Operating Systems

Question 1

What are the functions of an OS? (Operating System)

Answer 1

Communicate with external and internal hardware

Provide a UI so that the user can interact with the computer and vice versa

Provide a a platform for different applications to run

Allow the computer to multi-tas kby controlling memory resources and the CPU

Deal with file management and disk management

Question 2

What does a device driver do?

Answer 2

They allow the OS and the hardware to communicate to each other

Question 3

How is drivers incorporated into the OS?

Answer 3

When the PC boots the OS detects the hardware, then it will run the driver, if it detects new hardware or an update to the driver it will install the new drivers

Question 4

What types of UI are there, who uses them?

Answer 4

A GUI is a graphical user interface that some OS offer, that allow the user to click on icons and specific input methods to control the OS (like windows or iOS) and they are typically used for light users and the everyday use

There is also command line which gives you far more control over the OS and is less resource heavy, they are more efficient for advanced users and are more powerful.

Question 5

How can an OS multitask?

Answer 5

When an application is opened the OS moves all data needed to the memory
To run multiple applications the OS must decide make sure that the two applications running data doesn’t interfere with each other
Only one application can be run by the CPU at a time, the OS must divide the time spent by the CPU and will prioitise certain processes into an efficient order
The OS will manage the data to and from virtual memory

Question 6

How does the OS manage files and the HDD?

Answer 6

Organises data into a hierarchical system

Splits the disk into sectors and sees how much data is left on the system

Uses utility software (defragementation) to maintain the hard disk

Also deals with any users logged onto PC by writing data to their allocated space

Question 7

How does the OS manage different users?

Answer 7

the OS can restrict data access to other peoples personal data

Only some users that have been designated by the admin of that PC can write or install new programs onto the HDD

Also protects users accounts by having passwords and fingerprint an retina scanners that can identify the user

Question 8

What is utility system software?

Answer 8

It is software that helps maintain or configure a computer

Question 9

What does a de-fragmentation software do?

Answer 9

It puts broken up files back together again, which speeds up read and write times.

Question 10

How does a HDD become fragmented?

Answer 10

Files are stored onto available spaces on the HDD

Over time as files are deleted and moved and change size lots of small gaps appear.

The OS splits the files into smaller parts to fill up the gaps made

So the read and write speeds become slower as the head has to move back and forth across the HDD

Question 11

Can and SSD become fragmented?

Answer 11

NO

It uses flash storage with no moving parts, they can access data just as fast as a result

Question 12

How does de-fragmentation software work?

Answer 12

De-fragmentation software reorganises data on the hard disk drive to put fragmented files back together. It moves files to collect all the free spaces together. This helps prevent further de-fragmentation.

Question 13

What is a backup utility software?

Answer 13

It schedules regular backups, creates rescue disks, disk images, and options for either full or incremental back ups

Question 14

What is a back-up?

Answer 14

it is a copy of a computers system files ans settings stored externally, which means data can be recovered if there is a case of data loss

Question 15

What is a full back up?

Answer 15

It is where a copy is taken of every file on the system. They often use a lot of storage space. A full backup can take a long time to create, but is faster to restore from

Question 16

What is an incremental back-up?

Answer 16

they are where only the files created or edited since the back up was last copied. They use less storage space and are much quicker to create. But a full system restore is slow-the last full system backup must be restored, followed by every incremental backup since that point.

Question 17

What is compression software?

Answer 17

Compression software reduces the size of the files so that they take up less disk space. Its used loads on the Internet to make files quicker to download. Standard file formats are .zip and .rar. They need to be extracted before they are used

Question 18

What is encryption software?

Answer 18

Scrambles data to stop third parties from accessing it, it can only be de scrambled with a special ‘key’

Question 19

What is open source software?

Answer 19

It is software where the source code is made freely available and users may legally modify the source code to create they own spin off software which can be shared with the same license and terms as the original software

Question 20

Give some examples of open source code?

Answer 20

GIMP
VLC media player
Apache HTTP server
Linux
Android
UBUNTU

Question 21

What can people do who use the open source code do to the developers?

Answer 21

Suggest bug fixes and improvements to the software and mention any security issues or weaknesses

Question 22

What are the advantages of using open-source software?

Answer 22

Its free usually
Made for the greater good and not profit
Can be adapted by users to suit their needs
People can collaborate to bring patches to the code
Popular open source is very secure and reliable as it is often patched by the community

Question 23

What are the disadvantages of using open-source software?

Answer 23

Small projects may not get regular updates, so may be buggy and may have security issues

There may be limited user documentation

No warranties if something goes wrong

No customer support if something goes wrong(but user community is usually good at fixing issues on forums)

Companies using open-source software may not want competitors to see their source code but the have no choice

Question 24

What is proprietary software?

Answer 24

Is where only the compiled code is released, the code is usually a close guarded secret

Question 25

What does a proprietary software licence mean?

Answer 25

It means that modifying, copying and redistribution of the software is restricted (usually paid for)

Question 26

State some examples of proprietary software

Answer 26

Microsoft Windows
Office
Adobe
Computer Games

Question 27

Why do businesses tend to use proprietary software instead of open source software?

Answer 27

They have better customer support options and tend to be better coded as it is sold as a product

Question 28

What are the advantages of proprietary software?

Answer 28

Comes with warranties, documentation and customer support

Should be well-tested and reliable as the companies reputation depends on the fixes and updates will come regularly

Usually cheaper for companies than developing their own custom-built software

Question 29

What are the disadvantages of proprietary software?

Answer 29

Can be expensive

software may not exactly fit a users needs and they can’t do anything about it

software companies may not maintain older software after warranties expire - they’ll want people to buy their latest product