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What software is included in system software? System software is the set of software programs that helps run the computer and coordinates instructions between application software and hardware devices. It consists of the operating system (OS) and utility programs. The OS controls how your computer system functions. Utility programs are programs that perform general housekeeping tasks for the computer, such as system maintenance and file compression.

What are the different kinds of operating systems? Operating systems can be classified into four categories. Real-time operating systems (RTOSs) require no user intervention. They are designed for systems with a specific purpose and response time (such as robotic machinery). Smartphones have their own specific operating systems, the latest of which allow the user to multitask. Current operating systems for desktops, notebooks, and netbooks have multitasking capabilities, as well as networking capabilities.

What are the most common operating systems? Microsoft Windows is the most popular OS. It has evolved into a powerful multiuser operating system. The most recent release is Windows 7. Another popular OS is the Mac OS, which is designed to work on Apple computers. Apple’s most recent release, Mac OS X Snow Leopard, is based on the UNIX operating system. There are various versions of UNIX on the market, although UNIX is most often used on networks. Linux is an open source OS based on UNIX and designed primarily for use on personal computers, although it is often found as the operating system on servers.

How does the operating system provide a means for users to interact with the computer? The operating system provides a user interface that enables users to interact with the computer. Most OSs today use a graphical user interface (GUI). Unlike the command- and menu-driven interfaces used earlier, GUIs display graphics and use the pointand- click technology of the mouse and cursor, making the OS more user friendly. Common features of GUIs include windows, menus, and icons.

How does the operating system help manage resources such as the processor, memory, storage, hardware, and peripheral devices? When the OS allows you to perform more than one task at a time, it is multitasking. To provide for seamless multitasking, the OS controls the timing of events the processor works on.
As the OS coordinates the activities of the processor, it uses RAM as a temporary storage area for instructions and data the processor needs. The OS is therefore responsible for coordinating the space allocations in RAM to ensure that there is enough space for the waiting instructions and data. If there isn’t sufficient space in RAM for all the data and instructions, then the OS allocates the least necessary files to temporary storage on the hard drive, called virtual memory.
The OS manages storage by providing a file-management system that keeps track of the names and locations of files and programs. Programs called device drivers facilitate communication between devices attached to the computer and the OS. Device drivers translate the specialized commands of devices to commands that the OS can understand and vice versa, enabling the OS to communicate with every device in the computer system. Device drivers for common devices are included in the OS software, whereas other devices come with a device driver that you must install or download off the Web.

How does the operating system interact with application software? All software applications need to interact with the CPU. For programs to work with the CPU, they must contain code that the CPU recognizes. Rather than having the same blocks of code appear in each application, the OS includes the blocks of code to which software applications refer. These blocks of code are called application programming interfaces (APIs).

How does the operating system help the computer start up? When you start your computer, it runs through a special process called the boot process. The boot process consists of four basic steps: (1) The basic input/output system (BIOS) is activated when the user powers on the CPU. (2) In the POST check, the BIOS verifies that all attached devices are in place. (3) The operating system is loaded into RAM. (4) Configuration and customization settings are checked.

What are the main desktop and windows features? The desktop provides your first interaction with the OS and is the first image you see on your monitor once the system has booted up. It provides you with access to your computer’s files, folders, and commonly used tools and applications. Windows are the rectangular panes on your screen that display applications running on your system. Common features of windows include toolbars, scrollbars, and minimize, maximize and restore, and close buttons.

How does the operating system help me keep my computer organized? The OS allows you to organize the contents of your computer in a hierarchical structure of directories that includes files, folders, libraries, and drives. Windows Explorer helps you manage your files and folders by showing the location and contents of every drive, folder, and file on your computer. Creating folders is the key to organizing files because folders keep related documents together. Following naming conventions and using proper file extensions are also important aspects of file management.

What utility programs are included in system software, and what do they do? Some utility programs are incorporated into the OS; others are sold as stand-alone off-the-shelf programs. Common Windows utilities include those that enable you to adjust your display, add or remove programs, compress files, defragment your hard drive, clean unnecessary files off your system, check for lost files and errors, restore your system to an earlier setting, back up your files, schedule automatic tasks, and check on programs that have stopped running.

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