The OS - 1.1.3

Question 1

What is systems software?

Answer 1

Software designed to run and maintain a computer system
Most important one is the Operating System

Question 2

Main functions of an OS (6):

Answer 2

Communicate with internal and external hardware via device drivers - peripheral management
Provide a user interface - user interface
Provide a platform for different application to run - process management
Allow the computer to multi-task - memory management
Deal with file management - file management
Account details - user management

Question 3

What is a device driver? Why is it used? (2)

Answer 3

Acts as a translator for the signals between the OS and hardware/peripherals
To communicate with the hardware and peripherals (keyboard, mouse, screen, speaker)

Question 4

What is a graphical user interface?
(3)?

Answer 4

Allows user to interact with computer system
Most common type - designed to be easy for everyday users visual, interactive
Windows Icons Menus Pointer

Question 5

What is a command line interface (CLI) (5)?

Answer 5

Text based, typing instructions
For advanced users
Can be very quick if aware if the commands
Little processing power
No users, no pointers etc

Question 6

What is process management (4)?

Answer 6

Can manage multiple processes at once efficiently by managing memory and CPU processing time
OS needs to ensure applications don’t overwrite or interfere with each other
OS divides CPU time
Helps manage the flow of data

Question 7

What is file management?

Answer 7

Computers store data as files, OS manages the files
Naming, saving, editing, deleting files

Question 8

What is user management?

Answer 8

Logging in
Can be a username and password or PIN
Biometrics - fingerprint, face recognition

Question 9

What is memory management?

Answer 9

Manages the use of RAM
Creates and manages virtual memory
Loads programs from secondary storage to primary storage