Chapter 1

Chapter 1

Computer History, Fundamentals, and

Operating Systems

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ObjectivesObjectives

• Understand Computers: Yesterday, Today, and Tomorrow

• Identify Computer Fundamentals

• Recognize Operating Systems and Their Functions

• Utilize Standalone Operating Systems

• Use System Utilities

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Understand Computers: Yesterday, Today, and TomorrowUnderstand Computers: Yesterday, Today, and Tomorrow

• Word processor: An application used to create documents and automatically check spelling and grammar in a document

• Internet: A connected system of computers used to search for information

• Online banking: An Internet application provided by a bank to conduct banking operations via the Internet

• Online classes: Instruction offered over the Internet, using learning management software

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Understand Computers: Yesterday, Today, and TomorrowUnderstand Computers: Yesterday, Today, and Tomorrow

• GPS systems: Computing devices that provide driving directions from a current location to a destination entered

• ATM: Automatic teller machine enabling financial transactions in public places

• Mobile telephone: Telecommunication device with features such as Internet connectivity

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Identify Computer FundamentalsIdentify Computer Fundamentals

• A computer is a electronic device that performs the four basic operations that comprise the information processing cycle (IPOS): Input, Processing, Output, and Storage

• Input: The action of entering data

• Processing: The manipulation of the input data

• Output: The display of the information

• Storage: The action of saving information for later use

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Identify Computer FundamentalsIdentify Computer Fundamentals

• Computer system: Collection of related components (hardware and software) that work together to accomplish a task

• Hardware: Physical components of the computer and its related devices

• Software: Programs that enable the computer’s hardware to run the application software

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Identify Computer FundamentalsIdentify Computer Fundamentals

• System unit: The base unit of the computer

• Motherboard: A circuit board connecting the central processing unit (CPU) with other system components

• CPU: Acts as the brain of the computer

• Peripheral devices: Components outside the system unit that are connected physically or wirelessly to the system (examples: keyboard, mice, monitors)

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Identify Computer FundamentalsIdentify Computer Fundamentals

• Application software: Programs that direct the computer to carry out a task (examples: document processing or playing a game)

• System software: Programs that enable the computer’s hardware to work with and run the application software

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Identify Computer FundamentalsIdentify Computer Fundamentals

• Information: Data organized in a useful manner

• Algorithm: Series of steps a computer program uses to perform a task

• Memory: A device where information can be stored and retrieved

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Identify Computer FundamentalsIdentify Computer Fundamentals

• Memory chip: Integrated circuit devoted to memory storage

• Random Access Memory (RAM): Temporarily stores the programs and data with which the CPU is interacting

• Storage device: Hardware that retains data even when machine is turned off• Secondary storage (Examples: Universal Serial Bus

[USB] flash drive or CD)

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Identify Computer FundamentalsIdentify Computer Fundamentals

• Communications: High-speed exchange of information within and between computers or other communications devices

• Communications device: Connects computer to a network, allowing communication• Examples:

- Modem- Network interface card (NIC)

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Recognize Operating Systems and Their FunctionsRecognize Operating Systems and Their Functions

Booting: The process of loading the operating system into memory• Cold boot: Starting a computer that has

not yet been turned on• Warm boot: Restarting a computer that is

already on

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Recognize Operating Systems and Their FunctionsRecognize Operating Systems and Their Functions

Restarting a computer

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Recognize Operating Systems and Their FunctionsRecognize Operating Systems and Their Functions

Six steps to starting a computer:

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Recognize Operating Systems and Their FunctionsRecognize Operating Systems and Their Functions

• Kernel: The central part of the operating system that manages memory, files, and devices; launches applications; and allocates system resources from hard disk to RAM memory

• Memory resident and remains in RAM

• Nonresident: Less frequently used portions of the operating system stored on the hard disk

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Recognize Operating Systems and Their FunctionsRecognize Operating Systems and Their Functions

Sleep state: Transfers the current state of computer to RAM

Hibernate state: Saves battery power

Hybrid sleep state:

Combines sleep

and hibernate

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Recognize Operating Systems and Their FunctionsRecognize Operating Systems and Their Functions

• Activate BIOS and Setup Program• BIOS: Basic input/output system• POST: Power on self-test

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Recognize Operating Systems and Their FunctionsRecognize Operating Systems and Their Functions

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Recognize Operating Systems and Their FunctionsRecognize Operating Systems and Their Functions

• Account: User name, password, and allotted storage space

• Multitasking operating systems: Permit more than one application to run at the same time and can manage multiple applications running simultaneously

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Recognize Operating Systems and Their FunctionsRecognize Operating Systems and Their Functions

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Recognize Operating Systems and Their FunctionsRecognize Operating Systems and Their Functions

• Access Windows Task Manager by pressing Ctrl + Alt + Del, select the Start Task Manager option, and then click the Processes tab

• Paging: The process of transferring files from the hard disk to RAM and back

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Recognize Operating Systems and Their FunctionsRecognize Operating Systems and Their Functions

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Recognize Operating Systems and Their FunctionsRecognize Operating Systems and Their Functions

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Recognize Operating Systems and Their FunctionsRecognize Operating Systems and Their Functions

Syntax: Set of rules for entering commands

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Recognize Operating Systems and Their FunctionsRecognize Operating Systems and Their Functions

Windows Operating Systems Timeline

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Recognize Operating Systems and Their FunctionsRecognize Operating Systems and Their Functions

• Microsoft Windows 7: Was released in late 2009 and is available in six different versions: Starter, Home Basic, Home Premium, Professional, Enterprise, and Ultimate• Includes features to make your system and its

components simpler

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Recognize Operating Systems and Their FunctionsRecognize Operating Systems and Their Functions

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Recognize Operating Systems and Their FunctionsRecognize Operating Systems and Their Functions

• MAC OS: Original Macintosh operating system

• MAC OS X Snow Leopard: Released in 2009, occupies up to 50 percent less RAM than the previous version

• Linux: Freeware operating system for personal computers

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Use System UtilitiesUse System Utilities

• System utilities: Programs that work in tandem with the operating system and perform services that keep the computer system running smoothly

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Use System UtilitiesUse System Utilities

• Antivirus software: Protects a computer from computer viruses

• File manager: Helps organize and manage the data stored on disk

• Disk scanning program: Detects and resolves physical and logical problems that can occur when your computer stores files on a disk

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Use System UtilitiesUse System Utilities

• Bad sector: Portion of the disk that is unable to store data reliably

• Disk cleanup utility: Improves system performance and increases storage by removing files, but does not correct any problems

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Use System UtilitiesUse System Utilities

• Disk defragmentation program: Program that reorganizes data on the disk so that file pieces are reassembled as one chunk of disk space, which decreases search time

• File compression utility: Enables the exchange of programs and data efficiently by reducing the size of a file

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Use System UtilitiesUse System Utilities

• Archive: Single file that contains two or more files stored in a compressed format along with additional information

• Windows Update: Keeps the operating system up to date with fixes; also called service packs

• Boot disk: A storage device

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Use System UtilitiesUse System Utilities

Safe mode: Operating mode in which Windows loads a minimal set of drivers known to function correctly

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Covered ObjectivesCovered Objectives

• Understand Computers: Yesterday, Today, and Tomorrow

• Identify Computer Fundamentals

• Recognize Operating Systems and Their Functions

• Utilize Standalone Operating Systems

• Use System Utilities

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Next lectureNext lecture

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Next LectureNext Lecture

System Components, Input /Output Devices, and Storage

Devices

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Thank youThank you