Operating Systems and System Software

Question 1

What is the purpose of a stack when handling interrupts?

Answer 1

Allows the processor to…
- Retrieve previous values for the original program
- Load them back into the processor registers
- Carry on executing the original program from where it left off

Question 2

What happens to the values or the registers when an interrupt is received?

Answer 2

They are pushed onto a memory stack in a stack frame

Question 3

Where are multi-user operating systems used?

Answer 3

In environments requiring collaboration and resource sharing among multiple users

Question 4

What is the main advantage of multi-tasking systems?

Answer 4

Enhances user productivity and system efficient by allowing the simultaneous execution of processes

Question 5

Where are multi-tasking systems used?

Answer 5

Desktop environments - to run multiple applications simultaneously

Servers - to manage several user requests or services (hosting, database management, file sharing)

Question 6

What is a multi-tasking operating system?

Answer 6

Allows multiple tasks or processes to run concurrently
It shares system resources and enables users to perform several activities at once

Question 7

What is the BIOS?

Answer 7

A program responsible for losing the operating system when the computer first turns on

Question 8

What is a boot loader?

Answer 8

A program used to load the OS kernel into memory

Question 9

What happens once the OS has been loaded?

Answer 9

It takes over from ROM and boots up the rest of the system

Question 10

What does the BIOS do first when turned on?

Answer 10

Checks all the hardware it needs is connecting and working using POST