What is System Software?

The operating system and utility programs are the two major categories of system software. Just as the processor is the nucleus of the computer system, the operating system is the nucleus of all software activity.

The operating system is the most important program that runs on a computer. Every general-purpose computer must have an operating system to run other programs. Operating systems perform basic tasks, such as

1. recognizing input from the keyboard
2. sending output to the display screen
3. keeping track of files and directories on the disk
4. controlling peripheral devices such as disk drives and printers.

It is the first program loaded into memory when the computer is turned on and, in a sense, brings life to the computer hardware. Without it, you cannot use your word processing software, spreadsheet software, or any other applications.

Without an operating system, you cannot communicate with your computer. When you give the computer a command, the operating system relays the instructions to the 'brain' of the computer, called the microprocessor or CPU. You cannot speak directly to the CPU because it only understands machine language. When you are working in an application software program, such as Microsoft Word, commands that you give the application are sent through the operating system to the CPU. Windows2000, Window95/98, Mac OS, Unix and DOS are all examples of operating systems.

What are Utility Programs?

Utility programs help manage, maintain and control computer resources. These programs are available to help you with the day-to-day chores associated with personal computing and to keep your system running at peak performance.
Some examples of utility programs include:

• Virus scanning software
• Backup software
• Scandisk
• Disk defragmenter
  

Virus Scanning Software are utility programs designed to protect your computer from computer viruses. Virus scanning software is critical to uses, due to the number of computer viruses (small computer programs created to disrupt and destroy computer files and/or operating system software).

Virus scanning software scans your disk each time you insert it into a computer at Alverno. If you receive a warning that there is a virus suspected on your disk - contact the lab assistant to help you eliminate the virus. If you own your own computer, you should have a good virus scanning software package installed. Remember - virus scanning software needs to be updated on a regular basis (usually monthly). Updates insure that your virus scanning software will protect you from the most recent viruses. Virus scanning packages come with directions on how to receive updates to your software!

Backup software is software that assists you in backing up your files and even the entire computer hard drive. It is important for you to back up your files regularly. If you own your own computer, you should think about how to backup your valuable data on your hard drive. At Alverno, the server that houses your Home Folder is backed up regularly!

Scandisk is a utility provided with Windows computers. Scandisk scans your disks to see if there are any potential problems on the disk, such as bad disk areas. Since disks are magnetic media, all disks, including your hard drive can be corrupted.

Disk Defragmenter software assists you in keep reorganizing your disk drives. After files are saved, deleted and resaved again, the disk can become fragmented --- available space is in small blocks located throughout the disk. Disk defragmenters gather those free spots and put them together to enable you to continue to save your data in the most efficient manner.

What is a User Interface?

The user interface is the junction between a user and a computer program. An interface is a set of commands or menus through which a user communicates with a program. It is how you interact with the computer.

There are two common user interfaces:

• A command-driven interface is one in which you type in commands to make the computer do something. You have to know the commands and what they do and they have to be typed correctly. DOS and Unix are examples of command-driven interfaces.

• A graphical user interface (GUI) is one in which you select command choices from various menus, buttons and icons using a mouse. It is a user-friendly interface. The Windows and Mac OS are both graphical user interfaces.

Do you think it is easier to click on menus and icons to make the computer do something or to memorize many commands that you have to type without error to make the computer do the same thing?

The graphical representation of commands is much easier for people to understand and use and therefore, is called user-friendly. In 1984, the Apple Company introduced the first GUI computer, the Macintosh. Windows 95/98, NT, ME, 2000 and XP are all GUI operating systems.