Computers Are Your Future Eleventh Edition Chapter 4: System Software Copyright © 2011 Pearson Education, Inc. Publishing as Prentice Hall 1
Dec 27, 2015
Computers Are Your FutureEleventh Edition
Chapter 4: System Software
Copyright © 2011 Pearson Education, Inc. Publishing as Prentice Hall 1
System Software
System software consists of all the programs that enable the computer and its peripheral devices to function smoothly.
System software is divided into two main categories: The operating system System utilities (utility programs)
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The Operating System
The operation system (OS) is a set of programs that coordinates: Hardware functions Interaction between application
software and computer hardware
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Five basic functions Starts the computer Manages applications Manages memory Handles input and
output device messages
Provides a user interface for communication
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The Operating System
Exploring Popular Operating Systems
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Operating Systems Market Share
Windows XP 60.55%
Windows Vista 22.64%
Mac OSX 7.11%
Linux 1.97%
Windows 7 1.69%
Windows 2000 0.78%
Windows 2003 0.65%
iPhone OSX 0.40%
Windows 98 0.13%
WAP 0.07%
Exploring Popular Operating Systems
The most popular operating system
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Microsoft Windows
Exploring Popular Operating Systems
Microsoft Windows Vista Supports tablet PCs and other mobile
devices Has new and improved features such as:
Search Networking tools Integrated speech recognition Gadgets—applications that appear as icons
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Exploring Popular Operating Systems
Windows 8 is the latest version.
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Microsoft Windows
Windows 7.
Exploring Popular Operating Systems
Microsoft Windows Server 2008 Used in corporate environments to
support client/server systems Benefits include:
Security Web server Administration Virtualization
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Exploring Popular Operating Systems
Microsoft Windows Mobile Designed for smartphones and
PDAs Includes simplified versions of
Windows programs Supports synchronizing with
corresponding programs on desktop computers
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Exploring Popular Operating Systems
Mac OS Used on Macintosh personal computers simple to use
Linux Is open source software, meaning the
source code is available to users MS-DOS (DOS)Microsoft disk OS
A command-line user interface OS
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System Utilities: Housekeeping Tools
System utilities (utility programs) Software programs that are essential
to effective management of the computer system
Perform tasks such as: Backing up files Providing antivirus protection Compressing files
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System Utilities: Housekeeping Tools
Backup software copies data found on the hard disk to a backup device.
Full backups include all files and data.
Incremental backups include only those files changed or added since the previous backup.
Drive imaging software creates a mirror image of the entire hard drive. Copyright © 2011 Pearson Education, Inc. Publishing as Prentice
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System Utilities: Housekeeping Tools
Antivirus software protects the computer from viruses.
Popular antivirus programs:
Norton AntiVirus McAfee VirusScan
Plus AVG
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System Utilities: Housekeeping Tools
Searching for and managing files File manager is the utility software
that organizes and manages data. Copy files Determine how and where files are stored Delete files
A search utility enables you to locate files.
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System Utilities: Housekeeping Tools
Scanning and defragmenting disks Disk scanning programs find and
resolve disk file storage problems. Disk cleanup utilities remove
unnecessary files to save space.
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System Utilities: Housekeeping Tools
File compression utilities Decrease the size
of files, resulting in faster downloads
Create archives by storing files in a special format
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System Utilities: Housekeeping Tools
Systems Update Windows
Update for Windows 7 and Vista automatically downloads and installs updates.
It includes service packs, version upgrades, and security updates.Copyright © 2011 Pearson Education, Inc. Publishing as Prentice
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System Utilities: Housekeeping Tools
Troubleshooting Keep a boot disk (emergency disk)
to load the operating system during times of emergency.
Use the Windows Help and Support utility.
Shut down the system properly. Use correct procedure; don’t just turn the
power off. Put in sleep mode, a lower-power state, as
an alternative.Copyright © 2011 Pearson Education, Inc. Publishing as Prentice Hall 20