. Deleted files
4. Unused program files

• A disk defragmenter reorganizes the files and unused space on a computer's hard disk so that the operating system accesses data more quickly and programs run faster.
• 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 places on a computer without the user's knowledge that secretly collects information about the user. : A spyware remover detects and deletes spyware and other 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.

1. Web filtering software
2. Anti-spam programs
3. Phishing filters
4. Pop-up blockers

• A file compression utility shrinks the size of a file(s)

1. Compressing files frees up room on the storage media
2. Two type of compression : Lossy / Lossless

• Compressed files sometimes are called zipped files

1. 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 record-able or re-writable 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.