Chapter 6: Operating Systems and Utility Programs

1. BAIT1003 IT
Fundamentals
Chapter 6
Operating Systems and
Utility Programs

2. Objectives
System Software
Operating System
Operating System
Functions
Types of
Operating System
Utility Programs

3. System Software
• When purchase a personal computer, it usually
has system software installed on its hard disk.
• System software consists of the programs that
control or maintain the operations of the
computer and its devices.
 2 types of system software:
1. Operating systems
2. Utility programs

4. Operating Systems
• An operating system (OS) is a
set of programs containing
instructions that work together
to coordinate all the activities
among computer hardware
resources.
• Different sizes of computers
typically use different operating
system because operating
systems generally are written to
run on a specific type of
computer.

5. Operating System Functions
start the computer
provide a user
interface
manage
programs
administer
security
manage
memory
control a
network
provide file management
and other utilities
monitor
performance
establish an
Internet
connection
schedule jobs
and configure
devices

6. Operating System Functions –
Starting & Shutting Down a Computer
• The process of starting or restarting a computer
is called booting.
Cold boot
• Turning on
a computer
that has
been
powered off
completely
Warm boot
• Using the
operating
system to
restart a
computer

7. Operating System Functions –
Starting & Shutting Down a Computer
• A boot drive is the drive from which your
computer boots/ starts.
– sometimes a hard disk becomes damaged and the
computer cannot boot from the hard disk; in this
case, you can boot from special disk called boot disk/
recovery disk.
» A recovery disk contains a few
system files that will start the
computer

8. Operating System Functions –
Starting & Shutting Down a Computer
• An operating system includes various
shut down options:
Sleep mode saves any open
documents and programs to
RAM, turns off all unneeded
functions, and then places
the computer in a lowpower state
To conserve
power & let the
computer “rest”
Hibernate saves any open
documents and programs to
a hard disk before removing
power from the computer
To speeds up
the boot-up
time

9. Operating System Functions –
Providing a User Interface
• A user interface controls how you enter data and
instructions and how information is displayed on
the screen.
• Two type of user interfaces are:
1. Graphical user interface
2. Command-line user interface

10. Operating System Functions –
Providing a User Interface
Graphical user interface
With a graphical user interface
(GUI), you interact with menus and
visual images
Command-line user
interface
With a command-line
interface, a user uses the
keyboard to enter data and

11. Operating System Functions –
Providing a User Interface
Command line interface
– A user types command or presses special keys on
keyboard to enter data and instructions.
– To configure devices, manage system resources, and
troubleshoot network connections, network
administrators and other advance users work.
– Disadvantage: Difficult to use because they require
exact spelling, grammar, and punctuation.

12. Operating System Functions –
Managing Programs
• How an operating system handles programs
directly affects your productivity?
Single user and
multiuser
Single tasking
and
multitasking
Preemptive
multitasking
Foreground and
background
Multiprocessing

13. Operating System Functions –
Managing Programs
Single user/ single tasking
– OS allows only one user to run one program at a
time.
– Example:
• If you are working in graphics program and want to check
e-mail message, you must quit the graphics program before
you can run the email program.

14. Operating System Functions –
Managing Programs
Single user/ multitasking
– OS allows a single user to work on two or more programs that
reside in memory at the same time.
– When a computer is running multiple program concurrently, one
program is in the foreground and the others are in the
background.
• Foreground is the active program, currently are using.
• The other programs running but not in use are in the
background.

15. Operating System Functions –
Managing Programs

16. Operating System Functions –
Managing Programs
• Some OS use preemptive multitasking to
prevent any one process from monopolizing the
computer’s resources.
• With the preemptive multitasking, the OS
interrupts a program that is executing and
passed control to other program waiting to be
executes.
Advantage
OS regains control if one program stops operating
properly.

17. Operating System Functions –
Managing Programs

18. Operating System Functions –
Managing Programs
Multiuser
• OS enables two or more users to run programs
simultaneously.
Example:
Network, servers, mainframes, and
supercomputers allow hundreds to thousands of
user to connect at the same time.

19. Operating System Functions –
Managing Programs
fault-tolerant computer
Has duplicate
components such as
processors, memory,
and disk drives
• A fault- tolerant computer continues to operate when one of
its components fails, ensuring that no data is lost .

20. Operating System Functions –
Managing Memory
• Memory management is to optimizes the use of RAM.
• Virtual memory is a portion of a storage medium
functioning as additional RAM.
– The area of hard disk for virtual memory is called a swap file.
– A page is the amount of data and program instructions that
can swap at given time.
– The technique of swapping items between memory and
storage is called paging.
– When an OS spends much of its time paging, instead of
executing application, it said to be thrashing.

21. Operating System Functions –
Managing Memory

22. Operating System Functions –
Coordinating Tasks
The OS determines the order in which tasks are processed.
Example:
If the processor sends 5 documents to a printer, the
printer can print only one document at a time and store as
many documents as its memory can handle.
• Buffer – is a segment of memory in which items are placed while
waiting to be transferred from an input/ output.
• Spooling – send documents to be printed to a buffer instead of
sending them immediately to the printer.

23. Operating System Functions –
Coordinating Tasks
When you enter a
PRINT command
The operating system copies
your document to a print buffer
(a free area in memory or on a
disk).
Document being printed.

24. Operating System Functions –
Configuring Devices
• A driver is a small program that tells the
operating system how to communicate with a
specific device.

25. Operating System Functions –
Configuring Devices
• Plug and Play automatically configures new
devices as you install them

26. Operating System Functions –
Establishing an Internet Connection
• Operating systems typically provide a means to
establish Internet connections

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

28. Operating System Functions –
Providing File Management & Other Utilities
• Operating systems often provide users
with the capability of:
Managing files
Searching for
files
Viewing images
Securing a
computer
Uninstalling
programs
Cleaning up
disks
Defragmenting
disks
Diagnosing
problems
Backing up files
and disks
Setting up
screen savers

29. Operating System Functions –
Updating Software Automatically
• Automatic update automatically provides
updates to the program.

30. Operating System Functions –
Controlling a Network
• Some operating systems are designed to work
with a server on a network.
• A server operating system organizes and
coordinates how multiple users access and share
resources on a network
• A network administrator uses the server
operating system to:
– Add and remove users, computers, and other devices
– Install software and administer network security

31. Operating System Functions –
Administering Security
Each user has a user account
– A user name, or user ID, identifies a specific user
– A password is a private combination of characters
associated with the user name

32. Types of Operating Systems

33. Types of Operating Systems –
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
Windows
7
Mac OS X
UNIX
Linux

34. Types of Operating Systems –
Stand-Alone Operating Systems
• Windows 7 is 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

35. Types of Operating Systems –
Stand-Alone Operating Systems
• Windows 7 provides programs such as:
Windows
Firewall
Windows DVD
Maker
Windows
Media Player
Desktop
Gadget Gallery

36. Types of Operating Systems –
Stand-Alone Operating Systems
• The Macintosh operating system has set
the standard for operating system ease
of use
• Latest version is Mac OS X

37. Types of Operating Systems –
Stand-Alone Operating Systems
UNIX is a multitasking
operating system developed
in the early 1970s
Linux is an open-source,
popular, multitasking UNIXtype operating system.

38. Types of Operating Systems –
Server Operating Systems
• Server operating system typically resides
on a server. The client computers on the
network rely on the server(s) for
resources.
• Examples:
Windows
Server 2008
Linux
Solaris
UNIX
Netware

39. Types of Operating Systems –
Server Operating Systems
Windows Server 2008 is an upgrade to
Windows Server 2003
– Part of the Windows Server 2008 family
– Multiple editions
Most editions include Hyper-V, is a virtualization
technology
– Virtualization is the practice of sharing or pooling computing
resources, such as servers

40. Types of Operating Systems –
Embedded Operating Systems
• An embedded operating system resides
on a ROM chip on a mobile device or
consumer electronic device
Windows
Embedded CE
Windows
Phone 7
Palm OS
iPhone OS
BlackBerry
Google
Android
Embedded
Linux
Symbian OS

41. Types of Operating Systems –
Embedded Operating Systems
The sewing machine uses Windows
Embedded CE to assist with
stitching
quilts, garments, crafts, decorations
, and embroidery.
The iPhone
OS runs an
Apple’s
iphone.

42. Utility Programs
• A utility program is a
type of system
software that allows a
user to perform
maintenance-type
tasks, usually related to
managing a
computer, its
devices, or its
programs.

43. Utility Programs –
File Manager
• A file manager is a
utility that performs
functions related to
file management
– Displaying a list of files
– Organizing files in
folders
– Copying, renaming, del
eting, moving, and
sorting files and folders
– Creating shortcuts

44. Utility Programs –
Search Utility
• A search utility is a program that attempts
to locate a file on your computer based on
criteria you specify.

45. Utility Programs –
Image Viewer
• An image viewer allows users to
display, copy, and print the contents of a
graphics file, such as photo

46. Utility Programs –
Uninstaller
• An uninstaller removes a program, as well
as any associated entries in the system
files

47. Utility Programs –
Disk Cleanup
• A disk cleanup utility searches for and
removes unnecessary files
– Downloaded program files
– Temporary Internet files
– Deleted files
– Unused program files

48. Utility Programs –
Disk Defragmenter
• 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

49. Utility Programs –
Backup & Restore Utilities
• A backup utility
allows users to copy
files to another
storage medium
• A restore utility
reverses the process
and returns backed up
files to their original
form

50. Utility Programs –
Screen Saver
• A screen saver causes a display device’s
screen to show a moving image or
blank screen if no activity occurs for a
specified time

51. Utility Programs –
Personal Firewall
• A personal firewall detects and protects a
personal computer from unauthorized
intrusions.

52. Utility Programs –
Antivirus Programs
A virus describes a potentially damaging computer
program that affects a computer negatively.
A worm copies
itself
repeatedly in
memory or
over a network
A Trojan horse
hides within or
looks like a
legitimate
program
An antivirus
program
protects a
computer
against viruses

53. Utility Programs –
Antivirus Programs

54. Utility Programs –
Spyware & Adware Removers
Spyware is a program placed on
a computer without the user’s
knowledge that secretly collects
information about the user
• A spyware remover detects
and deletes 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

55. Utility Programs –
Internet Filters
• Filters are programs that remove or block
certain items from being displayed.
Web
filters
Anti-spam
programs
Phishing
filters
Pop-up
blockers

56. Utility Programs –
File Compression
• A file compression utility shrinks the size of a file(s).
A compressing files frees up room on the storage
media.
• Two types of compression are lossy & lossless
compression.
1. Lossy – quality of a file decreases slightly
2. Lossless – a compressed file can be returned to
its exact original state.
• Compressed files sometimes are called zipped files
–
Can be uncompressed or unzip, to restore it to its
original form.

57. Utility Programs –
Media Player
• A media player allows you to view images and
animation, listen to audio, and watch video files on
your computer.

58. Utility Programs –
Disc Burning
• Disc burning software writes
text, graphics, audio, and video files on a
recordable or rewritable optical disc

59. Utility Programs –
Personal Computer Maintenance
• A personal computer
maintenance utility identifies
and fixes operating system
problems, detects and repairs
disk problems, and includes the
capability of improving a
computer’s performance

60. Summary
System Software
Operating System
Utility Programs
Operating System Functions
Types of Operating System
File Manager
Starting & Shutting down
Stand-alone
Search Utility
Providing user interface
Server
Image Viewer
Managing Programs
Embedded
Uninstaller
Managing Memory
Disk Cleanup
Coordinating Tasks
Disk Defragmenter
Configuring Devices
Backup & Restore
Establishing Internet connection
Screen Saver
Monitoring Performance
Personal Firewall
Providing file management
Antivirus Programs
Updating software automatically
Spyware & Adware
Controlling network
Internet Filters
Administering Security
File Compression
Media Player
Disc Burning
Personal Computer Maintenance