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computer_basics:operating_system_fundamentals [2012/09/26 04:19] – mithatcomputer_basics:operating_system_fundamentals [2019/12/05 03:48] – mithat
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 Mithat Konar\\ Mithat Konar\\
-Sept. 25, 2012+Dec. 4, 2019
  
 ===== The Operating System ===== ===== The Operating System =====
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   * Five basic OS functions:   * Five basic OS functions:
-    - Starting the computer +    * Starting the computer 
-    - Managing applications +    * Managing applications 
-    - Managing memory +    * Managing memory 
-    - Handling input and output device messages +    * Handling input and output device messages 
-    - Providing a user interface for communication+    * Providing a user interface for communication
  
 ===== OS Function 1: Starting the computer ===== ===== OS Function 1: Starting the computer =====
-  * The OS's first job is to loads itself into RAM+  * OS's first job is to load itself into RAM
     * Called **booting**     * Called **booting**
-    * Booting involves //six steps// 
  
-===== Booting process =====+===== OS Function 1: Starting the computer ===== 
 {{:computer_basics:ch04-booting.jpg?direct&300|}}\\ {{:computer_basics:ch04-booting.jpg?direct&300|}}\\
-Six steps in starting the computer+Booting: six steps
  
-===== OS Function 1: Starting the computer =====+===== Booting step 1: BIOS and EFI =====
  
-  * //**Booting Step 1**//: Load **BIOS (Basic Input/Output System)** instructions into memory +  * Many computers use a **BIOS (Basic Input/Output System)** to begin the booting process. 
-  * Allows computer to+  * BIOS allows computer to
     * Accept keyboard input     * Accept keyboard input
     * Show information on the monitor     * Show information on the monitor
 +  * Usually stored in flash memory or CMOS memory chip.
  
-===== OS Function 1: Starting the computer ===== +===== Booting part 1: BIOS and EFI =====
-  * //**Booting Step 2**//: Conduct the **power-on self-test (POST)** +
-    * Confirms that both the computer and its peripheral devices are working properly.+
  
-===== OS Function 1: Starting the computer ===== +  * Most newer desktop and laptop systems use **EFI (Extensible Firmware Interface)** instead of a BIOS. 
-  * //**Booting Step 3**//: Load the operating system +  * Like a mini OS. 
-    * BIOS loads into memory the **kernel**, the central part of the OS +    * Does everything BIOS does. 
-    * The OS then loads remainder of what's needed+    * Lets user run small utility applications that run on the Extensible Firmware Interface. 
 +    * Considered more secure than a BIOS.
  
-===== OS Function 1: Starting the computer ===== +===== Booting step 2: Test the hardware ===== 
-  * //**Booting Step 4**//: Check the system configuration +   * Many systems perform a **power-on self-test (POST)** or similar test. 
-    * The OS checks the system configuration for **device drivers**---utility programs containing instructions for the proper functioning of peripheral devices +   * Confirms that both the computer and its peripheral devices are working properly.
-    * The OS installs and loads needed drivers+
  
-===== OS Function 1: Starting the computer ===== +===== Booting step 3: Load the operating system ===== 
-  * //**Booting Step 5**//: Load system utilities +  * BIOS or EFI loads an OS's **kernel** into memory. 
-    * Antivirus software +     * kernel: the central part of the OS 
-    * Speaker volume control +  * The kernel is usually stored on main storage device. 
-    * Etc.+  * The OS then loads remainder of what's needed. 
 + 
 +===== Booting step 4: Check the system configuration ===== 
 +  * The OS checks the system configuration for **device drivers** 
 +    * device driver: utility program that enables communication between the OS and a peripheral device. 
 +  * The OS installs and loads the needed drivers.
  
-===== OS Function 1: Starting the computer ===== +===== Booting step 5**: Load system utilities ===== 
-  * //**Booting Step 6**//: Authenticate users+  * Antivirus software 
 +  * Speaker volume control 
 +  * Etc. 
 + 
 +===== Booting step 6/: Authenticate user =====
     * If necessary, facilitate authentication/login, a user name and password     * If necessary, facilitate authentication/login, a user name and password
  
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 ===== OS Function 3: Managing memory ===== ===== OS Function 3: Managing memory =====
-  * The OS gives each program a portion of RAM memory and keeps them from interfering with each other.+  * The OS 
 +    * gives each program a portion of RAM memory. 
 +    * keeps them from interfering with each other.
   * OS processes often involve using a **buffer**   * OS processes often involve using a **buffer**
     * An area that holds data temporarily to make programs run faster     * An area that holds data temporarily to make programs run faster
-    * RAM memory functions as the buffer+    * RAM memory functions as the buffer.
  
 ===== OS Function 3: Managing memory ===== ===== OS Function 3: Managing memory =====
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 ===== OS Function 3: Managing memory ===== ===== OS Function 3: Managing memory =====
-  * Adding more RAM is often the best way to improve computer performance because: +  * Adding more RAM is often a good way to improve computer performance because: 
-    * Paging slows the computer. +    * Paging slows the computer 
-    * Accessing data from the hard disk is slower than accessing it from RAM.+    * Accessing data from the hard disk is slower than accessing it from RAM
  
 ===== OS Function 4: Handling input and output ===== ===== OS Function 4: Handling input and output =====
-  * **Device drivers** enable communication between the OS and peripheral devices.+  * Applications access input and output devices via the OS. 
 +  * Device drivers enable communication between the OS and input and output (and other) devices.
  
-===== OS Function 5: Providing the user interface ===== +===== OS Function 5: Provide a user interface ===== 
-  * The user interface allows the user to:+  * The **user interface** allows the user to:
     * Start application programs     * Start application programs
     * Manage storage devices     * Manage storage devices
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 ===== User interfaces ===== ===== User interfaces =====
 {{:computer_basics:ch04-userinterfaces.jpg?direct&600|}}\\ {{:computer_basics:ch04-userinterfaces.jpg?direct&600|}}\\
-(a) graphical, (b) menu-driven, and (c) command-line user interfaces+a) graphical, b) menu-driven, and c) command-line user interfaces
  
-===== OS Function 5: Providing a user interface ===== +===== OS Function 5: Provide a user interface ===== 
-  * Types:+  * Types of user interfaces:
     * **graphical user interface (GUI)** uses **icons** and other visual metaphors.     * **graphical user interface (GUI)** uses **icons** and other visual metaphors.
-    * **menu-driven** interface:+    * **menu-driven interface**:
       * Provides text-based menus       * Provides text-based menus
       * Displays available user options       * Displays available user options
-    * **command-line interface:+    * **command-line interface**:
       * Requires the user to type commands to instruct the OS to perform the desired actions       * Requires the user to type commands to instruct the OS to perform the desired actions
computer_basics/operating_system_fundamentals.txt · Last modified: 2019/12/06 05:11 by mithat
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