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Computer System
MODULE 2
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ICTL for Secondary School - Computer Software Module
4. Module Summary
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ICTL for Secondary School - Computer Software Module
System software consists of programmes that control the operations of the computer and its
devices. System software serves as the interface between the user, the application software
and the computer hardware.
a. Operating System
b. Utility Programmes
a. Operating System
• An operating system is the program that is loaded into the computer and
coordinates all the activities among computer hardware devices.
• It controls the hardware in the computer , peripherals, manages memory and
files.
• It enables the user to communicate with the computer and other software
• Some examples of operating system are Microsoft Windows, Macintosh OS X,
Linux , Unix and also DOS
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ICTL for Secondary School - Computer Software Module
b. Utility Programmes
• Utility programme allows user to perform maintenance-type tasks.
• It has been integrated into most major operating systems such as format,
check and defragment disks
• Other examples of utility programmes are antivirus and file compression
programmes
1. Starting a computer
The first function of an operating system is to start
the computer. When we start a computer, it loads the
operating system into the computer's memory. This
process is called booting. Booting means to load and
initialize the operating system on a computer
machine. It can happen in two ways: warm boot or
cold boot.
• WARM BOOT
A warm boot means restarting a computer that is already on.It normally
happens after installing a new software or hardware or after an
application crashes or stops working.
• COLD BOOT
A cold boot means starting a computer that is already off. It happens
when we turn on a computer that has been completely powered off.
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ICTL for Secondary School - Computer Software Module
The three types of user interface are Command-Line, Menu-Driven and Graphical
User Interface (GUI).
Command-Line Menu-Driven
GUI
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ICTL for Secondary School - Computer Software Module
4. Managing memory
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ICTL for Secondary School - Computer Software Module
5. Configuring Devices
DOS
Windows
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ICTL for Secondary School - Computer Software Module
• Graphical User Interface is an interface that combines text, graphic and icons to
make software easier to be used. It I s also called ‘user-friendly’.
• It allows you to interact with the software using menus and visual images such as
buttons, icons and other graphical objects to issue commands
• It controls how you enter data and how the screen displays information
• The icons that are used represent computer resources such as files, programs
and network communication