Chapter 5 Types of Utility Programs and Operating Sys

System Software

System Software consists of 2 programs that control or maintain the operations of the computer and its devices.

• Operating Systems - is a set of programs containing instructions that work together to coordinates all the activities among computer hardware resources.

Eg : Start and shut down a computer, manage memory, automatically update, control a network.

Operating System Functions

• The process of starting or restarting a computer is called booting. Cold boot is turning on a computer that has been powered off completely. A Warm boot is using the operating system to restart a computer.

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. 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 ah ard 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
• Memory management optimizes the use of RAM
• Virtual memory is a portion of a storage medium functioning as a 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.

• 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, uninstalling programs, searching for files, cleaning up disks, backing up files and disks, viewing images, defragmenting disks, setting up screen savers, securing a computer, diagnosing problems.

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. For example, Windows 7, Mac OS X, UNIX, Linux.
• Windows 7 is a 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.
• 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 System

• Windows Server 2008 - an upgraded Windows Server of 2003
• Most editions include Hyper-V, a virtualization technology

Embedded Operating System

• Embedded operating system -resides on a ROM chip on a mobile device or consumer electronic device.

Utility Programs

• 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 graphic 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.
• 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.
• A restore utility reverses the process and returns backed up files to their original form.
• Screen saver causes a display of a moving image if no activity occurs for a specified  time.
• Personal firewall detects and protects a personal computer from unauthorized intruders.

A virus damage the computer program and affects the computer potentially. A worm copies itself repeatedly in memory or over a network. A Trojan horse hides within or looks like 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. Spyware remover detects and delete 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 such as Web filtering software, Anti-spam programs, Phishing filters, Pop-up blockers.
• A file compression utility shrinks the size of a file.
• Compressed files sometimes are called zipped files that can again be uncompressed.
• A media player allow us to view image and animation, listen to audio and watch videos files on our computer.
• Disc burning software writes text, graphics, audio, and video files on a recordable or rewritable optical disc.