Computer Operating Systems-Understanding How They Work
The definition of an Operating
System is the software that controls the operation of a computer, directs the
input and output of data, keeps track of files, and controls the processing of
computer programs (Britannica, 2008).
Each new computer brought home from the store already has an operating
system installed and ready to use, but it wasn't always this way.
When Personal Home Computers
(PCs) were first introduced in the early 1980s, they didn't have an operating
system; most didn't even have a hard drive!
These early PCs needed a floppy disk with stored drivers n order to get
the operating system started. You then
had to remove the operating system driver and insert a new floppy that
contained the program you needed to work with.
This second floppy would not only contain the individual program (word
processor, spreadsheet, etc) but all the drivers needed to communicate with the
PC as well. This time consuming and
frustrating process of switching from floppy to floppy gave birth to the
integrated operating system.
An operating system performs
many functions; it keeps track of where things are stored on the hard drive,
manages each components activity, and allows users to interact with the system
by either typing commands on a keyboard or by using a Graphical User Interface
(GUI, commonly pronounced gooey).
The most important function of
an operating system, however, is translating the commands issued via keyboard
or mouse into binary code; the language of computers represented by zeros and
ones.
Because the operating system
is now integrated directly onto a computer's hard drive, the floppy disk has
gone the way of the horse whip and become obsolete. Programs, along with the drivers and other
necessary components, are stored directly onto the computer and available
whenever the program is accessed.
Although there are many
operating system's available today Windows Vista, Mac OS X, Zeta, IBM, Unix,
and Linux to name a few; Apple was one of the first to use an operating system
in their Macintosh computer. This
established a user-hardware relationship with a user-friendly interface and
helped pave the way for future operating systems.
Caution must be taken when
attempting to upgrade an existing operating system and a check for the
necessary hardware is advisable. For
example: if your computer had Windows 98
installed and you are attempting to upgrade to Windows XP, you would also need
to install extra hardware components that were unavailable when Windows 98 was
introduced. The new operating system
will search for hardware that is unavailable and fail, thus making it
impossible for your computer to function.
One other word of advice is to
be sure to install an operating system that is compatible with your current
system. For example: the hardware of a Macintosh is very different
from that of a Windows computer and it is impossible for a Windows operating
system to work on a Macintosh!
Operating systems have
advanced tremendously in the last 25 plus years and will continue to
improve. They have integrated themselves
into everything from game consoles to PDAs and not all the uses have been
discovered. It is very important to keep
in mind the exact type of hardware and system being used so upgrades will be
easier but the outdated use of floppys is (thank goodness) a thing of the past.
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About the Author Gregg Hall is an author living on the Emerald Coast of Florida. Now that you know a little more about computers and operating systems be sure that you get quality computer accessories by going to http://www.nsearch.com