Technology in Action - Fullerton College - Student Web Serverstaff · 2010-03-23 · –Unicos (Cray Unix) –Windows Server 2008 –Windows Vista –Mac OS X –i5/OS(IBM AS400 OS)

Copyright © 2010 Pearson Education, Inc. Publishing as Prentice Hall 1

Technology in Action

Chapter 5

Using System Software:

The Operating System, Utility Programs, and File Management


System Software: The OS

• Controls computer functions

– Hardware

– Processor

– Memory

– Devices

• Provides means for software to work with the

CPU

• Responsible for management, scheduling,

and interaction of tasks

• Provides user interface


System Software: Utilities

• Utilities: Small programs that perform

helpful computer housekeeping tasks

– Manage system resources

– Improve efficiency

– Virus prevention


Operating System Categories

• Four categories:

– Real-time (RTOS)

– Single-user, single-task

– Single-user, multitask

– Multiuser

Samples of each follow:


Real-Time Operating Systems• Systems with a

specific purpose and a certain result

• Response time--ASAP

• Uses include:

– Industrial machines

– Robotic devices

– Automobiles

– Video game consoles

– Home appliances


Single-User Operating Systems

Single-task systems• Perform one task at a time

• PDAs:

– Pocket PC

– Palm OS

– Windows Mobile

• MS-DOS

Multitask systems• Perform simultaneous tasks

• Windows

• Mac OS

• Linux


Multiuser Operating Systems

• Known as network operating systems

• Allow access to the computer system by more than one user

• Manage user requests

• Systems include:– Unix, Linux

– Windows, Mac OS

– Unicos (Cray Unix)

– Windows Server 2008

– Windows Vista

– Mac OS X

– i5/OS(IBM AS400 OS)

– z/OS (IBM mainframe OS)


Desktop and Notebook

Operating Systems• An operating system combined with a processor

is known as a platform.

– Microsoft Windows/Intel

– Apple Macintosh/Motorola/Intel

• Desktop and notebook operating systems

include:

– Microsoft Windows

– Mac OS

– Linux

– UNIX

Microsoft Windows

Windows Vista

(2007)

Windows 7 (2009)

• This newest

version of

Windows, which

comes in many

versions,

provides tighter

security and

improved

graphical

capabilities.



Mac OS• First commercially available OS with point-and-click technology (graphical user interface) Xerox Star 1981

• Excellent in:– Graphics display

– Processing capabilities

– System reliability

– File backup utilities

– Document recovery

• Fewer software applications available than for Windows /Intel


Linux (Linus Thorvalds)

• Open source—

(modifiable)

operating system

• Based on UNIX

• Stable system

• Free

• May be downloaded

from the Internet

• Red Hat, Mandrake,

Debian, SuSE,

Slackware


Operating Systems for

Servers, Minicomputers, Mainframes,

Supercomputers• Servers—Manage network resources

• Minicomputers—hundreds of users

• Mainframes—thousands of users

• Supercomputers—many users, fastest calculations

• Operating systems:

– Windows Server

– Unix


UNIX

• Multiuser, multitask operating system

• Used primarily with mainframes

• Developed at Bell Labs in 1971 by Ritchie

and Thompson (also created C).


What the OS Does: it is in control

of the computer

• Provides a user interface

• Manages the CPU

• Manages memory and storage

• Manages hardware and peripheral

devices

• Coordinates application software

with the CPU


The User Interface

• Enables you to interact with the computer

• Types of interfaces:

– Command-driven interface

– Menu-driven interface

– Graphical user interface (GUI)

Command-driven


Processor Management

• Controls the timing of events the

processor works on

– Interrupts

– Interrupt handler

– Interrupt table

– Stack


Memory and Storage

Management• The operating system allocates space in

RAM for instructions and data.

RAM

Operating System


Virtual Memory

• Instructions and data are stored on the

hard drive when RAM is full.

– Swap file

– Paging

– Thrashing


Hardware and Peripheral

Device Management

• Device drivers

– Programs that enable the operating system to

communicate with peripheral devices

– Provided by the manufacturer of the device

• Plug and Play

– Hardware and software standard

– Facilitates the installation of new hardware


Software Application Coordination

• Application programming interfaces (APIs)

– Blocks of code contained in the operating

system

– Coordinate the operating system with

software applications

– Similar toolbars and menus

– Microsoft DirectX—improved graphics and

sound (Direct3D, DirectDraw, DirectMusic,

DirectPlay, DirectSound)--XBOX

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Direct3D

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/DirectDraw

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/DirectMusic

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/DirectPlay

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/DirectSound


Starting the ComputerThe Boot Process

• Step 1: The basic input/output system (BIOS) is activated.

• Step 2: A power-on self-test (POST) checks attached hardware.

• Step 3: The operating system loads into RAM.

• Step 4: Configuration and customization settings are checked.


Handling Errors in the

Boot Process• Safe mode

– Windows

does not

boot properly

– Try rebooting

– Uninstall any

new devices

or software


The DesktopGadgets


Windows

Title bar Close button

Ribbon

Minimize button

Maximize/Restore button

Scrollbar

Document view options


File Management

• The operating system provides an organizational structure for the computer’s contents.

• Hierarchical structure of directories:– Drives

– C: is hard drive

– A: or B: is floppy

– D: is usually CD or DVD drive

– E and above—thumb drives• Folders

Subfolders

» Files


File Management

Files and folders inside MGT 111 Spring folder

Navigation pane with links to favorite folders

Folders presented in a hierarchical structure

Click to display the Searches Folder

MGT 111 Spring folder selected


Viewing and Sorting

Files and Folders

• Flip

3D


Viewing and Sorting

Files and Folders

• Details view


Viewing and Sorting

Files and Folders

• Large

Icon

view


Viewing and Sorting

Files and Folders

• Other views available:

– Tiles view

– List view

– Small and Medium Icons views


Naming Files• Filename: Name assigned

plus filename extension

• Characters not legal in Windows filenames: “ / \* ? < > :| (pipe)

• Character not legal in Mac filenames:

:

Bioreport.docx

or

Bio report.docx


Filename ExtensionsExtension Type of Document Application

.doc Word-processing document Microsoft Word 2003

.docx Word-processing documentMicrosoft Word 2007

document

.wpd Word-processing document Corel WordPerfect

.xlsx SpreadsheetMicrosoft Excel 2007

workbook

.accdb Database Microsoft Access 2007

.pptx PowerPoint presentationMicrosoft PowerPoint 2007

presentation

.pdf Portable Document FormatAdobe Acrobat or Adobe

Reader

.rtf TextAny program that can read

text documents

.txt TextAny program that can read

text documents


Filename Extensions (cont.)

Extension Type of Document Application

.htm or .html Web pageAny program that can read

HTML

.jpgJoint Photographic Experts

Group (JPEG) image

Most programs capable of

displaying images

.gifGraphic Interchange Format

(GIF) image

Most programs capable of

displaying images

.bmp Bitmap image Windows

.zip Compressed file WinZip


File Path

• File path: Location of the file


Working with Files

• File management actions:

– Open

– Copy

– Move

– Rename

– Delete

• Recycle Bin


Utility Programs

• Small programs that perform special

functions:

– Manage system resources

– Create a pleasant environment

– Improve efficiency


Display Utilities

• Change the appearance of:

– Desktop

– Windows colors

– Font sizes

• Include:

– Screen savers

– Screen resolution

– Clear Type (smooth edges, easier read)


Add or Remove Programs

• Installation wizard

• Uninstall wizard:

– Programs cannot simply be deleted


File Compression Utilities

• Reduce the size of a file

• Take out redundancies

• Make it easier and faster to send files

over the Internet

• Generally, repeated patterns are

replaced with a shorter placeholder

The rain in Spain falls mainly on the plain.


System Maintenance Utilities

• Disk Cleanup: Cleans unnecessary files


System Maintenance Utilities

• Disk defragmenter—reorganize

files to reduce fragmentation

• ScanDisk:

– Error checker

– Fix disk errors

• Task Manager—terminate

program that is frozen or give

lower priority


System Restore• Restores system settings back to a

specific date when everything worked

OK.


System Backup• Backup

– Creates a copy of files from hard drive to

another storage device

• Task Scheduler

– Runs selected utilities, automatically updates

Windows or Viruschecker


Accessibility Utilities

• Ease of Access Center

– Centralized location for

assistive technology

– Examples:

• High contrast

• Magnifier

• On-screen keyboard

• Windows speech

recognition

Documents

Technology in Action - Fullerton College - Student Web Serverstaff · 2010-03-23 · –Unicos (Cray Unix) –Windows Server 2008 –Windows Vista –Mac OS X –i5/OS(IBM AS400 OS)