What is an Operating System?
State three categories Operating Systems grouped according to user interface
Identify and describe four roles of the operating system when managing the resources of a personal computer.
Manages memory (RAM)
Ensures programs/data do not corrupt each other: Ensures all programs and data including itself is stored in correct memory locations
Manages processes: Ensures different processes can utilise the CPU and do not interfere with each other or crash •
Allows a user to run programs : On a multi-tasking O/S ensure that all tasks appear to run simultaneously
(b) The computer needs an operating system and utility software.
(i) The operating system controls the scheduling of processes.
Describe how the operating system uses scheduling to allocate processor time.
Describe four features of the operating system when providing a graphical user interface on a personal computer. Give a suitable example of each feature.
Windows for example a word processing application and a spreadsheet
Menus, for example, allow the user to perform operations or run applications such as right-click to create a new folder
Icons for example a picture of linked computers for networking
Pointers(mouse or touchscreen) for example to select items/trigger events
Shortcuts for example to frequently used applications for example having a shortcut to your mail client on your desktop
File navigation for example when searching the hard disc for a file/folder using a browser
copying / deleting / moving/sorting/naming/searching of files or folders for example copying of a file from the hard drive to a USB pen drive (File handling)
Desktop customisation for example changing the colours and background image
Copy and paste for example between applications e.g. copying a graph from a spreadsheet to a word processor
Error messages for example provide users with error/warning/help messages for example ‘printer out of paper’
Identify and describe four roles of the operating system when managing the resources of a personal computer.
Manages memory (RAM)
Ensures programs/data do not corrupt each other
Manages processes
Allows the user to run programs
Other roles
Describe four features of the operating system when providing a graphical user interface on a personal computer. Give a suitable example of each feature.
Interfaces enable computer users to interact with the operating system.
(a) State four advantages for using a graphical user interface in loading programs and files
(b) A vehicle assembly company has introduced robots to replace the human workforce. State two effects this would have on the workforce
State four advantages for using a graphical user interface in loading programs and files
Or any other correct response
Advantage @ 1 Mark
Total = 4 X 1 Mark
= 4 Marks
A vehicle assembly company has introduced robots to replace the human workforce. State two effects this would have on the workforce
Or any other correct response
Effect @ 1 Mark
Total = 2 X 1 Mark
= 2 Marks
Distinguish between a file and a folder
A file is a collection of related data given a unique name while a folder is named storage location on a storage media that contains related files
Define disk formatting and state three reasons for formatting a disk
Definition
Reasons:
State ways in which an OS secures a computer system
Describe two different functions performed by an operating system
Memory management
Processor management
Input/output management
Managing storage
Managing security
Managing applications
Give two reasons why some microprocessor controlled devices do not require an operating system
Shaneela is designing and coding a website. The files she creates will be stored on
a computer.
(a) File management is a function that an operating system performs.
Describe how an operating system organises files
The organisation of files is in a hierarchy/tree structure
A node is either a folder/directory/sub-folder/sub-directory or the file itself
The top node/folder/directory/drive is the root
Describe the following features of a graphical user interface:
(a) Pointer
(b) Desktop
(a) Pointer
(b) Desktop
Compare and contrast CLI and GUI
CLI
GUI
Comparison
What is a defragmentation software
Distinguish between application and system software
Explain how the operating system performs job/process scheduling/management
What is utility software?
Which files are backed up in an incremental backup scheme?
State Examples of utility programs
Encryption software
Defragmentation s/w
(Data) compression s/w
Anti-virus / anti-malware s/w
Disk analysis and repair s/w
Auto-update
Firewall
...over a network/external source
State ways of identifying illegal copies of an operating system
State three features of a typical operating system
- (provides) user interface
– input/output control
– security
– handling interrupts
– spooling
– memory management
– processor management
– utilities (e.g. copy, save, delete, re-name, etc.)
– maintain user accounts
– load/run software
– error reporting/handling
– multiprogramming
– batch processing (JCL)/real time processing
– multitasking/multiuser/multi-access
– file management
Define patch as used in the operating system
Refers to a small piece of software designed to update, fix, or improve a specific part of the operating system or an application.
NB: Patches are typically released by the software's developer or the operating system vendor to address security vulnerabilities, software bugs, or to add new features or enhancements
a) What is an operating system? (1 mark)
b) Briefly explain any four functions of an operating system. (8 marks)
c) Describe each of the following data processing methods: [6 marks]
a) What is an operating system? (1 mark)
b) Briefly explain any four functions of an operating system. (8 marks)
Interrupt handling - When an interrupt occurs, the current state of the CPU is saved & the OS handles the request, after which the OS restores the previous state of the CPU & resumes the interrupted process.
Process scheduling - OS decides which process runs next & for how long.
Memory management - Ensures that each process has enough memory allocated to execute without interfering with other processes.
Error handling - OS provides a mechanism to detect & respond to errors such as segmentation faults, hardware failures, or invalid instructions.
Briefly describe the following
Multitasking - the capability of an operating system to enable users to run two or more programs at once on a single computer
Real time processing - data processing system in which the time interval required to process and respond to inputs is so small that the response itself is useful for controlling the physical activity of a process
Time-sharing processing - a processing mode in which the central processor serves two or more users with different processing requirements (tasks)
On-line processing - is that type of processing where the result of data processing transaction is available immediately