What is an Operating System?

An operating system (OS) is system software that manages computer hardware,

software resources, and provides common services for computer programs.

It manages the computer's resources, such as the central processing unit,

memory, disk drives, and printers, establish a user interface, and execute and
provide services for applications software.

Examples of Operating System

1. Microsoft Windows

Microsoft Windows has existed in one form or another since 1985, and it remains
the most popular operating system for home and office computers. Its latest
versions, including Windows 10, are also used on some tablets, and the OS is
used on some web and number-crunching server computers as well. Computers
from a wide variety of manufacturers can use Windows.

Initial versions of Windows worked with an earlier Microsoft operating system

called MS-DOS, providing a modern graphical interface on top of DOS's
traditional text-based commands. Signature features of Microsoft Windows's user
interface include windows themselves – rectangle-shaped, on-panel screens
that represent individual applications. The Windows Start menu has helped
generations of users find programs and files on their devices.

Efforts to use versions of the Windows OS for smartphones have been less
successful.

2. 1Apple iOS

Apple's iOS is one of the most popular smartphone operating systems, second
only to Android. It runs on Apple hardware, including iPhones, iPad tablets and
iPod Touch media players.

Signature features of iOS include the App Store where users buy apps and
download free software, an emphasis on security including strong encryption to
limit what unauthorized users can extract from the phone, and a simple,
streamlined interface with minimal hardware buttons.
 3. Google's Android OS

Android is the most popular operating system in the world judging by the
number of devices installed. Largely developed by Google, it's chiefly used on
smartphones and tablets. Unlike iOS, it can be used on devices made by a
variety of different manufacturers, and those makers can tweak parts of its
interface to suit their own needs.

Users can download custom versions of the operating system because large
portions of it are open source, meaning anyone can legally modify it and
publish their own. However, most people prefer to stick with the version that
comes on their devices.

Android, like iOS, comes with an application and media store called the Play
Store built by Google. Some phone manufacturers and other organizations also
offer their own stores to install software and media.

4. Apple macOS

Apple's macOS, successor to the popular OS X operating system, runs on Apple

laptops and desktops. Based in part on the historic family of Unix operating
systems dating back to research in the 1960s at AT&T's Bell Labs, macOS shares
some features with other Unix-related operating systems including Linux. While
the graphical interfaces are different, many of the underlying programming
interfaces and command line features are the same.

Signature elements of macOS include the dock used to find programs and
frequently used files, unique keyboard keys including the Command key, and
the stoplight-colored buttons used to resize open program windows. MacOS is
known for its user-friendly features, which include Siri, a natural-voice personal
assistant, and FaceTime, Apple's video-calling application.

5. Linux Operating System

Unlike many other operating systems, development on Linux isn't led by any one
company. The operating system was created by Finnish programmer Linus
Torvalds in 1991. Nowadays, programmers from all over the world collaborate on
its open source code and submit tweaks to the central kernel software and
other programs.

A wide assortment of commercial and open source software is available for

Linux, and various Linux distributions provide custom user interfaces and tools for
installing software onto machines running the operating system. A favorite of
many programmers, Linux is widely used on corporate and scientific servers,
including cloud computing environments. Linux can be run on a wide variety of
hardware and is available free of charge over the internet.

Kinds or Type of Operating System

1. Batch Operating System

This type of operating system does not interact with the computer
directly. There is an operator which takes similar jobs having same
requirement and group them into batches. It is the responsibility of
operator to sort the jobs with similar needs.

Advantages of Batch Operating System:

 It is very difficult to guess or know the time required by any job to

complete. Processors of the batch systems know how long the job would
be when it is in queue
 Multiple users can share the batch systems
 The idle time for batch system is very less
 It is easy to manage large work repeatedly in batch systems

Disadvantages of Batch Operating System:

 The computer operators should be well known with batch systems

 Batch systems are hard to debug
 It is sometime costly
 The other jobs will have to wait for an unknown time if any job fails

Examples of Batch based Operating System: Payroll System, Bank Statements

etc.
 2. Time-Sharing Operating Systems
Each task is given some time to execute, so that all the tasks work
smoothly. Each user gets time of CPU as they use single system. These
systems are also known as Multitasking Systems. The task can be from
single user or from different users also. The time that each task gets to
execute is called quantum. After this time interval is over OS switches over
to next task.

Advantages of Time-Sharing OS:

 Each task gets an equal opportunity

 Less chances of duplication of software
 CPU idle time can be reduced

Disadvantages of Time-Sharing OS:

 Reliability problem
 One must have to take care of security and integrity of user programs and
data
 Data communication problem

Examples of Time-Sharing OSs are: Multics, Unix etc.

 3. Distributed Operating System
These types of operating system is a recent advancement in the world of
computer technology and are being widely accepted all-over the world
and, that too, with a great pace. Various autonomous interconnected
computers communicate each other using a shared communication
network. Independent systems possess their own memory unit and CPU.
These are referred as loosely coupled systems or distributed systems. These
system’s processors differ in size and function. The major benefit of working
with these types of operating system is that it is always possible that one
user can access the files or software which are not actually present on his
system but on some other system connected within this network i.e.,
remote access is enabled within the devices connected in that network.

Advantages of Distributed Operating System:

 Failure of one will not affect the other network communication, as all
systems are independent from each other
 Electronic mail increases the data exchange speed
 Since resources are being shared, computation is highly fast and durable
 Load on host computer reduces
 These systems are easily scalable as many systems can be easily added to
the network
 Delay in data processing reduces
Disadvantages of Distributed Operating System:

 Failure of the main network will stop the entire communication

 To establish distributed systems, the language which are used are not well
defined yet
 These types of systems are not readily available as they are very
expensive. Not only that the underlying software is highly complex and not
understood well yet

Examples of Distributed Operating System are- LOCUS etc.

4. Network Operating System

These systems run on a server and provide the capability to manage
data, users, groups, security, applications, and other networking functions.
These type of operating systems allow shared access of files, printers,
security, applications, and other networking functions over a small private
network. One more important aspect of Network Operating Systems is
that all the users are well aware of the underlying configuration, of all
other users within the network, their individual connections etc. and that’s
why these computers are popularly known as tightly coupled systems.
Advantages of Network Operating System:

 Highly stable centralized servers

 Security concerns are handled through servers
 New technologies and hardware up-gradation are easily integrated to
the system
 Server access are possible remotely from different locations and types of
systems

Disadvantages of Network Operating System:

 Servers are costly

 User has to depend on central location for most operations
 Maintenance and updates are required regularly

Examples of Network Operating System are: Microsoft Windows Server 2003,

Microsoft Windows Server 2008, UNIX, Linux, Mac OS X, Novell NetWare, and BSD
etc.

5. Real-Time Operating System –

These types of OSs serves the real-time systems. The time interval required
to process and respond to inputs is very small. This time interval is called
response time.

Real-time systems are used when there are time requirements are very strict like
missile systems, air traffic control systems, robots etc.

Two types of Real-Time Operating System which are as follows:

 Hard Real-Time Systems:

These OSs are meant for the applications where time constraints are very
strict and even the shortest possible delay is not acceptable. These
systems are built for saving life like automatic parachutes or air bags
which are required to be readily available in case of any accident. Virtual
memory is almost never found in these systems.
 Soft Real-Time Systems:
These OSs are for applications where for time-constraint is less strict.
 Advantages of RTOS:
 Maximum Consumption: Maximum utilization of devices and system,thus
more output from all the resources
 Task Shifting: Time assigned for shifting tasks in these systems are very less.
For example in older systems it takes about 10 micro seconds in shifting
one task to another and in latest systems it takes 3 micro seconds.
 Focus on Application: Focus on running applications and less importance
to applications which are in queue.
 Real time operating system in embedded system: Since size of programs
are small, RTOS can also be used in embedded systems like in transport
and others.
 Error Free: These types of systems are error free.
 Memory Allocation: Memory allocation is best managed in these type of
systems.
Disadvantages of RTOS:
 Limited Tasks: Very few tasks run at the same time and their concentration
is very less on few applications to avoid errors.
 Use heavy system resources: Sometimes the system resources are not so
good and they are expensive as well.
 Complex Algorithms: The algorithms are very complex and difficult for the
designer to write on.
 Device driver and interrupt signals: It needs specific device drivers and
interrupt signals to response earliest to interrupts.
  Thread Priority: It is not good to set thread priority as these systems are very
less prone to switching tasks.
Examples of Real-Time Operating Systems are: Scientific experiments,
medical imaging systems, industrial control systems, weapon systems,
robots, air traffic control systems, etc.

Step by step procedure of clean installation of Operating System

1. Insert the installation disk or flash drive.

To install a new operating system on Windows, you must have the
operating system's install tool on a DVD or flash drive, and the disk or flash
drive must be inserted into your computer. If you don't have a version of
the operating system you want to download, you can download one for
the following operating systems:

 Windows 10
 Windows 8
 Windows 7

2. Restart your computer.

Press and hold your computer's Power button to turn it off, wait for a few
seconds, and then press the Power button again to turn the computer back on.

3. Wait for the computer's first startup screen to appear.

Once the startup screen appears, you'll have a very limited window in
which you can press the setup key.
 It's best to start pressing the setup key as soon as the computer
begins to restart.

4. Press and hold Del or F2 to enter the BIOS page.
The key you're prompted to press might also be different; if so, use that
key instead. This will load your computer's BIOS page, from which point
you can select your installation disk or drive.

 You'll typically use the "F" keys to access the BIOS. These are at the top of
your keyboard, though you may have to locate and hold the Fn key
while pressing the proper "F" key.
 You can look at your computer model's manual or online support page to
confirm your computer's BIOS key.
5. Locate the "Boot Order" section.
This section is normally on the main page of the BIOS, though you may
need to use the arrow keys to navigate over to the "Boot" or "Advanced"
tab.

 The "Boot Order" section varies from BIOS to BIOS. If you can't find your
BIOS' "Boot Order" page, consult your motherboard's manual or look up
your computer model online to find direct instruction for your specific BIOS
page.

6. Select the location from which you want to start your computer.
In this case, you'll be starting your computer either from the disk drive or from
an external drive, such as a flash drive.

 The disk drive option is usually labeled CD-ROM Drive, while external drives
will show up as Removable Devices.

7. Move your selected location to the top of the list.

Typically, you'll press the + key with the boot location you want to use
selected until it's at the top of the "Boot Order" list.

 You can double-check the key that you're supposed to use in the legend
that's usually on the right side or the bottom of the BIOS page.

8. Save your settings and exit the BIOS.

There should be a "Save and Exit" key listed in the BIOS' key legend; press the
key listed there to save your settings and exit the BIOS.

 You may have to confirm this decision by pressing ↵ Enter with Yes
selected.

9. Restart your computer.

Once your computer begins to start up again, it will select your disk or flash
drive as the boot location, which means that it will begin installing the
operating system.
10. Follow the on-screen prompts.
Each operating system will have different steps to take when installing it, so
just follow the on-screen directions to complete the installation.