Understanding Operating Systems Flashcards
The _____ provides a consistent environment for other software to execute commands.
The operating system
____ are extremely specific software written for the purpose of instructing a particular OS on how to access a piece of hardware.
Drivers
____ is the actual code that defines how a piece of software works.
Source Code
A ____ is a program that runs on top of the OS and allows the user to issue commands through a set of menus or another interface (which may or may not be graphical).
Shell
____ a multitasking method that depends on the application itself to be responsible for using the processor and then freeing it for access by other applications.
Cooperative Multitasking
The ____ is the virtual desk on which all of your other programs and utilities run.
Desktop
Used to set the color depth or screen size. Also contains the Advanced button, which leads to graphics driver and monitor configuration settings.
Change Display Settings
The ____ is located on the right side of the Taskbar and contains only a clock by default, but other Windows utilities (for example, screensavers or antivirus utilities) may put their icons there to indicate that they are running and to provide the user with a quick way to access their features.
System Tray
If you double-click the ____ , it displays a list of all of the disk drives installed in your computer.
Computer Icon
n versions of Windows that this exam tests you on, the “deleted” files are stored in a folder called ___. This was not the case in all previous versions of Windows.
$Recycle.Bin
A ____ is a rectangular area created on the screen when an application is opened within Windows.
program window
The area between the control box and the Minimize button.
Title bar
Used to present useful commands within an application in an easily accessible format.
Menu bar
____ a feature designed to keep Windows current by automatically downloading and installing updates such as patches and security fixes.
Windows Update
____ helps to catalog and improve the search capabilities of your drive.
Indexing
The virtual desktop is often called a ___
virtual desktop interface (VDI)
____ is a multitasking method in which the OS allots each application a certain amount of processor time and then forcibly takes back control and gives another application or task access to the processor.
Preemptive multitasking
____ is the ability of a single application to have multiple requests in to the processor at one time.
Multithreading
You can change the background patterns, screensaver, color scheme, and size of elements on the Desktop by ____ in any area of the Desktop that doesn’t contain an icon.
right-clicking
A special area on the Taskbar to the right of the Start button is known as the ____ area, and icons of commonly used programs can appear here, allowing the programs to be started with a single click.
Quick Launch
___ are shortcuts that allow a user to open a program or a utility without knowing where that program is located or how it needs to be configured.
Icons
Used to easily end a program and return any resources that it was using to the system.
Close Button
The ____ option can be used to tell the system whether or not the file has changed since the last time it was backed up.
archiving
What is the minimum amount of free hard drive space recommended for the installation of Windows Vista Home Basic?
15GB
