Basic Computer Operations

Computer hardware and software are interdependent on each other.

If any of these is not functioning properly, a computer is of no use.

In this chapter, you will learn the process to start a computer, and know about software and its
types.

This chapter also gives an overview of the commonly used operating systems.

Procedure for Starting a Computer:

Checks if hardware and software installed on the computer are working correctly.

Loads all the files needed to run a system. When we start a computer, the booting process
begins, which initially checks the hardware system.

The next step in the booting process is called POST (Power On Self Test). This test checks the
functioning of all the connected hardware, including primary and secondary storage devices.

On passing POST, the contents of the CMOS (Complementary Metal Oxide Semiconductor)
chip are checked. It is a small amount of memory on the motherboard that stores BIOS (Basic
Input Output System) settings. The primary function of BIOS is to boot up an operating system
on the computer. BIOS includes the instructions to load basic computer hardware. It is
responsible for accessing and configuring the system settings, like password, date, and time.

Once all the steps of BIOS get completed, the operating system is loaded into the RAM. Once
the booting process gets over, you can log in to the computer with a username and a password.
The desktop of the operating system appears, and you can start working on the computer using
the required software applications.

Procedure for Shutting Down a Computer:

When you shutdown a PC, the following things happen:
✦ If a program contains unsaved data, you are prompted to save it.
✦ All the open application programs get closed.
✦ The operating system shuts down by closing its programs, services and processes.
✦ The power management hardware turns off the power.
✦ Now, you can turn off the computer's power supply.
Operating System
A computer being a machine, cannot do anything on its own. It requires specific instructions on
how to perform each and every task. Further, the instructions are to be converted to a language,
which a machine understands. It means that the user cannot communicate with the computer
directly. Thus, we require an interface between the user and the hardware. The operating
system acts like that interface. The computer Interprets the instructions given by the user with
the help of an operating system. It is the master program,which makes our PC come alive and
helps in running different applications.

The operating system is just like the principal of your school. The principal has various
responsibilities regarding the
management of the school, like supervising students, teachers, and workers, maintaining
discipline, analyzing examination schedules, timetables, curriculum, meeting parents, and
visitors. In the same way, a number of services are provided by an operating system. Imagine
what will happen if there is no principal in a school. Everything will become unorganized.

The hardware provides the user with basic physical resources to work upon. The application
softwares empowers the user to perform a variety of functions on the computer, like solving
problems, creating documents, playing games, etc. Operating system acts as a central
coordinator between hardware and software.

Some of the popular operating systems are:

WINDOWS
LINUX
Mac OS
DOS

FUNCTIONS
● To manage and share the hardware/software resources of a computer system.
● To provide an interface to the users to communicate with the computer system.

● To communicate with each application or interactive user (or to a system operator) about
operation and any errors that may have occurred.
● To secure the system and block unauthorized access to the system.

TYPES:

Single User Operating System: These operating systems can support only one user to do one
thing at a time, like Microsoft Windows 3.1, Microsoft Windows 95, and Microsoft DOS.

Graphical User Interface (GUI): This operating system is graphic based and interactive in
nature.ex:Windows Operating System, Mac OS, Linux, etc.
Multi-user Operating System: Multi-user operating systems allow more than one user to use a
computer at the same time, like Linux, Unix, and Microsoft Windows 2000 onwards.
Multi-tasking Operating System: This operating system has the ability to perform more than
the same time, like Microsoft Windows 9x, Windows 2000 onwards, Linux operating systems.

Multi-threading Operating System: These are the operating systems that allow different
application or program to run simultaneously, like Microsoft Windows 9x, Windows 20

Disk Operating System

Disk Operating System (DOS) is a type of system software that runs from a hard disk drive. It is
a command line operating system where a user needs to type the commands for every action to
be performed on the computer. DOS can support multiple directories,networking, enhanced
memory management, text editing functions, disk compression, and fragmentation. However, its
command line utility makes it difficult for beginners to use. DOS does not support multiple
users or multitasking as it can run only one program at a time. DOS was the most commonly
found operating system in IBM PCs that were developed by Microsoft in 1981.

Linux
Linux is an open source operating system. It was developed by Linus Torvalds in 1991. Linux
has become the most popular alternative to other costly operating systems due to its amazing
features as follows:
Portable
Multi-User and Multi-programming
Shell
Open Source and free
Hierarchical File System Security

A shell is basically an interface present between the kernel

and the user. A kernel is the very core of a typical OS.
Meaning. A shell is a CLI (command-line interpreter). A kernel
is a type of low-level program that has its interfacing with the
hardware on top of which all the applications run (disks, RAM,
CPU, etc.).

WINDOWS:
Microsoft Windows is a series of Graphical User Interface (GUI) operating systems, which are
developed, marketed, and sold by Microsoft. Windows OS was the first graphical user interface
for IBM-compatible PCs, which soon dominated the PC market.

Mobile Operating System:

Mobile Operating System is also known as Mobile OS. It is particularly designed to operate
smartphones, PDAs, tablets, and other mobile devices. Mobile Operating System is a software,
which provides a platform on which other programs or applications can be run on mobile
devices.

There are various kinds of Mobile Operating System used in smartphones such as, BlackBerry
(RIM), Android (Google), iOS (Apple), Symbian (Nokia), and Windows Mobile (Microsoft).

Android Operating System (OS).

Android is the world's most popular Mobile Operating System. It is an open source (Linux
based) platform initially developed by Android Inc. in October 2003, and later on purchased by
Google Inc. in 2005. The green robot is the logo for the Android operating system. Android OS
turns your phone into a powerful web browser, game console, and personal assistant, all in one.
Its various versions were released with the names of the desserts like, Cupcake (1.5), Donut
(1.6), Honeycomb (3.0), JellyBean (4.1), Kitkat (4.4), and Marshmallow (6.0).

Symbian Operating System (OS)

Symbian is a mobile operating system, which is specifically created for smartphones. Symbian
used by Nokia and was also used by many major mobile phone brands like Samsung, Motorola,
and was originally developed by Symbian Ltd and is currently maintained by Accenture.
Symbian was Ericsson. Android overtook it at the end of 2010. Until then it was the most
popular OS for smartphone

IOS-Apple

It was originally released in 2007 and is used to run the iPhone, iPad, and iPod Touch. It is the
world's most advanced mobile operating system also known as iPhone OS. Unlike other Mobile
OS, such as Android (Google) and Windows (Microsoft), Apple does not authorize iOS for
installation on any non-Apple hardware. Therefore, iOS devices, created exclusively for its
hardware. Apple designs the iOS devices to maintain a high level of without compromising the
user's experience. Due to their exceptionality of apps, games, and features
iOS devices cost more than any other mobile OS gadgets available in the market.

Windows Mobile Operating System

It is a mobile operating system developed by Microsoft for smartphones and mobile devices
based on the Windows CE Kernel. It is designed to look and operate similar to desktop versions
of Microsoft Window
It has given a whole new dimension to e-mailing and documentation.
Some of the Windows Mobile OS are: Nokia Lumia 920, Samsung ATIV S, and Windows Phone
8C by HTC
Windows Mobile OS is mainly classified into three main versions for various hardware devices:

Smartphones with touchscreen are supported with Windows Mobile Professional Version,
mobile phones without touchscreen run on Windows Mobile Standard, and the last version of
Windows Mobile Os Windows 10 mobile, which runs on mobile phones and tablets. Microsoft
has stopped providing support and updates for Windows 10 mobile phones.