4/30/2025
The Institute of Finance
Management
Faculty of Computing and
Mathematics
PROGRAMMS
BBF BAC BSP BAS BTX BIRM BEF
Module Name:
Business Computer Applications
1
COMPUTER SYSTEM
SOFTWARE
Lecture 4
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Today’s Topics
Lecture Objectives
Types of Software
List the two major components of system software.
Explain why a computer needs an operating system.
List the five basic functions of an operating system.
Explain what happens when you turn on a computer.
List the three major types of user interfaces.
Explain the strengths and weaknesses of the most
popular operating systems.
List system utilities that are considered to be essential.
Explain data backup procedures.
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Software
Computer software, or just software, is a
collection of computer programs and
related data that provides the instructions
for telling a computer what to do and how
to do it.
Software are programs, with instructions
which guide the computer to performing
tasks that are associated with using and
controlling hardware.
Generally, software exists on storage
media.
Software
Any set of instructions that guides the
hardware and tells it how to accomplish each
task.
Overall, a software is one of the major
intangible components of any information
technology systems;
they are so created to aid us in performing
tasks using the computer as well as using
hardware features and functions to assist us.
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Software
Based on our needs, software is categorized as
follows;
System software
Interfaces (acts as a means of
communication) between the user, the
applications, and the hardware of a computer
system
• Application software
• consist of functions that
perform specific or
human related tasks for us users
Software
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System Software
System software consists of all the
programs that enable the computer and
its peripheral devices to function
smoothly.
Enables application software to interact
with the computer
Helps the computer to manage its own
internal and external resources
System software
System software is divided into two
main categories:
–The Operating System (OS)
–System Utility Programs
Operating Utility
systems Programs
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System software
Operating System (OS)
The principal component of system software
Must be installed before application
software
Some hardware requires specific OS
Macintosh computers run Macintosh OS
PCs run Microsoft Windows, Linux and
Unix
Utility Programs
Used to support, enhance, or expand
existing programs in the computer
Operating System Primary Functions
Management of the resources of a computer
are performed by the computer’s operating
system (OS).
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Operating System Primary Functions
cont….
The coordination of the functions of a
computer’s hardware is the prime
responsibility of the operating system.
Operating System Primary
Functions Cont.….
OS Function –Manages applications.
•Single-task operating systems from the past
were only able to run one application at a
time.
•Multitasking operating systems permit more
than one application to be used at a time.
• The foreground application is the active one.
• Background applications appear inactive.
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Operating System Primary Functions
Cont….
OS Function –Manages memory.
The operating system attempts to
allocate memory, RAM, to each
program being run without
interference.
Through the use of virtual memory,
where a portion of the hard disk is used
as an extension of RAM, additional
memory is available.
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Operating System Primary Functions
Cont….
OS Function –Manages input and output.
The operating system uses drivers,
programs containing information
regarding specific computer input and
output devices, to communicate with
those devices.
Interrupts, signals created by input and
output devices, notify the operating
system when an action has been taken.
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Operating System Primary Functions
Cont….
OS Function –Provides a user interface.
The user interface allows the user to:
◦ Start application programs
◦ Manage storage devices
◦ Safely shut down the computer properly
• There are three types
of user interfaces:
– Graphical user
interface (GUI)
– Menu-driven user
interface
– Command-line user
interface 17
The OS
User Interface ..
The graphical user interface (GUI) uses
graphics called icons, small images that
represent various computer resources, to
initiate actions.
These icons appear on the desktop, the
work area that is created once the
operating system has been loaded into
memory.
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The OS
User Interface ..
The menu-driven user interface provides
text-based menus, which display
appropriate user options that are
available.
The command-line user interface forces
the user to type commands line by line to
instruct the operating system about the
desired action(s) to be taken.
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Operating System Primary Functions
in Summary
Five Primary functions of OS
1. Starts the computer
2. Manages applications
3. Manages memory
4. Handles input and output device messages
5. Provides a user interface for
communication
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The Operating System
OS Function –Starts the computer -Involves
six steps.
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The Operating System
Starting the computer …
◦ Booting—loading the OS into RAM
Cold boot: Starting computer when it has
not yet been turned on
Warm boot: Restarting a computer that
is already on
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The Operating System
Step 1: Activate the BIOS and Setup Program
• BIOS (Basic Input/output System)
• Bios is encoded on ROM (read-only memory)
• Does not control external devices
• The BIOS‘s function is to handle the system setup
process including driver loading and operating
system booting
• It manages data flow between the computer's
operating system and attached devices such as the
hard disk, video adapter, keyboard, mouse and
printer.
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The Operating System
Step 2: Initiate the Power-On Self-Test
Power-on self-test (POST)—to confirm that
both the computer and its peripheral devices
are working properly
If the POST fails:
A beep will sound.
An error message will appear on the
monitor.
The computer will stop.
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The Operating System
Step 3: Load the Operating System
BIOS
•Looks for the operating system
•Loads the kernel into memory—the
central part of the operating system
•The operating system loads the system
configuration information.
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The Operating System
Step 4: Configure the System
•Operating system
• Checks the registry that checks the Database
that stores information about software and
peripherals devices, for configuration
information.
• Checks the configuration for drivers
• Utility programs containing instructions for the
proper functioning of peripheral devices.
• Automatically detects plug-and-play (PnP)
devices
• Checks for conflicts between devices
• Installs and loads needed drivers 26
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The Operating System
Step 5: Load System Utilities Examples
Antivirus software,
Backup software,
Disk Cleanup,
File Compression
Disk Space analyzer,
Disk defragmenters
File manager,
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The Operating System
Step 6: Authenticate a User
• Verifies authorized users
•Enter an authentication/login user name
and password
• Profile—a record of a specific user’s preferences
for the desktop theme, icons, and menu styles
• Account—for multiuser computer systems each
user has an account
•Consists of user name, password, and
storage space
•Created by server/computer
administrator
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Types of Operating Systems
Classification according to type of computers
and applications they support
i. Real-Time Operating System (RTOS)
ii. Single-User, Single Task
iii. Single-User, Multi-Tasking
iv. Multi-User
RTOS
Used to run computers embedded in
machinery, robots, scientific instruments and
industrial systems
An important part of an RTOS is managing
the resources of the computer so that a
particular operation executes in precisely the
same amount of time every time it occurs
Examples: QNX, Real-time Linux
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Single-User, Single Task
OS designed to manage the computer so that
one user can effectively do one thing at a time
Example: MS-DOS is an example single-tasking
single-user OS with a command line interface.
Single-User, Multi-Tasking
Most Modern (Popular) Operating Systems.
Used by most of PCs and Laptops
Lets a single user interact with several
programs, simultaneously
Example: Windows, Mac OS, Linux
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Multi-User, Multi-Tasking
A multi-user OS allows many users to take
advantage of the computer's resources,
simultaneously
Example: MVS, OPENVMS, UNIX
Personal Computer (PC)
Operating Systems
Window OS
Linux/Unix OS
Mac OS
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Exploring Popular OS
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Popular Operating Systems
Windows Operating Systems
Windows is an operating
system designed by Microsoft Inc.
intl.
Provides benefits in the areas of
security, enhanced Web server
capabilities, administration, and
virtualization
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Popular Operating Systems
The Mac OS used on Macintosh personal
computers is favored by its users for the
operating system’s security, stability, and
simplicity.
UNIX was developed to work in a secure
computer network, but unfortunately, its
many versions are not compatible and can
be hard to use.
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Exploring Popular Operating Systems
Linux is a powerful open source
operating system that is freely available
to any user.
MS-DOS (DOS), a disk operating system,
is a command-line user interface
operating system that is not user friendly.
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Mobile Operating Systems
System Utilities:
System utilities (utility programs) are system
software programs that are essential to
effective management of the computer system.
Service programs that perform tasks related to
the control and allocation of computer
resources
Practical Utility programs perform the following
tasks
Virus protection
Data compression
Disk scanner & disk cleanup
Backup
Data recovery
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System Utilities:
•Backup software duplicates data found on
the hard disk to a backup device.
•Full backups include all files and data.
•Incremental backups include only those
files changed or added since the previous
backup.
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System Utilities:
Antivirus software provides protection from
computer viruses. Examples;
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System Utilities:
•File manager –The
utility software used to
organize and manage
data on your disk.
•The file manager
enables you to:
•Copy files
•Determine how and
where files are stored
•Delete files
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System Utilities:
Disk scanning programs find and resolve
problems that result from disk file
storage.
Disk cleanup utilities remove
unnecessary files, which results in saving
space.
Disk defragmentation programs
reorganize stored data in a more
efficient manner.
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System Utilities:
File compression utilities:
Decrease the size of files, resulting in faster
downloads.
Create archives by storing files in a special
format.
Windows Update, an operating system
update service provided by Microsoft,
enables users to keep their operating
system current with external modifications.
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Lecture Summary
System software is made up of two main parts: the
operating system and system utilities.
Computers need software to work. The operating
system coordinates the functions of hardware and
supports the application software.
The operating system has five functions: starting
the computer, managing applications, managing
memory, handling messages from input and output
devices, and providing an interface for
communication.
A six-step process occurs each time you start or
restart a computer.
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Lecture Summary cont’d
There are three types of user interfaces:
graphical user interfaces (GUIs), menu-driven
user interfaces, and command-line user
interfaces
For personal computers, Microsoft Windows and
Mac OS X are the two major operating systems.
System utilities include such programs as backup
software, file managers, and file compression
utilities.
Backup procedures should include a full backup,
followed by periodic incremental backups.
Troubleshooting skills are required when you use
a computer.
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Any Question
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