introducing and comparing operating systems

A+ Guide to SoftwareManaging, Maintaining and Troubleshooting

THIRD EDITION

Introducing and Comparing

Operating Systems

Chapter 1

2A+ Guide to Software: Managing, Maintaining and Troubleshooting, Third Edition

You Will Learn… What an operating system does How DOS began and how it is used today About the various Windows operating

systems and the differences between them

Advantages and disadvantages of common non-Windows operating systems


What an Operating System Does

Controls hardware components that make up a computer

Acts as a middleman between applications and hardware

Provides an interface that a user or application can use


How an OS Relates to Users, Applications, and Hardware


Common Operating Systems

DOS Windows 9x Windows NT, Windows 2000, and

Windows XP UNIX Linux OS/2 Mac OS


Four Main Functions of an Operating System

Managing hardware

Managing files

Providing a user interface

Managing applications


Operating System Functions

Managing hardware Managing the BIOS Managing memory Diagnosing problems with software and

hardware Interfacing between hardware and software

Managing files On hard, floppy, CD-ROM, and other drives Creating, storing, retrieving, deleting, and

moving files


Providing a user interface Performing housekeeping procedures

requested by users Providing a way for a user to manage the

desktop, hardware, applications, and data Managing applications

Installing and uninstalling applications Running applications and managing the

interface to hardware on behalf of an application

Operating System Functions (continued)


Operating System Components Two main components

Shell

• Relates to user and applications

• Provides command, menu, or icon interface to user using various interface tools (e.g., Windows Explorer, Control Panel, or My Computer)

Kernel

• Interacts with hardware


Operating System Components (continued)


How an OS Relates to Users

Command-driven interfaces User types commands

Menu-driven interfaces User chooses from list of options

Icon-driven interfaces (GUI or graphical user interface) User selects icon (picture) on the screen


A Command-Driven Interface


A Menu-Driven Interface


An Icon-Driven Interface


Terminology for Comparing OSs Thread

Process that a CPU is aware of 16-bit (real) mode 32-bit (protected) mode FAT (file allocation table) and FAT32

Tracks Sectors Clusters


Tracks, Sectors, and Clusters


Terminology for Comparing OSs (continued)

Random access memory (RAM) Temporary memory stored on chips inside

computer

Place to store programs and data

Contents disappear when computer is off

Several ports to connect different devices (e.g., keyboard, mouse, printer)


Types of RAM Modules


Comparing Operating Systems

What kind of user interface does it provide?

How many and what kinds of applications are written to work with it?

What are hardware requirements for efficient use?

What computer ports and other hardware devices and features does it support?

How does the OS perform in a network?


DOS (Disk Operating System)

First OS used by IBM microcomputers

Simple and reliable

Primary use today is as troubleshooting tool

Used in some proprietary systems where older hardware and software are still doing the job

Provides underlying OS for Windows 9x


DOS (Disk Operating System) (continued)


Windows Operating Systems

Windows 9x

Windows NT

Windows 2000

Windows XP


Windows 9x

Collective term for Windows 95, Windows 98, and Windows Me

Retains fundamental DOS core

Plug and Play (PnP)

Introduced 32-bit programming

Backward-compatible with older software and hardware while taking advantage of new technology


How Windows 9x Differs from Windows 3.x and DOS


A Windows 9x Interface


Windows 9x Hardware Requirements


Advantages and Disadvantages of Windows 9x


Windows 98 Upgrades

Windows 98 Second Edition(Windows 98 SE)

Windows Millennium Edition(Windows Me)


Windows 98 SE Includes:

Several patches for the first edition

Updates of existing components

Some new components

Most features involve improved networking and Internet access Internet Connection Sharing (ICS)

Support for modems that use a USB port


Windows Me

Moves one step closer to phasing out Windows 9x and replacing it with Windows XP

Designed for home users

Focuses on enhancements to multimedia features

Includes compression utility for video files and a video editor


Windows NT/2000/XP Designed to replace Windows 9x Versions of Windows NT and Windows

2000 are designed as server OSs Competes with UNIX in client/server

industry

Windows NT and Windows 2000 can manage LAN access Competes with Novell NetWare in LAN

market


Goals of Windows NT/2000/XP

Eliminate the DOS Core Used by Windows 9x

Room to Grow Portability to Different Platforms Compatibility with Legacy Software Security Performance and Reliability Support for Hardware


Checking the HCL


Choosing Between Windows 9x and Windows NT/2000/XP

In most situations, you should install Windows XP on a PC

Windows 9x or Windows Me might be appropriate if: You have legacy hardware not supported by

Windows NT/2000/XP Your PC is not powerful enough to support

Windows NT/2000/XP Your software runs better on Windows 9x than

it does under Windows XP


Choosing Between Windows 9x and Windows NT/2000/XP (continued)


Windows NT First step in major evolution of Microsoft

Windows terminating in Windows XP

Supports multiprocessing

Designed for a powerful client-server network environment

Windows NT Workstation is designed to run on clients

Windows NT Server is designed to run on servers


Windows NT (continued)

Difficult to install and support

Most organizations that used Windows NT have upgraded to Windows 2000 or Windows XP


Advantages and Disadvantages of Windows NT


Minimum Hardware Requirements for Windows NT

Pentium-compatible processor or higher

16 MB of RAM (32 MB recommended)

125 MB of hard disk space


Hardware Platforms Supported by Windows NT

Intel x86-based (486 or higher) processor

MIPS R4x00-based processor

Alpha AXP-based processor

PReP-compliant PowerPC-based processor


Windows 2000 Windows 2000 is a suite of operating

systems, each designed for a different sized system

The Windows 2000 desktop resembles that of Windows 9x and Windows NT

Built on Windows NT Designed to replace Windows 9x for

low-end system and Windows NT for high-end systems


Windows 2000 (continued)


Windows 2000 (continued)

All versions have same fundamental core and execute programs in same manner Windows 2000 Professional

Windows 2000 Server

Windows 2000 Advanced Server

Windows 2000 Datacenter Server


Hardware and Software Supported by Windows 2000

See the hardware compatibility list (HCL) at www.microsoft.com/whdc/hcl/search.mspx

Search the list of compatible software at www.microsoft.com/windows2000/server/howtobuy/upgrading/compat/search/software.asp


Hardware Supported by Windows 2000


Advantages of Windows 2000 versus Windows NT

Reliability

Security

Personalized Start Menu

Power Use Improved Advanced Configuration and

Power Interface (ACPI) features

Added Notebook Computer Features


Personalized Start Menu


Windows 2000 Control Panel


Power Use


Added Notebook Computer Features Offline Files and Folders allows the user to

work offline on network files

A notebook user can connect from home to a corporate network over an Internet connection secured by encryption

Power management features are enhanced and improved over those of Windows 98


Advantages and Disadvantages of Windows 2000


Windows XP

Attempts to accomplish integration of Windows 9x and Windows 2000 while providing added support for digital and networking technologies


Versions of Windows XP

Two main versions Windows XP Home

Windows XP Professional

Other Versions Windows XP Media Center Edition

Windows XP Tablet PC Edition

Windows XP 64-bit Edition


Features of Windows XP

New user interface

Ability for two users to log on simultaneously

Windows Media Player for Windows XP

Windows Messenger

Expanded Help

Advanced security features


Windows XP Desktop


Features of Windows XP Professional

Features for remote access

Remote desktop

Roaming user profiles

Additional security features

Multilingual capabilities

Support for higher-performance processors


Minimum Requirements for Windows XP

64 MB or RAM (128 MB recommended)

1.5 GB free hard drive space(2 GB recommended)

CPU that runs at least 233 MHz(300 MHz recommended)


Advantages and Disadvantages of Windows XP


Windows XP and Previous Windows OSs

Windows XP is replacing all previous versions of Windows in the home market and for the corporate desktop


Other Operating Systems

UNIX

Linux

OS/2

Macintosh Operating System (Mac OS)


UNIX


Linux


GUI Shell for UNIX and Linux


OS/2


Mac OS


Mac OS (continued)


Summary

Introduction to different operating systems and what they have in common

What an operating system does and how it relates to the user

The evolution from DOS to Windows 9x and to Windows NT/2000/XP

Alternate OSs (UNIX, Linux, OS/2, Mac OS)

introducing and comparing operating systems

Documents

hardwarea guide

screena guide

applicationa guide

printera guide

usea guide

filesa guide

hardware devices

icon interface