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The intelligence of the computer |
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Computer programs, or instructions to perform a
specific task |
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Determines what hardware is present |
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Decides how hardware is configured and utilized |
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Uses hardware to perform tasks |
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Firmware (BIOS) |
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Controls computer’s input/output functions |
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Operating systems (OSs) |
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Provide instructions to hardware to perform
tasks |
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Applications software |
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Provides basic instructions to hardware |
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Often serves as the interface between
higher-level software and hardware |
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A hierarchy determines how software interfaces
so that high-level software can depend on low-level software to manage the
hardware for it |
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Applications software depends on the OS to
interface with hardware |
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Instructs hardware directly |
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Uses BIOS to provide the instructions |
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Uses device drivers |
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Different operating systems are written to
support different types of hardware systems and user needs |
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Manage BIOS |
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Manage files on secondary storage devices |
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Manage primary memory (RAM) |
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Diagnose software and hardware problems |
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Interface between hardware and software |
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Perform housekeeping procedures requested by
user |
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OS programs must be copied from secondary
storage into RAM (memory) |
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CPU then reads from one memory location in RAM
to another to receive and follow instructions |
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Command-driven interface |
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Menu-driven interface |
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Icon-driven interface (graphical user interface
or GUI) |
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Terms |
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Multitasking |
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Cooperative multitasking (task switching) |
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Preemptive multitasking |
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Environment |
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Windows 3.x operating environment |
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What kind of user interface is provided? |
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Can the OS support multitasking? |
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Can the OS easily manage large quantities of
primary memory (RAM) and secondary storage? |
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How many and what kinds of applications are
written to work with the OS? |
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How powerful must the hardware be to make
efficient use of the OS? |
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How does the OS perform in a network? |
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DOS (disk operating system) |
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DOS with Windows 3.1 and 3.11 operating
environments |
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Windows 95 and Windows 98 |
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UNIX operating system |
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Windows NT |
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Windows 2000 |
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OS/2 |
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Macintosh operating system |
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First OS used by IBM microcomputers |
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Notes
