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Higher Computing > Computer Systems: Chapter 5 (Computer Software) > Flashcards

Computer Systems: Chapter 5 (Computer Software) Flashcards

1
Q

What is the bootstrap loader?

A

The bootstrap loader is a program held in ROM that loads the operating system when the computer is switched on.

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2
Q

What are the 6 main functions of a single user operating system?

A
  • Interpreting user commands
  • File management
  • Memory management
  • Input/Output management
  • Process Management
  • Resource allocation
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3
Q

What is the Computer Language Interpreter? (CLI)

A

The CLI is the outer layer of the operating system, which the user interacts with in order to give instructions to the computer

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4
Q

What is the File Management System? (FMS)

A

The FMS is the second layer of the operating system, and it organises and tracks files

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5
Q

What are the functions of the File Management System (FMS)? (2)

A
  • Maintaining a directory which keeps track of where files are stored
  • Providing a connections between the user’s logical view of the files and the actual physical location of the files
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6
Q

What is the Memory Management System? (MMS)

A

The MMS is the third layer of the operating system, and controls where programs and data are placed in memory

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7
Q

What are the functions of the Memory Management System (MMS)? (2)

A
  • Monitoring the use of memory

* Freeing memory locations where data is no longer needed

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8
Q

What is the Input/Output Management System? (BIOS)

A

The BIOS is the fourth layer of the operating system, and it communicated directly with the peripherals and handles the transfer of data between the peripherals and the processor

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9
Q

What are the functions of the Input/Output Management System (BIOS)? (2)

A
  • Data buffering to regulate the speed between the processor and main memory
  • Detecting errors such as mechanical or electrical faults
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10
Q

What is Process Management?

A

Managing processes takes place in the Kernel, which is the bottom layer of the operating system. The Kernel manages processes and handles any interrupts.

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11
Q

What are the functions of the Kernel (Process Management)? (2)

A
  • Schedules CPU time

* Maintains the integrity of the process

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12
Q

What is Resource Allocation?

A

Resource Allocation is the way of managing which resource is available for use at any one time by a process

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13
Q

What is a Utility Program?

A

A Utility Program is a program designed to carry out .specific tasks related to the management or maintenance of a computer system

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14
Q

What are examples of Utility programs? (3)

A
  • Virus Checker
  • Disk Editor
  • Disk Defragmenter
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15
Q

What is a Virus Checker?

A

A Virus Checker is a program that can detect a virus infection and remove it from a computer system

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16
Q

What is a Disk Editor?

A

A Disk Editor is a program that allows the user to get rid of any unnecessary files that clutter up a system.

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17
Q

What is a Disk Defragmenter?

A

A Disk Defragmenter is a program that rearranges the contents of the hard disk so that data blocks that make up files are next to each other.

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18
Q

What are 2 advantages of using a Disk Defragmenter?

A
  • It speeds up access times

* It frees up space

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19
Q

Name 3 standard graphic file formats

A
  • .jpeg (joint photographic experts group)
  • .gif (graphics interchange format)
  • .tiff (tagged image file format)
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20
Q

What are the advantages of using a .jpeg? (2)

A
  • It uses lossy compression to cut out data which cannot be seen by the human eye
  • They take up less storage space than most formats so can be sent easily
21
Q

What are the advantages of using a .gif? (2)

A
  • Only uses 8 bit colour so takes up less space

* It uses lossless compression so can be used on the Internet

22
Q

What are the advantages of using a .tiff? (2)

A
  • Uses 24 bit colour so can be used in desktop publishing packages
  • It can represent every type of graphic from monochrome to greyscale graphics
23
Q

What software would you used to produce a multimedia catalogue and why? (2)

A
  • Mediator Pro 7
  • It is a multimedia authoring package
  • It allows you to create interactive multimedia presentations combining text, sound, graphics and video
24
Q

What software would you use to set up a LAN in a school and why? (2)

A
  • Windows 2000 Professional
  • It is a network operating system application
  • It allows you to configure network aspects such as the security, group permissions and network protocols
25
Q

What software would you use to produce a school website and why? (2)

A
  • Microsoft FrontPage
  • It is a web authoring package
  • It allows you to create web pages using a full GUI interface, and gives you access to feature such as page templates and sound and video
26
Q

What are 3 software compatibility issues?

A
  • Memory requirements
  • Storage requirements
  • OS compatibility
27
Q

Why is memory requirement a software compatibility issue? (2)

A
  • Software needs RAM to hold programs and data when it is being processed
  • If there is not enough RAM then it will take too long to process.
28
Q

Why is storage requirement a software compatibility issue? (2)

A
  • Software requires a certain amount of backing storage space to be installed
  • If there is not enough space then a program cannot fit in backing storage
29
Q

Why is OS compatibility a software compatibility issue? (2)

A
  • Some software will have been designed for one specific operating system
  • If a computer does not have a certain type of operating system then software may not work on the computer
30
Q

What is a virus?

A

A virus is a destructive piece of software that attaches itself to a file, reproduces itself and spreads to other files.

31
Q

What is a worm?

A

A worm is a destructive piece of software that spreads from computer to computer via security holes in a network, and then reproduces itself.

32
Q

What is a trojan horse?

A

A trojan horse is a piece of software that appears to be carrying out a legitimate operation, but is secretly damaging or copying files in the background.

33
Q

What is the difference between a virus and a worm?

A

A virus needs to attach to another file to spread from computer to computer, a worm does not need to.

34
Q

Name 3 typed of viruses

A
  • File virus
  • Boot sector virus
  • Macro virus
35
Q

What is a file virus?

A

A file virus attaches itself to an application file, and is then activated when the program is loaded

36
Q

What is a boot sector virus?

A

A boot sector virus infects the system files that your computer uses every time you power up

37
Q

What is a macro virus?

A

A macro virus is when a destructive macro is attached to a file, and when it is opened this macro duplicates itself into the macro library and spreads even further

38
Q

Name 4 techniques used by a virus to disrupt a system

A
  • Replication
  • Camouflage
  • Watching
  • Delivery
39
Q

What is ‘replication’?

A

Replication is when a virus makes copies of itself to infect other files on a computer

40
Q

What is ‘camouflage’?

A

Camouflage is when a virus disguises itself to avoid being detected by anti-virus software, by adding fake instructions to mask its distinct virus pattern.

41
Q

What is ‘watching’?

A

Watching is when a virus waits until a particular action or data before its activated, to infect the greatest number of systems

42
Q

What is ‘delivery’?

A

Delivery is the method in which the virus carries out destructive tasks to computer systems to infect them

43
Q

Name 4 techniques used by anti-Virus software

A
  • Searching for virus signatures
  • Use of checksum
  • Memory resident monitoring
  • Heuristic detectors
44
Q

What is ‘Searching for virus signatures’?

A

Anti-virus software looks for virus signatures, which are characteristic patterns of bytes which are parts of virus, to notify the user of the virus in the file.

45
Q

What is ‘Use of checksum’?

A

Anti-virus software can carry out a calculation using binary values of an uninfected program. If this calculation changes after it has been run, then the code has been altered, possibly by a virus.

46
Q

What is ‘Memory resident monitoring’?

A

Anti-virus software can constantly monitor a computer for the presence of viruses when it’s switched on. If any unusual activity is detected the user is notified.

47
Q

What are ‘Heuristic detectors’?

A

Anti-virus software can look for code that would generally be considered to look like a virus, and notifies the user of these viruses.

48
Q

Why does Fragmentation reduce system performance? 2)

A
  • Unused data blocks are spread across a hard disk and each requires a separate disk access
  • This slows down access times for files made up of these blocks

Higher Computing (17 decks)

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