SYSTEM SOFTWARE AND

COMPUTER MANAGEMENT
MODULE 1.5

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SYSTEM SOFTWARE AND
COMPUTER MANAGEMENT
MODULE 1.5

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CONTENT

Operating systems
Operating system utilities
Security tools
Factors influencing performance
Troubleshooting using utility softwar
e
Test and improve 3
OPERATING SYSTEMS

SYSTEM SOFTWARE THAT CONTROLS ALL

ACTIVITIES THAT TAKE PLACE IN A COMPUTER 4
WHAT HAPPENS WHEN A COMPUTER IS
SWITCHED ON

Computer looks for instructions to follow (on ROM)

Instructions perform some basic hardware tests

Try and find and load the operating system

Load operating system into memory - control of the

computer handed over to operating system

Process of loading the operating system is called booting the5

computer
THE ROLE OF THE OPERATING SYSTEM
Providing Providing
the user Managing Managing basic
interface programs hardware security
To allow us Manage Disk User and
to interact which manageme access
with the programs nt control
computer and tasks Memory Basic
via a GUI can use the manageme protection
CPU and for nt against
how long threats
Input/
Output
manageme
nt
Multitasking: ability of the
operating system to load and
process multiple tasks at the same 6

time
THE TASK MANAGER

 Right-click on taskbar /
Ctrl+Alt+Del
 Provides some information
about the computer’s
performance and the
applications and processes
running.
 Most often used to terminate
a process or program that is
not responding.
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SINGLE‑USER VERSUS MULTI‑USER
OPERATING SYSTEMS

 Single‑user operating system

 Can only be used by a single user at a time
 Multi‑user operating systems
 Allows multiple users to access a computer system at the
same time 8
OPERATING
SYSTEM UTILITIES

PROGRAMS THAT PERFORM SYSTEM

MAINTENANCE AND ADMINISTRATIVE TASKS 9
FILE MANAGEMENT
 Naming files

File names
• File name & full stop & file extension (3–5 letters)

File extensions and file types

• Identifies the file type or format and is automatically added
when you save the file
• Also determines which program will open the type of file by
default
Path
• ‘Succession’ of folders that leads to the location of a
specific file 10
FILE MANAGEMENT
 Information about files

File property
• Basic information about files, name, size and date modified

File attribute
• Property of file that can be set
• Read-only: read-only file cannot be modified or saved under
same name in same folder
• Hidden indicates if a file is visible or not, some system files
are hidden
Metadata
• Additional data stored about a file: describes contents such
as author and title of the file 11
FILE MANAGEMENT
 File manager functions

Searching
• File Explorer allows you to search for a file based on certain
criteria: file size, type of file, partial file name, date
accessed and even text in file
Compressing
• Process of reducing the size of a file
• Also referred to as ‘zipping’

Decompressing
• Refers to the process of converting (extracting) a
compressed file back to the original size 12
FILE MANAGEMENT
 Converting files from one format to another

Exporting

• Saving data om a format that can be read by different

version of same application or new application. Menu option
‘Export’ or ‘Save As’.

Importing
• Opening or ‘reading’ data created in different version of the
same application or new application.

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SCHEDULING
• Program that is used to run certain programs at
specific times
• Automatically checks for updates
• Automatically perform certain routine
housekeeping tasks
• Schedulers can be set to run in off-peak times
Save time and internet cap
When you need to update several
computers (network)

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PRINTER MANAGEMENT
Print job send
Print file to disk: Printer queue
spooling

View information about the

documents waiting to print and
manage by:
deleting pausing restarting tasks 15

tasks tasks
BACKUP

 files can be accidentally overwritten or deleted

 hardware failures – disk drive crashes

 devices can be stolen (with data and files stored on them)

 disasters – fires, earthquakes and floods can destroy

hardware
 files can be corrupted by power fluctuations

 files can be deleted, encrypted or corrupted by viruses,

etc.
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BACKUP

Backup software
 Most operating systems provide backup utilities.
 Third‑party vendors have specialised backup programs
 scheduling when to back up the files
 choosing to do a full backup of all the files or just
those that have been changed since the last backup
 encrypt backups to prevent unauthorised access
 compress the files to save space on the backup
media, etc.
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BACKUP

Backup tips
 Use software that automatically manages your backup
process.
 Only back up your data not programs.
 Back up your files onto external portable media.
 Keep the backups off‑site.
 Consider option of using a cloud backup service.
 Perform ‘housekeeping’.
 Consider archiving large files.
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 Check that the backups are actually working.
SECURITY TOOLS

SECURITY MEASURES AND FACILITIES TO HELP

CONTROL AND PREVENT THE SPREAD OF 19

MALWARE.
ACCESS CONTROL

 Access control means that the operating system specifically

asks your permission before any software can be installed.
 The purpose of access control is to try to make it
impossible for malware to be secretly installed on your
computer without your knowledge.
 Reason why your day-to-day account is not administrator
level account.

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FIREWALL

 A firewall acts as a barrier between your

computer and the internet. Checks which
programs are trying to access your computer via
the internet, or internet via your computer.
 Built into most operating systems, can be
included in anti-virus software.
 Hardware firewalls can be stand-alone hardware
devices, usually used in a network.

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 SECURITY
 Update & Security is section under Windows
Settings where you can check, find
recommendations for actions you need to take
in response to warning messages
 firewall
 Windows automatic
updates
 anti-malware
(virus and spyware)
settings.
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FACTORS INFLUENCING
PERFORMANCE

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MEMORY (RAM)
 Programs and data need to be loaded from disk
into RAM (memory).
 If memory is full, parts of the data/programs
that the computer is not currently busy with are
stored on an area on the hard disk.
 These have to be loaded back into memory
again when needed – slows down the computer
as accessing disk is slow compared to accessing
memory.
The more memory you have available, the 25

better.
MEMORY (RAM)

 Caching
 Cache memory is built into various components on a
computer, including the processor.
 It stores frequently or recently accessed data, based
on the assumption that it will probably be accessed
again soon.
 This memory is more expensive, because it is faster
than normal memory (RAM) but it can increase the
overall performance of a computer quite dramatically.

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CPU

The number of
The speed
cores, e.g.
(measured in Cache size
dual-core or
GHz)
quad core
• In general, the • Number of • A special high-
higher the physical speed memory
speed of the processors used to store
CPU, the faster included in a recently or
it will perform. single ‘chip’. frequently
• Each core is a accessed data.
complete • The larger the
processor - cache memory
works on the CPU,
independently the faster it is
of any other likely to 27

core on the perform.

CPU chip.
 HARD DRIVE / SSD
 Data and programs need to be loaded from disk into memory.
 Changes to files need to be written back to disk.
 A ‘faster’ hard drive can improve the overall performance of a
computer system.
 Electronic storage (SSDs) – no moving parts, much faster than
magnetic hard drives. More expensive.
 New laptops only have SSDs, many computers have both types of
storage.
 Small SSD for operating system and apps, larger HDD for data.
 Remember also:
When a hard drive is fragmented,
the files will take longer to retrieve.
 Fragmentation has no affect on speed of SSDs. 28
 INFLUENCE OF MALWARE
 Malware can slow your computer down by using up
resources such as free memory and hard drive
space.
 Spyware can slow your Internet connection down if
it frequently connects to the internet.
 Your computer can become part of a botnet, without
your knowledge and slow your computer down.

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TROUBLESHOOTING USING
UTILITY SOFTWARE

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DISK SCANNING
 Generally, it is not recommended that you repair a hard
drive that you suspect is faulty unless you are sure you
know how to do it.
 Problems on flash drives can be fixed quite easily by running
a disk scanner.
 Checks a drive for errors and ‘bad sectors’ and tries to fix
them.

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DISK DEFRAGMENTATION

 A disk defragmenter is a tool that reorganises the

parts of files and speeds your computer up.
 Defragmentation does not free up disk space.
 Possible to schedule the running of a defrag
operation.

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DISK FILLING UP

 Windows - Disk Cleanup Wizard:

 Removes temporary files downloaded from the
internet or temporary files created by
Windows.
 Removes installed programs that you no
longer or seldom use.

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TEST AND IMPROVE

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