5 -14 Beyond Level E - Computer Systems

In this section, we will look at some of the important programs that must always be present when the computer is switched on.
This section will be concerned with:

The Operating System

and

The Filing System

Introduction

In order to work, a computer system needs some software or programs to be constantly running. These programs are absolutely essential to the correct running of a computer system. Because they are concerned with the running of the computer system, the essential programs are called systems software.

The OPERATING SYSTEM is a piece of systems software which must always be running on computer systems.

The Operating System

The operating system is a piece of software which must be running all the time in a computer system. It is responsible for controlling all the main functions of a computer system.

Here are some of the things that an operating system does:-

 

Controlling Input

without the operating system, we would not be able to communicate with computer systems

from the keyboard

from the mouse


Controlling Backing Storage

by allowing us to load software, programs and data from floppy disk, hard disk and CD-ROM

and

by allowing us to save programs and data to floppy disk or hard disk

This is a special part of the operating system called the filing system.

 

 

Controlling Output

by allowing us get printed output on a printer

and

letting us see what we have typed on the monitor or VDU

The Filing System

This is a special part of the operating system which looks backing storage by controlling the loading and storing of data.

Data can be loaded by the filing system from floppy disk, hard disk, CD-ROM or CD-I. Data can be stored by the filing system on floppy disk and hard disk.

 

When we organise our files on floppy disk or hard disk, we would use a hierarchical system of filing, with out programs and data organised in folders and sub-folders. Here is an example:-

 

 

Top Level Folder

Word Processing Files

Graphics Files

Animations

School

Personal
File A File B File C

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