System Software

System Software

System Software is any computer software which manages and controls computer hardware so that application software can perform a task.

User Interface

User Interface

This is how you interact with the computer and use it. We can interact and use the computer with the three main user interfaces. The Command-line interfaces, Menu-driven interfaces, Graphical user interfaces (GUIs).

Functions of the OS

Functions of the OS

• In a multitasking operating system where multiple programs can be running at the same time, the operating system determines which applications should run in what order and how much time should be allowed for each application before giving another application a turn.
• It manages the sharing of internal memory among multiple applications.
  It handles and monitors input and output to and from attached hardware devices, such as hard disks, printers, and dial-up ports.
• It sends messages to each application or interactive user (or to a system operator) about the status of operation and any errors that may have occurred.
• It can offload the management of what are called batch jobs (for example, printing) so that the initiating application is freed from this work.
• On computers that can provide parallel processing, an operating system can manage how to divide the program so that it runs on more than one processor at a time.
• Scheduling the activities of the CPU and resources to achieve efficiency and prevention of deadlock.
• Creating a file system
• Copying, deleting, moving files
• Multitasking programmes
• Starting the computer
• Interfacing with the hardware
• Programme intercommunication
• Networking

OS types

OS types

Examples of Desktop Operating systems are: DOS, Linux, Windows 95, 98, windows 2000 Professional, windows ME and windows XP), OS/2 , Mac OS, NT Workstation

Examples of Network Operating System are: Unix, Netware, VMX, NT Server, Windows 2000 Server

Utility Programs

Utility Programs

Utility Prgrams is a type of computer software. It is specifically desighned to help manage and tune the computer hardware, operating system, or application system, and perform a single task or a small range of tasks.

Operating Sysytem

Operating System

This is the software that controls the hardware and how all the other software works. The operating system is the software on which all applications depend.

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