CAT Grade 12 - Module 1.5 System Software & Computer Management summary 2023 Operating System (OS) ♦ - The system software that controls the way in which a computer system functions, including the management of hardware, peripherals, and software. ♦ - Refers to as a software platform. What happens when a computer is switch on ➢ Computers follow instructions = stored on special memory chips (ROM) o Switch on o Perform some basic hardware test to ensure everything works. o Try to find & load the OS from the disk drive o OS has been found = loaded into memory -> control of the computer is handed over to the OS = "BOOTING" the computer Role of Operating System ❖ Once the OS is loaded, user can interact with the computer. Functions: 1. Providing the user interface 2. Managing programs 3. Managing hardware 4. Providing basic security 1. Providing the user interface - Allow to interact with the computer via GUI. (Graphical User Interface) - Using small pictures = icons & other visual aids like menus, button s. 2. Managing programs - Allow to choose & run software by loading programs into memory & coordinating the processing programs with CPU - Manages which programs & tasks use the CPU & how long. ❑ Facts about OS ❖ OS can multitask quite effectively. - Run several tasks at the same time - Ensures that each task is allocated resources such as memory & CPU time fairly that programs perform at their best. 3. Managing Hardware Disk management • - Manage how data is organized & how & when progra ms access on storage device. o Saves us from having to know how to load & saves files on different types of disks = click saves. Memory Management ▪ - Controls how programs use the RAM memor ▪ - Ensures that programs don't use the same area of memory at the same time & corrupt each other's data. Input/Output Management ▪ - Manage how programs use the input & output devices. 4. Providing basic security - Provides basic security functions such as user & access control. - Can also provide basic protection against threats to our computer = handled by other utility programs. Task Manager Shows you the programs, processes, and services that are currently running on your computer (Ctrl + Alt + Del) Single User Operating System A type of operating system that is designed for one user at at time. Multi -user operating system
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