T4 - Operating systems/ Utility software

Question 1

Examples of OS:

Answer 1

Windows
MacOS
Linux
Android
Chrome OS

Question 2

System software

Answer 2

• software that provides a platform for other software to work
  includes OS and utility programs

Question 3

OS

Answer 3

• manage computer hardware, users and the resources used by software

Question 4

OS components

Answer 4

The user interface
Memory management
Multitasking
Peripheral management and drivers
User management
File management

Question 5

User interfaces:

Answer 5

provide a method for users to interact with a computer

Question 6

graphical user interface (GUI) -

Answer 6

uses icons

Question 7

CLI: Command Line Interface

Answer 7

Text commands are entered into the interface

Question 8

eg of user interfaces

Answer 8

Menu-driven interface
Voice activated
Real-time = sensors detect inputs
CLI: Command Line Interface
GUI

Question 9

Command line interface:

Answer 9

text commands are entered into the computer

Question 10

Command line interface: pros

Answer 10

Little processing
far faster to enter commands than using a mouse
interface requires much less hard disk storage space
requires less RAM

Question 11

Menu-driven interfaces:

Answer 11

used by devices that have a dedicated function including MP3 players

Question 12

Memory management:

Answer 12

• Data used by the program is copied into main memory
• The operating system keeps a record of where each program and its data are located
• The operating system will make sure not to overwrite existing programs and data

Question 13

Multi - tasking:

Answer 13

where an operating system manages many tasks happening at the same time
Eg = a web browser open whilst playing music

Question 14

Interrupts:

Answer 14

signals sent to the CPU by external devices to indicate an event that needs immediate attention
tell the CPU to suspend its current activities and execute appropriate instructions

Question 15

Hardware interrupts

Answer 15

are generated by hardware devices – for example, printer out of paper

Question 16

Software interrupts

Answer 16

are generated by programs – for example, a divide-by-zero error will cause an error message to be displayed

Question 17

Peripheral management:

Answer 17

Getting inputs from and sending outputs to peripheral devices

Question 18

Peripherals include

Answer 18

mice, keyboard, printers,

Question 19

Device drivers:

Answer 19

program that controls peripheral devices such as printers, mice and displays
Each device communicates with the OS via its own driver
Eg printers communicate through this = ‘out of paper’

Question 20

Disk management: OS

Answer 20

OS:
manages where on the disk files are written
keeps track of where they are so they can be retrieved
makes sure no file overwrites another file
File management:
Naming files
Allocating files to folders
Moving files
Saving files
Copying files
Deleting files

Question 21

Disk management: Hard disk

Answer 21

The hard disk = storage peripheral

Question 22

User management:

Answer 22

responsible for user logins and passwords

Question 23

Access rights:

Answer 23

If a computer is used by more than one person, each user should be able to see only their own files
Users and system administrators have different levels of access rights
Some users may be allowed to read files but not edit them

Question 24

User interface summary meaning

Answer 24

– a method of the user interacting with the computer – windows, icons, menus, pointers, drag/drop – can be GUI, menu interface or command line interface

Question 25

Memory management summary meaning

Answer 25

– manages programs and data stored in RAM, frees up memory when a program is closed

Question 26

Multitasking summary meaning

Answer 26

– running two or more programs at once

Question 27

Peripheral management and drivers summary meaning

Answer 27

– the management of devices such as mice and printers

Question 28

User management summary meaning

Answer 28

– management of usernames and passwords along with what they have permission to access

Question 29

File management summary meaning

Answer 29

– the organisation of files on storage drives

Question 30

Utility programs -

Answer 30

perform extra functionality and housekeeping tasks that keep computers running efficiently

Question 31

Encryption software:

Answer 31

used to encode text
- that it cannot be understood without knowing the key to decode it

Question 32

Encryption eg

Answer 32

• Encrypt entire hard disks so that the data cannot be understood if the computer is stolen
• Encrypt files and folders on a portable disk such as USB removable storage
• Encrypt communication with websites
• Encrypt data in an organisation’s database – especially sensitive data such as passwords

Question 33

Disk Defragmentation:

Answer 33

In order to read the file, the drive head will need to move to more locations
This makes it far slower to access files and programs
Defragmenting the hard disk reorganises files so they are stored together

Question 34

Fragmented files

Answer 34

• When you save a large file it may not fit on the disk in consecutive memory locations so it is split up

Question 35

Disk Defragmentation: pros

Answer 35

Read times are far faster
Free space is also in one place so new files do not need to be fragmented

Question 36

Data compression software:

Answer 36

enable users to compress and decompress files or folders
reduces the amount of storage space needed on a disk

Question 37

Data compression software: pros

Answer 37

If sending the files, it reduces the amount of data that is sent
Compression may allow attachments to be sent via email that would otherwise have been larger than a file-size limit
More data can be stored on backup media