SYSTEM SOFTWARE Flashcards
Software designed to solve a specific _______ is called application software.
Problem. Examples of application software include word processing, spreadsheet, database, and graphics software.
_______ programs are designed to help monitor and configure settings for the computer, the operating system, or applications
Utility. Utility software can be bundled applications included with other software (with the OS for instance), or standalone applications. Examples of utility programs include backup and data recovery software, antivirus software, disk cleanup, etc.
In recent years, _________ software has been one of the most popular categories of utility software.
Antivirus. Norton Antivirus and McAfee VirusScan are two examples of popular antivirus applications.
The GUI allows a user to operate the computer by using a _____ or keystrokes to select icons and commands from menus.
Mouse. The GUI (Graphic User Interface) is sometimes called a computer dashboard and Microsoft Windows is an example of an operating system that uses a GUI.
Early personal computers featured _______-driven interfaces which required the user to type complicated instructions to operate the computer.
Command. Examples of operating systems which featured a command driven interface include DOS and UNIX. This can also be called a command-line interface.
System software helps the computer manage internal and external _________ and enables the computer to run applications.
Resources. System software includes device drivers, utility programs, and the operating system.
The ________________ is the computer software that manages the basic operation of the computer.
Operating system. The OS is the main system software in any computer. All general purpose computers must have an operating system installed in order to run other programs. All applications are written to run on top of a specific operating system.
Examples of operating systems include Windows, Linux, Unix, and Macintosh OS.
Macintosh computers are designed to run Mac OS for their operating system, but they can run both Mac OS and Windows using _________ software.
Dual boot. Dual boot software called Boot Camp allows a Macintosh computer to run both Windows and Mac OS. Likewise, dual boot software exists to allow PCs to run Windows and Linux or other combinations of operating systems.
The kernel is the central component of the operating system. While the computer is running, it remains in main ______ and manages nonresident programs.
Memory. The kernel is also known as the supervisor. It manages programs not resident in main memory to perform tasks that support application programs.
Data and programs waiting to be processed wait in ______ in temporary storage.
Queues. Queues are first in, first out (FIFO) sequences of data that wait in temporary storage. On a hard disk, this waiting area is called a buffer.
A named collection of data that exists on a storage medium such as a hard disk, floppy disk, or CD is called a ____.
File. A file can be a document, a photo, a song, or an application.
If an operating system attaches a special significance to a symbol, you won’t be able to use it in a ________.
Filename. For example, here are a few symbols that Windows doesn’t allow filenames to contain:
A service pack is a collection of Microsoft files for ________ improvements, bug fixes, and software updates
Security.
UNIX is a proprietary multitasking operating system with built-in __________ capabilities that supports multiple users.
Networking. UNIX was first developed by Bell Laboratories in 1969. Today, it runs on all types of computers including PCs, workstations, and servers.
_______ is a version of UNIX popular for large websites and e-commerce servers.
Solaris. Sun Microsystems makes Solaris. Other popular versions of UNIX include HP-UX by Hewlett Packard and AIX by IBM.
