OPERATING SYSTEM

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Operating System (OS)

Definition - What does Operating System (OS) mean?

An operating system (OS), in its most general sense, is software that allows a user to run other applications on a computing device. While it is possible for a software application to interface directly with hardware, the vast majority of applications are written for an OS, which allows them to take advantage of common libraries and not worry about specific hardware details.

The operating system manages a computer's hardware resources, including:

• Input devices such as a keyboard and mouse
• Output devices such as display monitors, printers and scanners
• Network devices such as modems, routers and network connections
• Storage devices such as internal and external drives

The OS also provides services to facilitate the efficient execution and management of, and memory allocations for, any additional installed software application programs.

-here are some types of operating system:

MICROSOFT WINDOWS

Microsoft Windows is a group of several graphical operating system families, all of which are developed, marketed, and sold by Microsoft. Each family caters to a certain sector of the computing industry. Active Windows families include Windows NT and Windows Embedded; these may encompass subfamilies, e.g. Windows Embedded Compact (Windows CE) or Windows Server. Defunct Windows families include Windows 9x, Windows Mobile and Windows Phone.

BIOS SETUP UTILITIES

Use the BIOS Setup utility to change important BIOS settings for the computer. Basic Input/Output System (BIOS) is a program that controls communication between all input and output devices on the computer (such as disk drives, display, keyboard, mouse, and printer). The BIOS settings are stored in a chip on the motherboard CMOS (Complementary Metal Oxide Semiconductor) memory. A battery on the motherboard keeps the settings from being lost when the system is turned off.

The BIOS stores configuration information such as:

• The addresses of devices (hard disk drives, for example), that are attached to the computer.
• The startup sequence of the computer.
• The amount of system and extended memory.

STARTUP MENU

The Start menu is a user interface element used in Microsoft Windows since Windows 95 and in some other operating systems. It provides a central launching point for computer programs and performing other tasks. It has different names in different operating systems and window managers, such as Kickoff Application Launcher in KDE, Dash in GNOMEand Unity, and Start screen in Windows 8.

Traditionally, the Start menu provided a customizable nested list of programs for the user to launch, as well as a list of most recently opened documents, a way to find files and get help, and access to the system settings. Later enhancements via Windows Desktop Update included access to special folders like "My Documents" and "Favorites" (browser bookmarks). Windows XP's Start menu was expanded to encompass various My Documents folders (including My Music and My Pictures), and transplanted other items like My Computer and My Network Places from the Windows desktop. Until Windows Vista, the Start menu was constantly expanded across the screen as the user navigated through its cascading sub-menus.

INSTALLING A WINDOWS OS

Windows Installer (previously known as Microsoft Installer,^[3] codename Darwin^[4][5]) is a software component and application programming interface (API) of Microsoft Windows used for the installation, maintenance, and removal of software. The installation information, and optionally the files themselves, are packaged in installation packages, loosely relational databasesstructured as COM Structured Storages and commonly known as "MSI files", from their default filename extensions. Windows Installer contains significant changes from its predecessor, Setup API. New features include a GUI framework and automatic generation of the uninstallation sequence. Windows Installer is positioned as an alternative to stand-alone executable installer frameworks such as older versions of InstallShield and NSIS.

Before the introduction of Windows Store, Microsoft encouraged third parties to use Windows Installer as the basis for installation frameworks, so that they synchronize correctly with other installers and keep the internal database of installed products consistent. Important features such as rollback and versioning depend on a consistent internal database for reliable operation. Furthermore, Windows Installer facilitates the principle of least privilege by performing software installations by proxy for unprivileged users.

DISK FORMATTING

Disk formatting is the process of preparing a data storage device such as a hard disk drive, solid-state drive, floppy disk or USB flash drive for initial use. In some cases, the formatting operation may also create one or more new file systems. The first part of the formatting process that performs basic medium preparation is often referred to as "low-level formatting".^[1] Partitioning is the common term for the second part of the process, making the data storage device visible to an operating system.^[1] The third part of the process, usually termed "high-level formatting" most often refers to the process of generating a new file system.^[1] In some operating systems all or parts of these three processes can be combined or repeated at different levels^{[nb 1]} and the term "format" is understood to mean an operation in which a new disk medium is fully prepared to store files.

As a general rule,^{[nb 2]} formatting a disk leaves most if not all existing data on the disk medium; some or most of which might be recoverable with special tools.^[4] Special tools can remove user data by a single overwrite of all files and free space.^[5]

REFERENCE

1. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Microsoft_Windows

2. https://support.hp.com/my-en/document/bph07110

3. https://www.techopedia.com/definition/3515/operating-system-os

4. https://www.slideshare.net/priyapatra372/types-of-operating-system-64344527

5. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Start_menu

6. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Windows_Installer

7. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Disk_formatting