Operating System Basics

Role of Operating System

It is a software program which is the computers master control. It provides you with the tools that enable you to interact with the PC. It performs the following functions: Displays the on-screen elements with which you interact. These elements are collectively called User Interface. Loads programs in computers memory. Coordinates how programs work with hardware and other software. Manages the way information is stored on and retrieved from disks.

Graphical User Interface (GUI)

An operating system provides a set of items on the screen with which user interacts, called the User Interface. Most modern Operating Systems provide a Graphical User Interface. A GUI allows system control by clicking graphical objects on screen with a mouse. A GUI is based on the desktop metaphor. Graphical objects appear on desktop representing resources that can be used.

GUI Tools
Windows Operating System offers two unique tools called Taskbar and Start Button. These help run and manage programs. Icons are pictures that represent computer resources and double clicking an icon activates that program.

Applications & Interface

Applications designed to run under one operating system use similar interface elements. Windows uses similar interface for all programs. In a GUI, each program opens and runs in a separate window called Frame. In a GUI, multiple programs run at the same time each in a separate window. The application in use is said to be the Active Window.

Menus
GUI based programs let users issue commands by choosing them from Menus. A menu is a group of related commands. Menus let you avoid memorizing and typing command names.

Dialog Boxes
A Dialog box is a special window that appears when a program or Operating System needs more information before completing a task. They are so called because they conduct a dialog with the user for providing more information or making choices.

Command Line Interfaces

In Command Line Interface, commands are typed at a prompt. DOS and Unix used Command Line Interface. Under Command Line Interfaces, individual applications do not need to look or function the same way, so different programs look different.

Basic Services
The Operating System manages all the programs that run on the PC. Operating System provides services to programs and users, including file management, memory management and printing. In order to provide services to programs, the operating system makes system calls requesting other hardware and software resources to perform tasks.

Multitasking
Multitasking is the capability of running multiple processes simultaneously. A multitasking operating system lets you run multiple programs at the same time. Through multitasking, you can do several chores at one time, such as printing a document while downloading a file from the internet. There are two types of multitasking
Cooperative Preemptive.

Cooperative & Preemptive Multitasking

Programs currently running will periodically check the operating system to see whether any other program needs the CPU. If any do, the running program will relinquish control of the CPU to the next program. This method is called Cooperative Multitasking. With preemptive multitasking, the operating system maintains a list of programs that are running and assigns a priority to each program in the list. The operating system can intervene and modify a programs priority status by rearranging a priority list. Preemptive multitasking has the advantage of being able to carry our higher-priority programs faster than lower-priority programs.

Managing Files
The operating system keeps track of all the files on each disk. Users can make file management easier by creating a hierarchical file system that includes folders and sub folders arranged in a logical manner.

Managing Hardware
The operating system is an intermediary between the programs and hardware. The operating system uses interrupt requests (IRQs) to maintain organized communication with the CPU and other pieces of hardware. Each hardware device is controlled by a piece of software, called a Driver, which allows the Operating System to activate and use the device. The operating system also provides the software necessary to link computers and form a network.

Utility Software
A utility is a program that performs a task that is not typically handled by the operating system. Some utilities enhance the functionality of operating system. Some major categories of utilities include:
File de-fragmentation Data compression Backup Antivirus Screen Saver