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CIS 1200 > Chapter 5 - System Software > Flashcards

Chapter 5 - System Software Flashcards

1
Q

Application programming interface (API)

A

A set of software routines that allows one software system to work with another

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2
Q

Authentication

A

The process of identifying a computer user, based on a login or username and password. Computer system determines whether the computer user is authorized and what level of access is to be granted on the network

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3
Q

Basic input/output system

A

A program that manages the data between a computer’s operating system and all the input and output devices attached to the computer; also responsible for loading the operating system from its permanent location on the hard drive to RAM

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4
Q

Boot process

A

The process for loading the operating system into RAM when the computer is turned on

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5
Q

Cluster

A

The smallest increment in which data is stored on hard disks; hard disks are divided into tracks, then wedges, then sectors, then clusters

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6
Q

Command-driven interface

A

Interface between user and computer in which the user enters commands to communicate with the computer system

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7
Q

Desktop

A

Primary working area

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8
Q

Directory

A

A hierarchical structure that include files, folders and drives used to create a more organized and efficient computer

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9
Q

Disk Cleanup

A

A Windows utility that removes unnecessary files from the hard drive

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10
Q

Disk defragmentation

A

The process of regrouping related pieces of files on the hard drive, enabling faster retrieval of the data

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11
Q

Distributions (distros)

A

Linux downloaded packages

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12
Q

Event

A

The result of an action, such as a keystroke, mouse click or signal to the printer in the respective device to which the operating system responds

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13
Q

Extension (file type)

A

In a file name, the three letters that follow the user-supplied file name after the dot; it identifies what kind of family of files the file belongs to or which application should be used to read the file

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14
Q

File

A

A collection of related pieces of information stored together for easy reference

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15
Q

File compression utility

A

A program that takes out redundancies in a file in order to reduce the file size

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16
Q

File Explorer

A

The main tool for finding, viewing and managing the contents of your computer by showing the location and contents of every drive, folder and file (called Windows Explorer before Windows 8)

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17
Q

File History

A

A Windows utility that automatically creates a duplicate of your libraries, desktop, contacts and favorites and copies it to another storage device, such as an external hard drive

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18
Q

File management

A

The process by which humans or computer software provide organizational structure to a computer’s contents

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19
Q

File name

A

The first part of the label applied to a file, generally the name a user assigns to a file when saving it

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20
Q

File path

A

The exact location of a file, starting with the drive in which the file is located and including all folders, subfolders, file name and the extension

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21
Q

File path

A

The exact location of a file, starting with the drive in which the file is located and including all folders, subfolders, file name and the extension

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22
Q

Folder

A

A collection of files stored on a computer

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23
Q

Graphical user interface (GUI)

A

Unlike command and menu-driven interfaces in earlier software, GUIs display graphics and use the point-and-click technology of the mouse and cursor, making them much more user friendly

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24
Q

Interrupt

A

A signal that tells the operating system that it is in need of immediate attention

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25
Q

Interrupt handler

A

A special numerical code that prioritizes requests from various devices
- requests are placed in the interrupt table in computer’s primary memory

26
Q

Kernel (supervisor program)

A

Essential component of the OS responsible for managing the processor and all other components of the computer system (said to be memory resident)

27
Q

Menu-driven interface

A

A user interface in which the user chooses a command from menus displayed on the screen

28
Q

Mac OS

A

First commercially available OS to incorporate the ability to interact with the computer and user-friendly point-and-click technology (1984)

29
Q

Multitask

A

The ability of an operating system to perform more than one process at a time

30
Q

Multiuser operating system

A

An operating system that enables more than one user to access the computer system at one time by efficiently juggling all the requests from multiple users

31
Q

Operating system (OS)

A

The system software that controls the way in which a computer system functions, including the management of hardware, peripherals and software

32
Q

Paging

A

The process of swapping data or instructions that have been placed in the swap file for later use back into active random access memory
- contents of hard drive’s swap file become less active data

33
Q

Path separator

A

The backlash mark used by Microsoft Windows and DOS in file names

  • Mac files use a colon
  • UNIX and LINUX use a forward slash as the path separator
34
Q

Pinning

A

The process through which you chose which applications are visible on the Windows Start screen

35
Q

Platform

A

The combination of a computer’s operating system and processor
- PC and Apple are the two most common platform types

36
Q

Plug and Play (PnP)

A

The technology that enables the operating system, once it is booted up, to recognize automatically any new peripherals and to configure them to work with the system

37
Q

Power-on self-test (POST)

A

First job the basic input/output system performs, ensuring that essential peripheral devices are attached and operational. Process consists of a test on the video card and video memory, a BIOS identification process and a memory test

38
Q

Preemptive multitasking

A

When the operating system processes the task assigned a higher priority before processing a task that has been assigned a lower priority

39
Q

Real-time operating system (RTOS)

A

A program with a specific purpose that must guarantee certain response times for particular computing tasks or else the machine’s application is useless
- found in many types of robotic equipment

40
Q

Recycle Bin

A

A folder on a Windows desktop in which deleted files from the hard drive are held until permanently purged from the system

41
Q

Recycle Bin

A

A folder on a Windows desktop in which deleted files from the hard drive are held until permanently purged from the system

42
Q

Reset this PC

A

A utility program in Windows 10 that attempts to diagnose and fix errors in Windows system files that are causing a computer to behave improperly

43
Q

Registry

A

A portion of the hard drive containing all the different configurations (settings) used by the Windows OS as well as by other applications

44
Q

Root directory

A

The top level of the filing structure in a computer system

- in Windows root directory of hard drive is represented as C:\

45
Q

Sector

A

A section of a hard drive platter, wedge-shaped from the centre of the platter to the edge

46
Q

Spooler

A

A program that helps coordinate all print jobs being sent to the printer at the same time

47
Q

Start menu

A

A feature in Windows 10 that provides access to all applications in one convenient screen

48
Q

Swap file (page file)

A

A temporary storage area on the hard drive where the OS “swaps out” or moves the data or instructions from RAM that haven’t recently been used
- takes place when more RAM space is needed

49
Q

System files

A

The main files of an operating system

50
Q

System restore point

A

In Windows a snapshot of your entire system’s settings used for restoring your system to a prior point in time

51
Q

Taskbar

A

In later versions of Windows operating systems a feature that displays open and favourite applications for easy access

52
Q

Task Manager

A

A Windows utility that shows programs currently running and permits you to exit non responsive programs when you click End Task

53
Q

Thrashing

A

A condition of excessive paging in which the operating system becomes sluggish

54
Q

Track

A

A concentric circle that serves as a storage area on a hard drive platter

55
Q

UNIX

A

An operating system originally conceived in 1969 by Ken Thompson and Dennis Ritchie of AT&T’s Bell Labs. In 1974 UNIX code was rewritten in standard programming language C

56
Q

User interface

A

Part of the operating system that enables individuals to interact with the computer

57
Q

Utility program

A

A small program that performs many of the general housekeeping tasks for the computer, such as system maintenance and file compression

58
Q

Virtual desktops

A

A Windows 10 feature that allows you to organize groups of windows into different displays

59
Q

Virtual memory

A

The space on the hard drive where the operating system stores data if there isn’t enough random access memory to hold all of the programs you’re currently trying to run

60
Q

Windows

A

Microsoft’s operating system that incorporates a user-friendly, visual interface

61
Q

Windows 10

A

Newest release of Microsoft;s operating system the provides interface optimized for touch-screen devices and is designed to run across all devices: phones, tablets, laptops and desktops

CIS 1200 (13 decks)

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