utilities software

• utilities software

  • software built into the operating system
  • allows the OS to operate as safely and efficiently as possible
  • adds functionality to a computer
  • help users to maintain the computer system
  • features: antivirus software, backup software, clipboard manager, encryption, disk utilities, data recovery, file archiver/manager, revision control and system profiles
• anti malware

  • protects a computer system by detecting and blocking threats
  • how utilities software manages anti virus: (1) anti virus software scans files on the computer and compares it to a database of known viruses, (2) files that are similar to viruses in the database are identified and deleted, (3) if not, the file will be quarantined (isolating the file so that it can't spread or cause further damage)
• disk utilities - defragmentation

  • software that looks at all of the data on a hard drive and reorganises it, so related data is stored together
  • how utilities software manages defragmentation: (1) files are moved to a temporary space on the hard drive, (2) empty spaces and related data are are collected together, (3) data is replaced, so that related data can be stored sequentially and (4) once the data is stored together, the read/write head can perform the task of retrieving or saving the data quicker
• disk utilities - defragmentation (2)

  • defragmenting a hard drive allows files to be located and accessed by the CPU faster (it collects fragmented files together and stores them sequentially)
  • solid state drives don't require disk defragmentation, as they are able to read blocks of data that are fragmented, just as quickly as they can read data that is stored together
• fragmentation

  • fragmentation happens when a file is split into parts that are stored in different locations on a hard disk drive (if a file is larger than the space left by the recently deleted file, the CPU fragments the file and stores it in multiple locations on the hard drive)
  • disk fragmentation slows down the performance of a computer because when related data becomes separated, the hard drive's read/write heads need to move to different areas of the disk in to retrieve or save files, leading to the CPU taking longer to process the data
• backup software

  • designed to automate the process of backing up files so that in the event of data loss (unexpected power loss or malware attack) the file can be recovered to the point where it was last backed up
  • how utilities software manages backup software: system backup copies data onto a separate storage device in case the original information is lost or corrupted
  • backups should be saved regularly and stored in a different location (magnetic tape) to the rest of the data
• disk utilities - compression

  • automatically compresses files when they are saved so more data can be stored on the hard disk drive, so the amount of data inside files is reduced
  • how utilities software manages disk compression: (1) an algorithm checks the data associated with the drive in question and remove the redundant data and (2) when a file is to be opened, the program is decompressed
• disk utilities - compression (2)

  • advantages: in slower hard drives, it could increase system performance (because there is less data to be stored), saves space on your secondary storage device, useful on infrequently used files and reduces the transmission time when sending the file across a network (emails often have a limit on the maximum file size allowed for an attachment and compressing files helps them to keep within the maximum attachment limit)
  • disadvantage: compressing a hard drives could negatively impact the CPU by loading the system and slowing performance temporarily
• disk utilities

  • responsible for the management of a secondary storage device (hard drive, solid state drive, or USB flash drive)
  • examples: defragmentation, compression, checker, formatting and partitioning
• disk utilities - checker

  • scans a hard drive for any corrupted data
  • how utilities software manages disk checkers: (1) it scans the secondary storage device to check for corrupted files (2) and attempts to fix the errors and give you the option to delete them if it was not possible to restore the files (to speed up reading from and writing to the hard drive)
  • advanced disk checkers are used to scan for bad sectors (a permanently damaged section of the hard drive which can no longer be used and must be skipped over)
• disk utilities - formatter

  • prepares a secondary storage device to be used to store files
  • how utilities software manages disk formatter: (1) the current data from a secondary storage device (hard disk drive) needs to be prepared (2) this happens by removing the current data and creating a file system (which manages how data is stored and accessed), so the settings are correct and compatible with the operating system
• disk utilities - partitioning

  • allows you to divide up the storage space on a single secondary storage device so that the operating system sees them as separate drives
  • a disk partition editor allows a user to view and modify memory partitions (creating, editing and deleting partitions)
• advantages of disk partitioning

  • creating 2 partitions (1 for the OS and a separate one for your files) can protect files from loss
  • creating a recovery partition that includes all of the factory settings for a computer means the system can be easily restored
  • partitioning lets you dual boot your system, allowing you to have a different OS on the same storage device
  • creating a network drive that is accessible to other devices on a network allows files to be shared files easily, and keep private your main partition files you don't wish to share
• clipboard manager

  • a temporary storage space for copied data
  • how utilities software manages clipboard manager: allows multiple items to be stored on the clipboard to be used at a later time
  • adds functionality to the clipboard to allow multiple pieces of data to be copied, cut and pasted
• system profilers

  • provides information about the applications and attached hardware devices on a system
  • examples: processor, amount of RAM, capacity of the secondary storage devices and the OS version being used
• data recovery

  • allow deleted, corrupted or otherwise inaccessible data to be returned to a usable state
  • most data is not permanently removed when it is deleted so data recovery software can often be used to reaccess files
• revision control

  • manages previous versions of an application so that if an error occurs the program can be returned to a previous state
  • commonly used when multiple users are making changes to the same document
  • how utilities software manages revision control: allows changes from different users to be merged together, and stores each change so that users can always restore a previous version of the file
• archiver

  • the process of storing important data that is not currently required by compressing one or more files into a single file
  • how utilities software manages an archiver: (1) it compresses multiple files into one folder (2) this archived folder can be stored on a computer system or transferred to a storage device and won't take up much space
  • archivers are often used to save storage space for files that aren't used frequently, or to group files together to be sent across a network
• encryption

  • encrypts data so that it can't be understood if intercepted (commonly for data being sent between devices) and decrypts data using an encryption key
  • can also encrypt data stored on a secondary storage device to prevent access to the files in the case of hacking or theft
  • how utilities software manages encryption: uses an algorithm to convert plaintext into ciphertext
• file manager

  • provides a GUI to the user for accessing, editing and moving files and folders on the system
  • programs are displayed in a hierarchical structure
  • the manager provides an abstracted visualisation of where the data is stored
  • how utilities software manages file manager: allows the user to create new folders, rename, copy and delete files, create shortcuts and set permissions for access (admin rights, such as which files they are able to access and modify)