System software

Cards (26)

  • Operating systems manage hardware and run software
  • Give some functions of the OS

    Communicate with internal and external hardware
    Provide user interface
    Provide a platform for running applications
    Allow multi-tasking
    Deal with file management and disk management
    Manage system security (user accounts and access levels)
  • What do device drivers do?

    Allow the OS and hardware to talk to each other
  • Device drivers act as translators for the signals between OS and hardware
  • When a new hardware is connected, the matching device drivers will be installed
  • Updates to device drivers happen automatically
  • What does a user interface do?
    Allows the user to interact with a computer system
  • Give an example of a user interface
    GUI - graphical user interface (for everyday use)
  • What is a command line interfaced based as?
    text-based
  • How does the OS allow multitasking?

    By managing resources and running multiple applications at the same time
  • What does a memory manager do to assist multitasking?
    allocates certain applications certain memory locations, so they are stored separately and don't overwrite each other.
  • The OS helps to manage the flow of data by using what?
    memory buffers
  • The OS handles file and disk management
  • The OS may include utility software. Give some examples.
    File compression software
    Encryption software
    Defragmentation software
  • The OS can be single-user or multi-user.
  • What do defragmentation utilities do?
    Put broken up files back together
  • When does fragmentation occur?
    When files are moved, deleted and change size.
  • What does fragmentation cause?
    small gaps appear on the disk
  • How does a fragmented disk affect speed?
    Makes reading and writing files slower
  • Defragmentation software does what to data?
    reorganises it
  • What type of storage isn't affected by fragmentation?
    SSDs
  • Why does fragmentation affect hard disks but not SSDs?
    SSDs don't have moving parts but hard disk have a head that moves back and forth
  • Compression software does what?
    reduces file size by permanently or temporarily removing data from them
  • Encryption software can help protect what?
    files and data
  • What does encryption software do?
    scrambles data to stop third parties from accessing it
  • What is needed to decrypt data?
    a key