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Operating systems (operating systems (Software running in the background…
Operating systems
operating systems
Software running in the background of a computer system. It manages many of the basic functions on the next slide.
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Without it, most computers would be very user-unfriendly and the majority of users would find it almost impossible to work with computers on a day-to-day basis.
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Windows and is used on many personal computers. Other examples include: Linux, Android, UNIX, MacOS and DOS
When a computer is first powered up, the initiating programs are loaded into memory from the ROM (read only memory) chip. These programs run a checking procedure to make sure the hardware, processor, internal memory and bios (basic input–output system) are all functioning correctly. If no errors are detected, then the operating system is loaded into memory.
Interrupts
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Whenever an interrupt is serviced, the status of the current task being run is saved using an interrupt handler and once the interrupt has been serviced the status of the interrupted task is reinstated and it continues from the point prior to the interrupt being sent
e.g.
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an error has occurred, such as a paper jam in a printer
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Buffers
Are used in computers as a temporary memory area. These are essential in modern computers since hardware devices operate at much slower speeds than the processor. If it were not for buffers, processors would spend the majority of their time idle, waiting for the hardware device to complete its operation.
Buffers are essentially filled from the processor or memory unit and whilst these are emptied to the hardware device, the processor carries on with other tasks. Buffers are used, for example, when streaming a video from the internet. This ensures that the video playback doesn’t keep on stopping to wait for data from the internet.
Buffers and interrupts are often used together to allow standard computer functions to be carried out. These functions are often taken for granted by users of modern computer systems.
