COMPUTERS AND INFORMATION

• Chapter 5 PROCESSING (CSC134)

System Software
Topics

Types of System Software - operating system (OS), utilities, device drivers, and language translators

Functionality of Operating System

Type of Operating System – Desktop, Mobile, Network, Embedded

Utilities program
Learning Objectives
1. Describe the differences between system software and
application software.
2. Identify the four types of system software.
3. Explain the basic functions, features, and categories of
operating systems.
4. Discuss the popular OS used today
5. Explain the purpose of utilities and utility suites.
6. Identify the four most essential utilities.
 Introduction
• Computers and computer applications have become a part
of the fabric of every day life
• They are great as long as they are working
• We give little thought to the processes and programs
running behind the scenes to keep them functioning
effectively.
• Such programs (i.e. operating systems, utility programs, and
device drivers) are the system software you learn about
here.
 System Software

Software is divided into two :

 System software and
 Application software (chapter 6)

SOFTWARE

APPLICATION SOFTWARE
SYSTEM SOFTWARE
 System Software

System Software works with end

users, application software, and
computer hardware to handle the
majority of technical details.
 System Software - Types

System software consists of FOUR(4) types of programs :

• Operating system
• Utilities
• Device drivers
• Language translators

Language
Operating Device
Utilities translator
System Drivers
s
Operating Systems
• An operating system ( OS) is a collection of programs that handle technical tasks.
• Used to manages all the computer software and hardware. 
• Allows user to communicate with the computer without knowing how to speak
the computer's language. 
• Without an operating system, a computer is useless.
Operating Systems - Functions
OS Functions
• Running Applications : OS load and run applications such as word processors and spreadsheets. Most OS
support multitasking – the ability to switch between different applications stored in memory. For example with
multitasking you could have Word and Excel running at the same time and switch easily between the two
applications.
• Foreground – the program that you are currently working on is described as running in the foreground.
• Background – the other programs are running in the background.

Start and shut Manage

Provide a user Manage Coordinate Configure
down a memory
interface programs tasks devices
computer

Establish an
Monitor Provide Automatically Control a Administer
Internet
performance utilities update network security
connection
OS Functions - Start and shut down a computer
• Starting Computers and Mobile Devices
• If a computer or mobile device is off, you press a power button to turn it on

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OS Functions - Start and shut down a computer

OS Features
• Booting – starting or restarting the computer
There are two ways to boot a computer :

 a warm boot – occurs when the computer

is already on and you restart it without
turning off the power.
 a cold boot – starting a computer that
has been turned off is called a cold boot.
 OS Functions - Start and shut down a computer
• An operating system includes various power options

Sleep mode saves any open Hibernate mode saves any

documents running programs open documents and running
or apps to RAM, turns off all programs or apps to an
unneeded functions, and then internal hard drive before
places the computer in a low- removing power from the
power state computer or device

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OS Functions - Provide a user interface
• A user interface (UI)
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

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OS Functions - Provide a user interface
OS Features

• Features in common with application software

• Icons – graphics representations for a program, type of file or function.

• Pointer – controlled by a mouse, trackball or touch screen.
• Windows – rectangular areas for displaying information and running programs.
• Menus – provide a list of options or commands that can be selected.
• Tabs – divide menus into major activity areas such as format and page layout.
• Dialog boxes – typically provide information or request input.
• Help – provide online assistance for operating system functions and procedures.
• Gesture Control – ability to control operations with finger movements such as swiping, sliding and
pinching.

• Files and Folders

• Files are used to store data and programs
• Folders store related files.
 OS Functions - Provide a user interface
• In a Command-Line Interface (CLI), a user types commands represented by
short keywords or abbreviations or presses special keys on the keyboard to
enter data and instructions

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 OS Functions - Manage programs
• How an operating system handles programs directly affects your productivity

Single tasking Foreground

Single user
and and
and multiuser
multitasking background

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OS Functions - Manage programs

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posted to a publicly accessible website, in whole or in part.
Figure 9-5
 OS Functions - Manage Memory
• Memory management optimizes the use of the computer or device’s internal
memory
• Virtual memory is a portion of a storage medium functioning as additional
RAM

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 OS Functions – Coordinate Tasks
• The operating system determines the order in which tasks are processed

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OS Functions – Configure devices
To recognize new hardware or devices that install or connect
to system.

A driver is a small Plug and Play

program that tells the automatically
operating system how configures new devices
to communicate with a as you install or
specific device connect them

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 OS Functions – Monitoring Performance
• A performance monitor is a program that assesses and reports information
about various computer resources and devices

21
 OS Functions – Establish an Internet Connection
• Operating systems typically provide a means to establish Internet connections
(wired/wireless connections)

22
 OS Functions – Automatically update
• Many programs, including operating systems, include an automatic update
feature that regularly provides new features or corrections to the program

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 OS Functions – Provide utilities
• Operating systems often provide users with a variety of tools related to
managing a computer, its devices, or its programs

File Manager Search Image Viewer Uninstaller Disk Cleanup

Disk File PC Backup and

Screen Saver
Defragmenter Compression Maintenance Restore

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 OS Functions – Controlling a Network
• Some operating systems are • A network administrator uses the
designed to work with a server on server operating system to:
a network • Add and remove users, computers,
• These multiuser operating and other devices
• Configure the network, install
systems allow multiple users to software and administer network
share a printer, Internet access, security
files, and programs

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 OS Functions – Administering Security
• A user account enables a use to
sign in to, or access resources on,
a network or computer
• A user name, or user ID, identifies a
specific user
• A password is a private combination
of characters associated with the
user name

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Categories of Operating Systems
• Three basic categories
• Embedded operating systems – RTOS (real-time operating
systems)
• Smartphones
• Smartwatches
• Video game systems
• Stand-alone operating systems
• Also called desktop operating system
• Network operating systems (linked computers)
• Windows Server, Linux, Unix
• OS stored on network server which coordinates all communication
between the other computers
• Other types
Mobile Operating Systems
• Mobile OS
Embedded operating
system
• Less complicated and
more specialized for
wireless
Some of the best
known
• Android
• iOS
• Windows Phone
Desktop Operating Systems
• Operating systems commonly used by individuals
• Windows – most widely used
• Mac OS – powerful and easy to use
• UNIX – network; originally designed for Web
• LINUX – non proprietary; free from the Web
 Server Operating Systems
• A server operating system is a multiuser operating system that
organizes and coordinates how multiple users access and share
resources on a network.
• Client computers on a network rely on server(s) for access to resources.

Windows OS X
Server Server

UNIX Linux
Pages 432 - 433 30
Windows - Most Used OS
• Windows 8 • Windows 10
• Integrates the desktop OS • Merges Windows desktop and
with its mobile OS mobile operating systems
Mac OS
• Mac OS X runs on Apple computers
• Two most recent versions:
• OS X Mavericks
• Improved power management
• OS X Yosemite
• New user interface
UNIX and LINUX
• UNIX operating system
• Servers on the Web
• Mainframe computers
• Personal Computers
• LINUX - version of UNIX
• Alternative to windows
• Open source - free
• Google Chrome OS based on Linux
• Focuses on Internet connectivity and cloud computing
• Speed is determined by the speed of the Internet
Virtualization
• Ability to support multiple operating systems
on a single physical machine
• Virtualization software
• Each virtual machine appears as a separate
independent computer
• Host operating system
• Guest operating system
• Parallels
• Mac to run Windows programs in OS X
Utilities Program
Utilities are specialized programs designed to make computing easier eg
perform maintenance-type tasks.

• Most essential utilities

• Troubleshooting or diagnostic programs
• Recognizes and correct problems
• Antivirus programs
• Guard your computer against viruses
• Backup programs
• Copies of files to restore if necessary
• File compression programs
• Reduces the size of files for more efficient storage
Making IT Work for You – Mac OS X Activity Monitor

• Has your computer ever just stopped responding? What do you

do?
• Mac OS X Activity Monitor is designed to help.
Windows Utilities
Windows Operating Systems includes utilities such as:
• File History
• Can create a backup for your hard drive
• Disk Cleanup
• Identifies and eliminates non essential files
• Disk Defragmenter
• Rearranges files and unused disk space to optimize performance
File History
• Utility program included with Windows 8
• Makes a copy of all files in the libraries, contacts,
favorites and the desktop
• Helps prevent the effect of disk failure
Disk Cleanup
• Identifies and eliminates nonessential files
• Frees up valuable space and improves system performance
Disk Defragmenter
• Files are organized in tracks and sectors
• Tracks – concentric ring
• Sectors – wedge-shaped sections of a track
• Optimize drives - utility program
• Identifies and eliminates unnecessary fragments
• Files become fragmented
• Broken up and stored in non contiguous space

• Rearranges files and unused disk space to optimize operations

Disk Defragmenter
Utility Suites
• Combine several programs into one package
• Less expensive
• Popular suites
• Bit Defender
• Norton Utilities
• Kaspersky
 Device Drivers
• A device driver is a program that controls a particular type of device that is attached to a
computer.
• A driver provides a software interface to hardware devices such as printers, displays, CD-
ROM readers and so on.
Language Translators
Computers are digital devices. All types of commands, data and instructions required to be
converted into machine code which is the combination of 0’s and 1’s. The instructions is given to
the computer in a language which is similar to English and easier to understand. The computer
translates these instructions into the machine language with the help of language translators.
Language translators are of three types : assembler, interpreter and compiler.
A Look to the Future – Self Healing Computers

• Self Healing Computers

• Could mean an end to computer crashes and performance
problems
• Fix software problems
• Reroute functions around broken hardware
• IBM’s Automatic Computing Initiative (ACI)
• Handles time-consuming maintenance
• Self-regulating and virtually invisible
• Self-maintaining servers
• Self-repairing
• Self-updating
• Self-protecting
End of Chapter 5