Hardware and Software

Hardware and Software

1. Operating Systems

   • An operating system is a program or suite of programs that controls the operation of a computer system
   • Operating Systems available today
     • Windows
     • Linux
     • MS-DOS
     • UNIX
     • Mac OS
   • Types of Operating Systems
     • Single User
       • Single Task
         • Designed so 1 user can effectively do 1 thing at a time. Older mobiles used this. Surfing the internet and listening to music would not be possible
       • Multi-Tasking
         • Most modern computers use this Allows user to have a number of programs running at any given time
       • Provides access to computer for any one user at any given time. Often has 1 keyboard and 1 screen. If another user wants on the user currently using the computer has to log off
     • Multi-User
       • This allows multiple users to use the computer at one time generally via a network. This system uses time slices to ensure each user gets time on the computer.
     • Multiprocessing
       • Uses two or more processors within a computer system. In this system two or more different portions of the same program may be carried out simultaneously. The main advantage is speed. Each processor is assigned a specific function to complete and pass results on to the next processor and start working on the new task (instructions)
     • Multithreading
       • Threads are processes which are independent parts of the process or program being executed and as a result they are carried out in parallel on a single CPU (Central Processing Unit)
     • Multi-Tasking
       • The ability of an operating system to allow the user to perform more than one task at any given time. In this environment the user could for example be working on a spreadsheet application while the computer is running a series of reports from a database application. Only one application is ever truly running at any one time

2. Utility Programs

   • File Backup
     • Backup software designed to create an exact duplicate of data in the event of file corruption, user error or some other event that leads to data loss. File backup may use these copies at a later stage to complete a restore or a recovery procedure in the even of data loss
   • Data Compression
     • Compression makes the overall file size smaller so it doesn't take up as much space on the computer. Widely using in backup utilities and in archive utilities as the reduction of the file size ensures the backup file or archived data takes up less storage space.
   • Archive software
     • An application that can create a single file containing multiple other files. Additional files can still be added to the archive and existing files can be extracted from the archive file
   • Disk Defragmentation
     • Rearranges the files on a disc surface to ensure they occupy contiguous locations on the disc surface. Removes "white space" from surface of the disc, reduces read/write head movement during file read and write actions. This can increase read/write times.
   • A systems program that performs a specific task related to the management of computer functions