Operating Systems Flashcards
Why is it important to make backups and copy data?
create and delete files and folders
copy and duplicate files and folders
move files and folders
rename files and folders
sort items into different orders according to name, file type, date created and more
search for particular files and folders
restore deleted files
set access rights - such as read only or edit - to files
Why must computer memory be managed?
more than one program can run at the same time
more than one document can be opened at the same time
What is multitasking?
What conditions must there be?
Multitasking means to be able to run more than one program simultaneously.
the operating system can support multitasking.
the computer has enough memory to hold more than one program in primary storage at the same time.
What do operating systems allow?
individual users to be created and deleted.
access levels to be given to users, such as administrator rights or standard user rights.
auditing (keeping a log) of files a user creates, accesses, edits and deletes.
What do user interfaces allow users to do?
copy, delete, move, sort, rename, and search for files or folders.
access system settings such as hardware preferences.
multitask by having more than one application open.
switch between tasks.
access error and help messages when necessary.
customise the interface, for example by changing the background colour or layout (not available with command line interfaces (CLIs).
What are the 2 main types of interface?
graphical user interface (GUI).
command line interface (CLI).
What is a graphical user interface?
GUIs feature a desktop, where everything is displayed. Applications run in windows and all
objects (apps, hardware and files) are represented by icons.
Application features are accessible through the use of menus. Users interact with the interface by using a mouse and on-screen pointer.
GUIs are powerful and easy to use but require a lot of processing power.
What is a command line interface?
CLIs are text-based. Users control the computer by typing in commands.
CLIs require little processing power and are extremely powerful, but it can take longer to learn how to use a CLI than a GUI. Originally, most interfaces were CLIs.
Mobile user interface
Mobile user interfaces are similar in many ways to GUIs except that they respond to touch. Fingers are used to open programs and interact with them. Gestures such as swiping are used to scroll within documents. Pinching and stretching are used to resize images.
Mobile UIs are found on smartphones and tablets.
Voice user interface
Voice user interfaces are becoming increasingly popular as a natural way of interacting with technology. They are used by voice device assistants. Mobile UIs can also respond to voice commands.
What is utility software used for?
defragmentation
data compression
backups
virus scanning
firewalls
system monitoring
task management
disk scanning and repair
What is disk defragmentation?
When a file is stored on a hard disk it is not stored as a whole file, but as a series of segments. Sometimes the segments run together in sequence and sometimes the segments are split up over a disk .
Over time, more and more files become fragmented. A fragmented disk takes longer to read from and write to, making a computer run slower.
Defragmentation software takes the fragmented files and rearranges the segments so that they run contiguously. This decreases read/write time, thereby speeding up computer performance.
What is data compression?
Compression software reduces the size of a file stored on secondary storage.
Smaller files are easier to transmit across a network as they require fewer packets to be sent. Their reduced size also means more files can be stored in any given area of storage.
Why might a user backup data?
Data can be lost accidentally or deliberately.
A user may accidentally delete or overwrite a file or a hard disk may fail, preventing access to any files stored on it. A hacker or malicious user may deliberately delete or overwrite data.
What are the 2 types of data backup?
Full backup.
Incremental backup.
