Download Blizzard Bag #2 – PC Maintenance

Operating Systems
Basic PC Maintenance, Upgrade and Repair
Mods 1 & 2
What is an Operating System
An operating system (OS) provides a computer user
with a file system structure and a means of
communicating with the computer system hardware.
► It communicates with disk storage units, screen
displays, printers, memory, and other computer
components.
► It allows application software to communicate with the
BIOS, which in turn translates the request into
instructions the hardware can understand.
► It provides the user with the ability to interact with the
computer hardware and peripherals.
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Operating System Characteristics
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Defined as, “The way an operating system handles activities such
as storing data, interfacing with the user, and presenting
information on the screen.”
Multitasking – the ability of an operating system to support two or
more programs running at the same time.
Although it seems that both programs are running simultaneously,
they are not. The PC switches control between the programs and
gives the illusion of simultaneous operation.
 Preemptive Multitasking – also referred to as time slicing, allows
multiple programs to share control of the operating system.
► No
single program can totally take control.
► All programs running in this mode are sharing RAM.
► If two programs attempt to use the same area of RAM at the
same time, the computer will lock up.
► Windows 95, 98, Me, 2000, NT and XP use this type of
multitasking.
Operating System Characteristics
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User Interface – The way in which a user interfaces with the
operating system.
The two dominant user interfaces are text line command and
graphical user interface (GUI).
 Text line command interface means that commands for the
computer are issued by typing in text at a command prompt
► Examples of this are DOS, PC-DOS, and UNIX.
 Graphical user interface, pronounced “gooey”, is a user friendly
interface used in most all computers today.
► Macintosh
invented this interface in the 80’s.
► Microsoft, in response, created Windows 3.1
► The GUI displays the file system consisting of folders, icons, and
names.
► The file structure is easily displayed and interpreted.
► Allows the user to perform functions by selecting on-screen icons
rather than issuing text line commands.
File System Structure
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The basic structure is made up of directories, subdirectories,
and files.
 File – a collection of data that forms a single unit
 Directory – a file used to group other files together in a
hierarchical file structure.
► Is
similar to a file folder in a conventional paper filing system.
► Are referred to as “folders” in many operating system.
 Subdirectory – a file that subdivides the contents of a
directory.
► Is
similar to a folder within a folder in a conventional paper filing
system.
► Are referred to as subfolders in many operating systems.
 Pathname – used to identify the location of a specific file in a
directory structure.
► Example:
C:\PC Maintenance\Computer Pics
The Microsoft Windows Family
Windows 3.x
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In 1990, Windows was introduced as the first Microsoft
graphic user interface for the PC operating system.
It was built on top of the MS-DOS system
It was not really a new type of system, it just displayed
the file structure on the screen differently than text
only systems.
This new system was Windows 3.0.
Improved versions of this over the years were
Windows 3.1 and 3.11
The Microsoft Windows Family
Windows 95
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The release of Windows 95 produced many changes in the
Microsoft operating system. Some significant changes
were . . . .
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Plug and Play (PnP)
Right mouse click
32-bit operating system
Enhanced CD player
PnP allows hardware devices to be configured
automatically (detection, configuration, assignment of system
resources).
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Right mouse click displayed a shortcut menu with access
to features such a Open, Explore, Find, Create Shortcut,
Rename, Properties, etc.
The Microsoft Windows Family
Windows 98
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The release of Windows 98 was delayed several times.
It was originally a project code named Memphis, and
later called Windows 97.
It offered support for new technologies such as DVD,
MMX, AGP, and FAT32.
It also introduced the integration of a Web Browser
(Internet Explorer) as part of the operating system
 This caused a lot of controversy and helped involve Microsoft
in an antitrust suit that made it all the way to the United
States Supreme Court.
The Microsoft Windows Family
Windows NT
Short for “New Technology”, it was originally developed to
replace MS-DOS systems, but became too large and
powerful for the typical PC at the time.
► Is similar in appearance to other Windows operating
systems.
► Comes in two different versions:
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 Stand-alone PC
 File server.
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Security is enhanced, limiting access to users. Even single
user had to set up their own security system in order to
access files.
The Microsoft Windows Family
Windows Me
Windows Me was more stable than its Windows 95 and 98
predecessors.
► Although the basic operating system remained the same,
several necessary changes were made.
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 Introduced an advanced network wizard designed
specifically for the home or small office user (sharing between
PC’s.)
 Included more sophisticated data compression techniques
for video files.
 A system restore tool was added to the system that allowed
the user to restore the PC back to a previous working
configuration if a problem exists.
The Microsoft Windows Family
Windows 2000
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Windows 2000 continues to improve the many features
of the Windows operating system.
One major change was the switch from FAT to NTFS,
the new file system also known as the dynamic file
system.
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This system provided added security and allows
multiple hard drives to be handled as one large
volume. To the user, the multiple drives appear as
one.
The Microsoft Windows Family
Windows Xp
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In October of 2001, the first versions of Windows XP were
released.
XP = eXPerience
Was the first major change in the Windows operating system since
Windows 95 came on the market.
Windows XP is written using a modified NT kernel
 Kernel is the core of the operating system
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This modified NT kernel is much more stable when compared to
the typical Windows 95 and 98 kernels.
Two XP operating systems were created; Home Edition and
Professional.
XP is the dominant replacement for all Windows systems.
Computers running Windows 98, NT, Me, or 2000 should be easily
upgraded to XP
Other Operating Systems
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Linux
 A derivative of UNIX, a mainframe computer operating system
originally developed in the 1970’s.
 Can run on Intel and Motorola processors, so . . . .
 It can be loaded on Mac’s as well as PC’s.
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OS/2
 Developed by Microsoft for IBM computer systems.
 Similar to the Windows operating system.
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OS/9
 Was developed jointly by Microware Systems and Motorola in
the early 80’s.
 Motorola manufactures the CPU found in Mac computers.
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OS/10
 http://www.apple.com/macosx/
Operating System Terminology
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There are several common technical terms associated
with operating systems.
 File Allocation Tables (FAT) – a table used by the operating
system to record and recall the locations of files on a hard disk.
 Configuration – Setup for use with specific hardware and
software. Configuration files contain information such as the
amount of memory and the type of floppy drive, modem, and
video adapter present in the system.
 Registry – Found in Windows 95, 98, Me, NT, 2000, and XP.
Essentially a database that stores configuration information
 Application Software – software designed for a specific purpose
such as creating databases or spreadsheets, word processing,
producing graphics, or just for entertainment.
Operating System Terminology
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There are several common technical terms associated
with operating systems.
 Drivers – software that enables proper communication between
the PC and peripheral and installed devices. Many drivers are
located in the Windows directory and are known as cabinet (cab)
files.
 Cab Files – Compressed files that contain the operating system
software.
 Software Patches – are fixes for operating systems and
application software that have already been released. They also
contain system updates that can remove bugs.
 Bugs – errors in programming.