1. Chapter 4: Operating System Basics

2. Chapter 4: Operating System Basics
Learning Objectives:
Understand the types of operating systems available
Differentiate among the major desktop operating systems
Explain how device drivers work
Explain computer file storage concepts

3. System Software
System Software: Software that starts the computer and keeps it running, performing basic system tasks such as running applications, managing files, and correcting errors.
Includes:
BIOS
the operating system,
and utility programs

4. The System BIOS
BIOS: the Basic Input/ Output System is the built-in software on the motherboard that:
starts the computer.
performs a power-on self-test (POST) at startup and ensures that all the critical hardware devices are functioning

5. The Operating System
It provides the user interface that humans use to communicate commands and receive feedback.
It communicates with the hardware, instructing it to take action to accomplish tasks.
It runs applications and enables humans to interact with them.
It controls and manages the file storage system.

6. Interface Types
Graphical User Interface (GUI)
Command-line interface

7. Utility Software
Utility software comes with the Operating System and from third parties.
Protection from malware
Disk error correction
Disk optimization
File cleanup
Uninstallers
Registry cleanup

8. Malware and Protection Software
Malware: Malicious software that consists of programs designed to disrupt the normal operation of computer systems.
Virus: A type of malware that attaches itself to an executable file and spreads to other files when the program is run.
Spyware: A type of malware that spies on the user’s activities and reports them back to the spyware’s developer.
Adware: A type of malware that pops up unwanted ads on the screen.
Firewall: Software that blocks hackers from accessing a computer by closing unnecessary services and ports.
Anti-spam: Software that rejects junk messages.

9. Disk Utility Software
Disk Checking: Software that finds and fixes errors in the disk storage system.
Registry Cleanup: Software that analyses the Windows registry and deletes unneeded entries.
Registry: The main system configuration database for Microsoft Windows.
Uninstaller: Software that removes installed software along with its associated files and registry entries.

10. Desktop and Notebook Operating Systems
Windows: Best known, greatest selection of applications available
Mac OS: User-friendly, runs on Mac hardware. Many applications available
Linux: Free, but can be more challenging to configure; few applications available

11. Operating System
Platform: the hardware required to run a particular operating system
Intel platform (IBM-compatible)
Windows
DOS
UNIX
Linux
Macintosh platform
Mac OS X
iPad and iPhone platform
iOS

12. Microsoft Windows
The graphical Microsoft operating system designed for Intel-platform desktop and notebook computers.
Current editions include Windows 7, 8, 8.1 and 10

13. Mac OS X
Current editions include: Mavericks, Yosemite and El Capitan

14. Linux
Linux: An open-source, cross-platform operating system that runs on desktops, notebooks, tablets, and smartphones.
The name Linux is a combination Linus (the first name of the first developer) and UNIX (another operating system.
Linux is open-source, which means that Mr. Torvalds retains ownership of his original code, but it is free to the public to use.
Users are free to modify the code, improve it, and redistribute it,
Developers are not allowed to charge money for the Linux kernel itself (the main part of the operating system), but they can charge money for distributions (distros for short).

15. Ubuntu Linux
Some of the most popular distros include SUSE Linux, Ubuntu Linux, and Red Hat Linux.

16. Google Chrome OS Chrome OS. Is a popular thin client operating system.
Thin client A computer with minimal hardware, designed for a specific task. For example, a thin web client is designed for using the Internet.

17. Server Operating Systems (Not in the Textbook)
Windows Server
Familiar GUI interface for those experienced with Windows
UNIX
Very mature server capabilities, time-tested, large user community, stable
Linux
Free, customizable, many free services and utilities available

18. Windows Server

19. UNIX

20. Tablet and Phone Operating Systems
System-on-chip (SoC): An operating system that comes preinstalled on a chip on a portable device such as a smartphone.
Popular SoC operating systems:
iOS: for iPad, iPhone
Windows Phone: for Windows phones (now called Windows Mobile)
Android: for a variety of tablets and phones
Downloadable applications (apps) from an App store, for example:
Apple App Store
Google Play Store
Windows Store

21. iOS on the iPhone and iPad
iOS The Apple-created operating system for Apple
tablets and phones

22. Android
Android, a popular OS for smartphones and tablets, is a variant of Linux.
Developed by Google
Current versions include:
Android 4.4 KitKat
Android 5.x Lollipop
Android 6 Marshmallow

23. Windows Phone OS Now Called Windows Mobile
Current versions are Windows Mobile 8 and the upcoming Windows Mobile 10

24. Understanding Digital Storage
Most operating systems save and store files using the same basic principles.
although the individual file formats may differ between platforms and operating systems.
Drive: Physical storage device
Volume: A lettered section of a storage device (a logical drive)
Partition: To create logical volumes out of a single physical drive
Format: To create the file system on a volume

25. File Systems
File system: The storage system used to store and organize the files on a particular volume
Common file systems:

26. File Paths Root directory = top-level folder
Path: the complete descriptor of a file’s location, including the volume and folders
Path is written like this: E:\Budget\January.txt
Folder tree in navigation pane in Windows Explorer shows graphical representation of folder system

27. File Extensions and Types
Extension: characters after the period in a file name that indicate the file’s type
Extensions tell the OS which application to use to open a data file
Extensions tell the OS which files are executable (.exe or .com)

28. Popular File Extensions and Types

29. Backup Vocabulary
Backup Software: Software that enables and automates the process of backing up files to external media.
Backup Set: The collection of archive files created for a single backup instance/
Archive attribute: File attribute that indicates whether or not a file has changed since its last backup

30. Backup Types
Full backup: Backs up all files and sets their archive attribute to Off
Backup is slow, but all files will be recovered.
Partial Backup:
Differential backup: Backs up all files that have the archive attribute On but does not change that attribute.
Incremental backup: Backs up all files that have the archive attribute On and then sets it to Off

32. Key Terms adware folder tree root directory algorithm format server
Android
full backup
shell
anti-spam software
graphical user interface Hierarchical File System Plus (HFS+)
spyware
app
system-on-chip (SoC)
archive attribute
incremental backup
system software
backup set
Intel platform
system volume
backup software
iOS
thin client
BitLocker
ISO 9660
uninstaller utility
Chrome OS
Linux
Universal Disc Format (UDF)
command-line interface
Mac OS X
UNIX
compressed archive
malware
utility software
Device Manager
Mavericks
virus
device driver
Microsoft Windows
Windows Phone
differential backup
New Technology File System (NTFS)
Windows RT
disk checking program
Windows Server
partition
distribution (distro)
x64
path
encrypt
x86
platform
FAT32
Plug and Play
file extension
registry
file system
registry cleanup program
firewall software
roll back

33. Summary 1 . List three types of system software.
2 . What is the difference between an OS and a platform?
3 . List five types of utility programs.
4 . List three operating systems that would run on an IBM-compatible desktop PC.
5 . Name three operating systems used on smartphones.
6 . Explain the purpose of Plug and Play technology.
7 . Explain the purpose of partitioning a drive.
8 . Give an example of a complete path to a file, and explain the parts of the path.