4.2 Operating Systems and 4.3 System Software

Operating System

A computer program that makes it so people, hardware, and software can interface with each other in a meaningful way.

Windows Registry

A database that stores settings for the operating system and other programs. These settings are stored as keys and values.

File Explorer

File Explorer, formerly known as Windows Explorer, is a file management application that comes with Windows. File Explorer's main purpose is to let you view, open, copy, move, and otherwise manage your files and folders.

Firmware

Firmware is preinstalled, read-only software on a device that tells it how to work. In many ways, it's like a low-level operating system. Firmware can be found in televisions, remote controls, game consoles,printers, cameras, music players, and even automobiles. Sometimes, manufacturers release firmware updates that fix bugs and add new features.

Utility Software

Utility software analyzes, configures, and optimizes the computer. Unlike application software, which benefits the end user directly, utility software is used to support and maintain the computer system itself. Some common types of utility software include:

Device Drivers

A device driver is software that helps an operating system communicate with hardware devices, such as printers, video cards, and scanners. Let's use printers as an example. There are thousands of printer models available, and each one needs to get instructions from the computer in a slightly different way. It would be impossible and unnecessary for an operating system such as Windows to know how to communicate with every single kind of printer. Instead, users install the driver for their specific printer, which translates signals from the operating system into instructions the printer can understand.

Graphical User Interface

An operating system interface that allows a user to interact with the computer by displaying pictures, icons, and other images on a screen to represent files, folders, and system controls and by accepting input from a mouse or a touch screen.

Command Line Interface

An operating system interface that allows a user to interact with the computer by displaying text on a screen and accepting input from the keyboard. The input is entered as commands. The command line is used primarily by IT and other tech professionals.

Command Line Interface

Another way users interact with the operating system is using the command line interface. The command line is used primarily by IT and other tech professionals. Instead of using a mouse or touchscreen, the command line accepts input from the keyboard. The command line has a steeper learning curve, and it's possible to accidentally break the system if you don't know what you're doing.

Device Manager

Device Manager is a Windows utility that lets you view and control peripheral devices and other hardware components. You can use Device Manager to troubleshoot hardware issues, update drivers, and view the technical properties of hardware devices. Device Manager allows you to manually update a new driver that is on a USB flash drive.

Windows Settings App

In Windows 10, an application that organizes the settings and customizes how the computer looks and functions.

Graphical User Interfaces

One of the main functions of an operating system is to provide an interface between the computer and the user. Most modern operating systems use a graphical user interface (GUI), where pictures, icons, and other images are used to represent files, folders, and system controls, which make it easy for humans to understand and use.

Task Manager

Task Manager is a system administration utility that comes with Microsoft Windows. It lets users perform tasks such as shutting down applications that are not responding.

Windows Settings

The Windows Settings App customizes how the computer looks and functions.