THE FUNCTIONS OF AN OPERATING SYSTEM

1.Starting the computer

The process of starting or restarting a computer is called booting.

Cold Boot
Turning on a computer that has been powered off completely.

Warm Boot The process of using the operating system to restart a computer

2.Provide a user interface

A user interface controls how users enter data and instructions and how information is displayed on the screen.

Graphical User Interface (GUI):

  • user interacts with menus and visual images.

Command-line:

  • user uses the keyboard to enter data and instructions.
  1. Manage programs

An OS manages multiple programs and processes while you use the computer.

  1. Manage memory

Purpose - to optimize the use of RAM


OS allocates data & instructions to memory while being processed, monitors the contents of memory, and release from memory when the processor no longer requires them.

Memory management optimizes the use of RAM.


Virtual memory is a portion of a storage medium functioning as additional RAM.

  1. Coordinating tasks and configure devices

I.OS determines the order in which jobs are processed.


II.A job is an operation the processor manages.


III.Jobs include receiving data from input device, processing instructions, sending information to output device and transferring items between storage and memory.

A device driver is a small program that tells the operating system how to communicate with a specific device


Plug and Play automatically configures new devices as you connect them

  1. Establish an Internet connection

OS provides a means to establish Internet connection.

  1. Monitor performance

OS typically contains a performance monitor.


A performance monitor is a program that assesses and reports information about various computer resources and devices.

  1. Provide File Management And Other Utilities

Utility programs which included in most OS provide the following functions :
Managing Files
Viewing Images
Securing A Computer From Unauthorized Access
Uninstalling Programs
Scanning Disks
Defragmenting Disks
Diagnosing Problems
Backing Up Files And Disks
Setting Up Screen Savers

  1. Control a network

Organizes and coordinates how multiple users access and share resources on a network


Resources – hardware, software, data, and information


Example : printer, Internet access, files and programs.

  1. Administer security

Establish permissions to resources


Define who can access certain resources and when they can access those resources


By setting user account

11.Update automatically

Many programs, including operating system, include an automatic update feature that regularly provides new features or corrections to the program