Chapter- 3 Overview of

Computer Languages
and OS
Computer Languages
 Machine level language
 Assembly level language
 High level language
Computer Languages
 Machine level language
 Machine language is a low-level programming language
that consists of binary bits i.e. only 0 and 1.
 The data present in binary form is the reason for its fast
execution. In Machine language, instructions are directly
executed by the CPU.
 Machine language is also known as object code or
machine code. Machine language is binary language.
• Machine language is a low level language.
• Machine language consist of only 0 and 1 bits.
• Machine languages are platform dependent.
• It is nearly impossible to learn machine language for
humans because it requires a lot of memorization.
Computer Languages
 Features of Machine Language
• Machine language is a low level language.
• Machine language consist of only 0 and 1 bits.
• Machine languages are platform dependent.
• It is nearly impossible to learn machine language for humans because it requires a lot of
memoization.
• Machine language is used to create and construct drivers as well.
Computer Languages-Assembly level
Language
 Assembly level language is a low-level language that helps to
communicate directly with computer hardware.
 It uses mnemonics to represent the operations that a processor
has to do. Which is an intermediate language between high-level
languages like C++ and the binary language.
 It uses hexadecimal and binary values, and it is readable by
humans.
 Assembly languages contain mnemonic codes that specify what
the processor should do.
 The mnemonic code that was written by the programmer was
converted into machine language (binary language) for execution.
 An assembler is used to convert assembly code into machine
language. That machine code is stored in an executable file for
the sake of execution
Computer Languages-high level
Language
 A high-level language is a programming language that is designed to make it
easier for humans to understand and write.
 It is closer to natural language and uses commands and instructions that are
more abstract and less dependent on the specific details of the underlying
computer hardware.
 High-level languages are used in programming because they allow programmers
to write code that is more readable, maintainable, and portable.
 These languages provide a higher level of abstraction, allowing developers to
focus on solving problems rather than dealing with low-level details of the
computer system.
 Some examples of high-level languages include Python, Java, C++, JavaScript,
Ruby, and C#.
 These languages have syntax and structures that are closer to human-readable
language, making them easier for programmers to understand and use.
Definition of
Assembler,Interpreter,compiler
 An assembler is a computer program that translates assembly language code
into machine code, allowing for direct communication with a computer's
hardware. It converts human-readable instructions into binary code that the
central processing unit (CPU) can execute.
 All high-level languages need to be converted to machine code so that the
computer can understand the program after taking the required inputs. The
software by which the conversion of the high-level instructions is performed
line-by-line to machine-level language, other than compiler and assembler, is
known as INTERPRETER.
 A compiler is a software that converts the source code to the object code. In
other words, we can say that it converts the high-level language to
machine/binary language. Moreover, it is necessary to perform this step to
make the program executable. This is because the computer understands only
binary language.
MSDOS - Microsoft Disk Operating System
 FILE NAMING RULES
 WILD CARD CHARACTER
 INTERNAL AND EXTERNAL COMMAND
 FILE ALLOCATION TABLE
 AUTO EXE.BAT
 CONFIG.Sys
MSDOS - Microsoft Disk Operating System
1. Name of every file in DOS operating system should be unique within the directory , where it is stored. This makes a
unique path name in file system and easy to access this file ahead
2. Maximum length of file name should be in 255 Characters long. File name can contain Numbers, Letters, and
underscores.
3. The Operating system is a case Sensitive , that shows a different meaning of uppercase and lowercase letter in the file
names. Example RULES, rULes, rules These three file name are distinct file name , even though they are present in
same directory.
4. Avoid the usage of certain characters while file naming :
Characters to avoid using are / \ " ' * ; - ? [ ] ( ) ! ~ $ { } &lt > # @ | &
Space tab means a new line copy in MS-DOS
5. File name gets hidden if the name of the file starts with dot(.)
MSDOS – WILD CARD CHARACTER
An asterisk – will match any combination of characters
*
A question mark – will match any single character
?
To copy all of the files in a folder:
C:\myfiles\*.*
This finds any number of characters in the filename and the extension
name of the file. All of the files in the folder named myfiles will be
copied

To copy all files in a folder that contains sequential numbers:

C:\myfiles\report?.*
This will copy all files beginning with report followed by any single
character, such as, report1, report2 and so on.
MSDOS- INTERNAL EXTERNAL COMMAND
 When you execute an internal command, MS-DOS executes it immediately. They're always
available as part of the shell and don't require independent files.
 Internal commands include MD, DATE, COPY, CD, TIME, COPR CON, TYPE, etc.
 External Commands: These commands are for advanced tasks and require external file
support as they're not stored in COMMAND.COM.
 External commands include FORMAT, SYS, EDIT, PROMPT, COPY, PRINT, TREE, SORT, etc.
Internal command
Commands Description
assoc It is used to view the file association.
atmadm It lists the connections and addresses
seen by the Windows ATM call manager.
break It is used to enable or disable the
computer's breaking capability.
call It is used to call the batch file from
another file.
cd This command is used to modify the
system directory.
chdir It is used to modify the system directory.
cls This command is used to clear the system
screen.
cmd It is used to open the command
interpreter.
External command
Commands Description
append It enables open files in a different directory as if
they were in the current one.

arp It is used to display, add, and remove arp data

from network devices.
assign It is used to assign a drive letter to a different
letter.
at It is used to set a time for commands to be
executed.
attrib It is used to show and modify the file attributes.

bcdedit This command is used to change the boot

configuration data store.
cacls This command is used to see and change file ACL's.

chcp It supplements the international keyboard and

character set knowledge.
File Allocation table-FAT
 File Allocation Table (FAT) is a file system used by computers and other
digital devices to manage and organize data stored on storage devices. It
keeps track of the location of each file on the device by using a table that
maps file names to their physical location on the disk.
 The File Allocation Table (FAT) has a simple and straightforward structure.
It consists of a sequence of entries, with each entry representing a
cluster on the disk. A cluster is a group of contiguous sectors, which is
the smallest unit of disk space that can be allocated to a file.
 Each entry in the FAT contains information about the status of the
corresponding cluster, such as whether it is free or allocated to a file. The
entries also contain pointers to the next cluster in a file,
 allowing the FAT to keep track of the sequence of clusters that make up a
file. The first entry in the FAT is reserved for the root directory of the
disk, while the remaining entries are used for file and directory clusters.
File allocation table-FAT
 The size and format of the FAT can vary depending on the version of
the file system and the size of the disk. For example, older versions
of FAT such as FAT12 and FAT16 have smaller maximum disk sizes
and use shorter entry sizes, while newer versions such as FAT32 can
support larger disks and use longer entry sizes to accommodate more
clusters.
Autoexe.bat - AUTOmatic EXECute BATch
 It is a plain-text batch file in the root directory of the boot device. The
name of the file is an abbreviation of "automatic execution", which
describes its function in automatically executing commands on system
startup;
 The AUTOEXEC.BAT and CONFIG files were developed for Windows 3.x
and MS-DOS to load device and operating system data to function
properly.
 SYS files were used in early versions of the Windows operating system to
configure and customize the operating system during start-up.
 These files were frequently used to configure system settings, define
environment variables, and load device drivers.
Config.Sys
 The Config. Sys file is a system configuration file used by MS-DOS
and some versions of Windows to specify settings that need to
be set when the operating system is started. The lines in the file
are executed in the order they appear in the example.

Example config. Sys file:

1.DEVICE=C:\Windows\HIMEM.SYS
2.DOS=HIGH,UMB
3.DEVICE=C:\Windows\EMM386.EXE NOEMS
4.FILES=30
5.STACKS=0,0
6.BUFFERS=20
7.DEVICEHIGH=C:\Windows\COMMAND\ANSI.SYS
8.DEVICEHIGH=C:\MTMCDAI.SYS /D:123
Config.Sys
Here is an explanation of each of the lines in the example config.sys file:
DEVICE=C:\Windows\HIMEM.SYS - This line loads the HIMEM.SYS device driver is used to manage
extended memory on the computer.
DOS=HIGH, UMB - This line tells the operating system to use upper memory blocks (UMBs) for device
drivers and other programs. The HIGH keyword specifies that device drivers and other programs should be
loaded into upper memory if possible.
DEVICE=C:\Windows\EMM386.EXE NOEMS - This line loads the EMM386.EXE device driver, providing
expanded memory support. The NOEMS argument tells the driver not to use expanded memory.
FILES=30 - This line sets the maximum number of files that can be opened simultaneously to 30.
STACKS=0,0 - This line sets the stack size for the command interpreter and device drivers. The stack is a
portion of memory used for storing temporary data.
BUFFERS=20 - This line sets the number of disk buffers (temporary storage areas for data being transferred
to or from a disk) to 20.
DEVICEHIGH=C:\Windows\COMMAND\ANSI.SYS - This line loads the ANSI.SYS device driver, which is used
to support ANSI escape sequences for screen control and text formatting.
DEVICEHIGH=C:\MTMCDAI.SYS /D:123 - This line loads the MTMCDAI.SYS device driver specifies the CD-
ROM drive's device number as 123. The DEVICEHIGH keyword specifies that the driver should be loaded
into upper memory if possible.
Windows
 Basics of windows
 Desktop
 File folder
 Icon
 Control panel
 Recycle bin etc
Windows – Basics of windows
 Windows is a graphical operating system developed by Microsoft. It allows users
to view and store files, run the software, play games, watch videos, and provides a
way to connect to the internet. It was released for both home computing and
professional works.
 It was released for both home computing and professional functions of Windows
on 10 November 1983. Later, it was released on many versions of Windows as
well as the current version, Windows 10.
 Windows Home is basic edition of Windows. It offers all the fundamental
functions of Windows, such as browsing the web, connecting to the Internet,
playing video games, using office software, watching videos. Furthermore, it is less
expensive and comes pre-installed with many new computers.
Windows-Desktop
 The desktop is a basic element of a personal computer that represents
different types of objects, including project folders, reference sources,
drawing tools, documents, writing tools, phone books, telephones.
 It is the primary user interface of a computer that might be found on top of
a physical desk. The desktop display is that the default display and displayed
once the startup process is complete at the time of booting the system.
 The icons of files and folders that you store to the desktop are displayed on
the desktop, as well as the desktop wallpaper. In Windows operating
system, it includes a taskbar located at the base of the display screen.
Windows – file folder
 Open File Explorer from the taskbar or right-click on the Start menu, choose File Explorer and then
select a location from the left pane to search or browse.
 For example, select This PC to look in all devices and drives on your computer, or select Documents to
look only for files stored there.
 Folder in Windows – Your computer’s hard drive uses a system of folders to help organize the
tens of thousands of files on it. A folder is not a file itself but contains files such as word-
processing documents, videos, and software.
 On the computer’s desktop, it’s represented by an icon that looks like a familiar tabbed folder
used to organize paperwork. Folders reduce clutter on your computer and help you find the
files you need.
Windows - Icons
 To add icons to your desktop such as This PC, Recycle Bin and more:
• Select Start , open Settings , then under Personalization , select Themes .
• Under Themes, scroll down and select Desktop icon settings.
• Choose the icons you would like to have on your desktop, then select Apply and OK.
 We tried to organize our list of default Windows 10 and Windows 11 icons, both
by their DLL files location and by taking into consideration the primary purpose of
the icons found inside the DLL files. Next, you can see our list of locations from
Windows where you find DLL files containing icons:
Windows – control panel
 The Control Panel in Windows is essentially a centralized hub for configuring
and managing various system settings and preferences on your computer. It's
been a staple feature of Windows operating systems for a long time, though in
recent versions of Windows, Microsoft has been transitioning some of its
functions to the modern Settings app.
 Here's a breakdown of what you can typically do in the Control Panel:
1. System Settings: This section allows you to configure fundamental settings
related to your computer's operation, such as display resolution, power
options, system properties (like computer name and domain), and more.
2. Devices and Printers: Here, you can manage devices connected to your
computer, such as printers, scanners, and external drives. You can also add new
devices or troubleshoot existing ones.
3. Network and Internet: This section lets you configure network-related settings,
including Wi-Fi, Ethernet, VPN, and more. You can also set up or manage
network connections, troubleshoot network problems, and configure proxy
settings.
4. Programs: In this part of the Control Panel, you can uninstall programs, manage
installed programs and features, change default programs for certain file types,
and enable or disable Windows features.
Windows – Recycle bin
Here's how to get the Recycle Bin on your desktop in Windows 10:
1.Select the Start button, then select Settings .
2.Select Personalization > Themes > Desktop icon settings.
3.Select the Recycle Bin check box > Apply.

By default, the Recycle Bin should be present in the upper-left corner of your
desktop in both Windows 10 and Windows 11. We find this the easiest way to
access the Recycle Bin. Find the icon on your desktop, then either select it and
press Enter on your keyboard, or double-click or double-tap on it to open the
folder. Alternatively, you can also right-click or press-and-hold on the icon to
open a contextual menu. Then, click or tap on Open.