Discovering

Computers 2009

Chapter 8
Operating
Systems and
Utility Programs

Chapter 8 Objectives
Identify the types of system software
Summarize the features of several
stand-alone operating systems
Summarize the startup process
on a personal computer
Identify various network operating systems
Describe the functions of an operating system

Discuss ways that some operating

systems help administrators control a
network and administer security

Identify devices that use several

embedded operating systems

Explain the purpose of several

stand-alone utility programs
Explain the purpose of the utilities
included with most operating systems

Next

System Software
What is system software?
Programs that control
or maintain operation
of computer

Two types are

operating systems
and utility programs

Operating system (OS)

(sometimes called the platform)
coordinates all activities
among computer
hardware
resources

p. 398 - 399

Next

Operating Systems
What are the functions of an operating system?

p. 398 - 399 Fig. 8-1

Next

Operating Systems
What is a cross-platform application?

Runs the same on multiple operating systems

Application

Operating System/
Platform A

Operating System/
Platform B

Operating System/
Platform C

Operating System/
Platform D

p. 399

Next

Operating System Functions

What is booting?

Process of starting or restarting a computer

p. 400 Fig. 8-2

Cold boot
Turning on
computer that has
been powered off
Warm boot
Restarting
computer that is
powered on

Next

Operating System Functions

How does a personal computer boot up?
Step 1. Power supply

Step 4. Results of POST are

sends signal to components in system unit

compared with data in CMOS chip

Step 2. Processor

on a USB flash drive or CD/DVD

drive, and then drive C (hard disk)

accesses BIOS to start

computer
Step 3. BIOS runs tests,

called the POST, to

check components such
as mouse, keyboard,
and adapter cards

Step 5. BIOS looks for system files

Step 6. Kernel (core) of operating

system loads into RAM

Step 7. Operating system loads

configuration information and

displays desktop on screen

Click to view Web

Link, click Chapter 8, Click
Web Link from left
navigation, then click
Windows Registry
below Chapter 8
p. 400 - 401 Fig. 8-3

Next

Operating System Functions

What is a boot disk?
Contains system files that will start computer when
computer cannot boot

p. 402

Also called recovery disk

Next

Operating System Functions

What is a user interface?

Controls how you enter data and instructions and how

information displays on screen

p. 402 Fig. 8-4

Next

Operating System Functions

What is a graphical user
interface (GUI)?

User interacts with

menus and visual
images such as buttons
and other graphical
objects
Basic Interface
Windows Aero
Interface

p. 403 Fig. 8-5a and 8-5b

Next

Operating System Functions

What is single user/
multitasking?

Working on two or
more programs that
reside in memory at
same time

Foreground contains
program you are using
Background contains
programs that are
running but are not
in use

p. 403 - 404 Fig. 8-6

Next

Operating System Functions

What are other program management features of
operating systems?
multiprocessing
Can support two
or more processors
running programs
at same time

multiuser

fault-tolerant computer

p. 405

Continues to
operate when one
of its components
fails

Enables two or
more users to
run programs
simultaneously

Has duplicate
components such as
processors, memory,
and disk drives

Next

Operating System Functions

What is memory management?

Optimizing use of random access memory (RAM)

With virtual memory (VM), portion of hard disk is
allocated to function as RAM

p. 405 - 406 Fig. 8-8

Next

Operating System Functions

How does an operating system schedule jobs?

Adjusts schedule
based on
jobs priority

A job is an operation
the processor manages

p. 407

Receiving data
from input device

Sending
information
to output device

Processing
instructions

Transferring items
between storage
and memory

Next

Operating System Functions

What is spooling?

Sending print jobs to buffer instead of

directly to printer
Print jobs line up in queue

p. 407 Fig. 8-9

Next

Operating System Functions

What is a device driver?

Program that
tells operating system
how to communicate
with device

Also called driver

Device
Driver

With Plug and Play,

operating system
automatically configures
new devices as you
install them

Click to view Web

Link, click Chapter 8, Click
Web Link from left
navigation, then click
Plug and Play below Chapter 8
p. 407

Next

Operating System Functions

How do you install a device driver?

Step 1. Open Control

Step 2. Click the Hardware

Panel window. Point to

Hardware and Sound link.

and Sound link to display

the Hardware and Sound
options. Point to the
Scanners and Cameras link.

Step 3. Click the

Step 4. Click the Add

Scanners and Cameras

link to display the
Scanners and Cameras
dialog box. Point to
the Add Device button.

Device button to start

the Scanner and
Camera Installation
Wizard. Point to the
Next button.

Step 5. Click the Next button to proceed with the wizard.

Select the correct manufacturer and model of scanner or

camera. Follow the on-screen instructions to complete
installation of the necessary driver files for the selected
device.

p. 408 Fig. 8-10

Next

Operating System Functions

How do you establish an Internet connection?
Windows Vista includes
Connect to a network
wizard

p. 409 Fig. 8-11

Guides user through setting

up connection between
computer and Internet
service provider

Next

Operating System Functions

How does an operating system monitor performance?

Provides program, called performance monitor,

that assesses and reports information about
system resources
and devices

p. 409 Fig. 8-12

Next

Operating System Functions

What is a network operating system?

Allows users to share resources on a

network
Administers security
by establishing user
name and password for
each user

p. 410 Fig. 8-13

Next

Operating System Utility Programs

What is a utility program?
System software that performs
maintenance-type tasks

Also called
utility

p. 411 Fig. 8-14

Next

Operating System Utility Programs

What is a file manager?

Performs functions related to file management

Search utility
attempts to
locate files on
your computer
Image viewer
displays, copies,
and prints
contents of
graphics file

p. 412 Figs. 8-158-16

Next

Operating System Utility Programs

What is a personal firewall?

Detects and protects a personal computer from

unauthorized intrusions
Windows Vista
automatically
enables the builtin personal
firewall upon
installation

Click to view Web

Link, click Chapter 8, Click
Web Link from left
navigation, then click
Personal Firewalls below
Chapter 8
p. 413 Figs. 8-17

Next

Operating System Utility Programs

What is an uninstaller?

Removes a
program and
all associated files

p. 413

In Windows Vista,
uninstaller is available through
the Uninstall a program command
in the Control Panel

Next

Operating System Utility Programs

What is a disk scanner?

Searches for and removes

unnecessary files
Windows Vista includes
Disk Cleanup

p. 414 Fig. 8-18

Next

Operating System Utility Programs

What is a disk defragmenter?

Reorganizes files and unused space on hard

disk so that programs run faster

p. 414 Fig. 8-19

Next

Operating System Utility Programs

What is a diagnostic utility?
Compiles technical information about
hardware and some software
Prepares report outlining problems

p. 414

Next

Operating System Utility Programs

What is a backup utility?

Copies selected files or entire hard disk onto

another storage medium

Most compress files

during backup to
require less storage
space

p. 415 Fig. 8-20

Next

Operating System Utility Programs

What is a screen saver?
Causes monitors screen to display moving
image or blank screen if there is no activity
for a specified time
To secure computer,
user configures screen
saver to require
password to
deactivate
Click to view Web
Link, click Chapter 8, Click
Web Link from left
navigation, then click
Screen Savers below Chapter 8
p. 415 Fig. 8-21

Next

Types of Operating Systems

What are some characteristics of operating systems?

Devicedependent
Runs only on specific
type of computer

Proprietary
software
Privately owned and
limited to specific vendor
or computer model

Downward
compatible
Click to view Web
Link, click Chapter 8, Click
Web Link from left
navigation, then click
Windows Vista below
Chapter 8
p. 415 - 416

Works with application

software written for
earlier version of
operating system

Deviceindependent
Runs on many
manufacturers
computers

Upward
compatible
Runs on new versions of
operating system

Next

Types of Operating Systems

What are three categories of operating systems?

Embedded

Network

Stand-alone

p. 416

Next

Stand-Alone Operating Systems

How do Windows
versions compare?

p. 417 Fig. 8-23

Windows Version

Year Released

Windows 3.x

1990

Windows NT 3.1

1993

Windows 95

1995

Windows NT Workstation 4.0

1996

Windows 98

1998

Windows Millennium Edition

2000

Windows 2000 Professional

2000

Windows XP

2001

Windows XP SP2

2004

Windows Vista

2006
Next

Stand-Alone Operating Systems

What is Windows XP?

Fast, reliable Windows operating system

Available in five
editions:
Home Edition,
Professional
Edition,
Tablet PC Edition,
Media Center
Edition,
and 64-bit Edition

p. 417 - 418 Fig. 8-24

Next

Stand-Alone Operating Systems

What is Windows Vista?

Successor to Windows XP, containing a new

interface and new / enhanced features

Available in several
editions, grouped into
Home and Business
categories

p. 418 - 419 Fig. 8-25

Next

Stand-Alone Operating Systems

What are some features of Windows Vista?
Windows Vista Features
Reliability and Performance
Security
Information Management
Appearance and Navigation
Communications and the Internet

p. 419

Next

Stand-Alone Operating Systems

What is Mac OS X?

Available only for computers manufactured

by Apple
Macintosh operating
system has been
model for most GUIs

Click to view Web

Link, click Chapter 8, Click
Web Link from left
navigation, then click
Mac OS X below Chapter 8
p. 420 Fig. 8-28

Next

Stand-Alone Operating Systems

What is UNIX?

Used by power users because of its flexibility

and power
Most versions
offer GUI
Available for
computers of all
sizes

p. 420 Fig. 8-29

Next

Stand-Alone Operating Systems

What is Linux?

Popular, free, multitasking UNIX-type

operating system
Open-source software
code is available to
public
Both a stand-alone
and a network
operating system

Click to view Web

Link, click Chapter 8, Click
Web Link from left
navigation, then click
Linux below Chapter 8
p. 421 - 422 Fig. 8-30

Next

Network Operating Systems

What are examples of network
operating systems?

NetWare
Designed for
client/server
networks

Windows
Server 2008

UNIX / Linux

Upgrade to Windows
2003 Server

Click to view Web

Link, click Chapter 8, Click
Web Link from left
navigation, then click
Windows Server 2008
below Chapter 8

Multi-purpose
operating system

Solaris

Version of UNIX
developed by Sun
Microsystems
Specifically for
e-commerce
applications

p. 422 - 423

Next

Embedded Operating Systems

What is an embedded operating system?

Found on most smart

phones and small devices
Windows Embedded CE is
scaled-down version of
Windows

p. 423 Fig. 8-31

Next

Embedded Operating Systems

What are three operating systems for PDAs?

Windows Mobile for Pocket PC

Palm OS for Palm
Blackberry

Click to view Web

Link, click Chapter 8, Click
Web Link from left
navigation, then click
Windows Mobile
below Chapter 8

Click to view Web

Link, click Chapter 8, Click
Web Link from left
navigation, then click
BlackBerry below Chapter 8
p. 424 - 425 Figs. 8-32 - 8-34

Next

Embedded Operating Systems

What is Embedded Linux?

p. 425

Scaled-down Linux operating system

designed for smart phones, PDAs,
smart watches, set-top boxes,
Internet telephones, and other
devices
Offers many PIM functions

Next

Embedded Operating Systems

What is Symbian OS?

Open-source, multitasking operating system

designed for smart phones
Make telephone calls,
save appointments,
browse Web, send
and receive text and picture
messages, e-mail messages,
faxes, and more

p. 425 Fig. 8-35

Next

Stand-Alone Utility Programs

What is a virus?

Potentially damaging computer program

Affects computer without users knowledge

SIGNS OF
VIRUS
INFECTION

p. 425 - 426 Fig. 8-36

An unusual message or image is displayed on the

computer screen
An unusual sound or music plays randomly
The available memory is less than what should be
available
A program or file suddenly is missing
An unknown program or file mysteriously appears
The size of a file changes without explanation
A file becomes corrupted
A program or file does not work properly
System properties change
The operating system runs much slower than usual

Next

Stand-Alone Utility Programs

What is an antivirus program?

Identifies and removes viruses in memory, storage

media, and incoming files
Must be updated frequently

p. 426 Fig. 8-37

Next

Stand-Alone Utility Programs

Video: Free Online Anti Virus

CLICK TO START

Next

Stand-Alone Utility Programs

What is spyware?

Program placed on a computer without the users

knowledge that secretly collects information about the
user
Often enters a computer as a result of a user installing
a new program
A spyware remover is a program that detects and
deletes spyware

p. 427

Next

Stand-Alone Utility Programs

What are internet filters?

Programs that remove or block certain items from

being displayed

Anti-Spam
Programs

Click to view Web

Link, click Chapter 8, Click
Web Link from left
navigation, then click
Phishing Filters below
Chapter 8
p. 427

Phishing
Filters

Web
Filters
Pop-up
Blockers

Next

Stand-Alone Utility Programs

What is a file compression utility?

Shrinks size of files to free up room and improve

performance
Compressed files are sometimes called zipped files
Two popular utilities:
PKZIP and WinZip

p. 427

Next

Stand-Alone Utility Programs

What is a media player?

Allows you to view

images and animation,
listen to audio, and
watch video files on
your computer

p. 428 Fig. 8-38

Next

Stand-Alone Utility Programs

What is CD/DVD burning software?

Writes text, graphics,

audio, and video files to
a recordable or
rewriteable CD or DVD

p. 428 Fig. 8-39

Next

Stand-Alone Utility Programs

What is a personal computer maintenance utility?

Identifies and fixes operating system problems and

disk problems
Some continuously
monitor computer to
identify problems
before they occur

p. 428 Fig. 8-40

Next

Summary of Operating Systems and Utility Programs

Define an operating system

Discuss a variety of stand-alone
operating systems, network operating systems,
and embedded operating systems
Discuss the functions common to
most operating systems
Describe several stand-alone
utility programs
Introduce several utility programs commonly
found in operating systems

Chapter 8 Complete