COMPUTER HARDWARE

SYSTEMS

OPERATING SYSTEM (OS)

FUNDAMENTALS

COMPILED BY: ELIAS OCQUAYE (PHD)

STEPHEN KOFI DOTSE (PHD)
MR. JEREMIAH OSEI-KWAKYE
MR. ALEX ANSAH
 CONTENT

❑ Role of an Operating System in Computer Hardware

❑ Types of Operating Systems (Windows, Linux,

macOS)

❑ OS Installation and Configuration

❑ File System Management

❑ Basic OS Troubleshooting
 DEFINITION OF OPERATING SYSTEM

❑ An Operating System is a System software and the most

important software that runs on a computer and manages
all the resources and application programs of the
computer.

❑ Controls and monitors the execution of all other

programs that reside in the computer, which also includes
application programs and other system software of the
computer.
❑ Examples of Operating Systems are Windows, Linux,
macOS, Android, iOS, etc.
 ROLE OF AN OPERATING SYSTEM IN
COMPUTER HARDWARE
❑ An operating system in a computer system performs
several roles such as:
✓ Platform for Application programs:
It provides a platform, on top of which, other programs,
called application programs can run.
✓ Managing Input-Output unit: It also allows the
computer to manage its own resources such as memory,
monitor, keyboard, printer, etc. Management of these
resources is required for effective and fair utilization.
 ROLE OF AN OPERATING SYSTEM IN
COMPUTER HARDWARE
✓ Multitasking: It manages memory and allows multiple
programs to run in their own space and even communicate
with each other through shared memory.
✓ Manages memory and files: It manages the computer’s
main memory and second storage. Additionally, it allows
and deallocates memory to all tasks and applications.
✓ Provides Security: It helps to maintain the system and
applications safely through the authorization process.
Thus, the OS provides security for the system.
 ROLE OF AN OPERATING SYSTEM IN
COMPUTER HARDWARE
✓ Process Management: The operating system is
responsible for starting, stopping, and managing processes
and programs. It also controls the scheduling of processes
and allocates resources to them.
✓ Networking: The operating system provides networking
capabilities such as establishing and managing network
connections, handling network protocols, and sharing
resources such as printers and files over a network.
✓ Backup and Recovery: The operating system provides
mechanisms for backing up data and recovering it in case
of system failures, errors, or disasters.
 ROLE OF AN OPERATING SYSTEM IN
COMPUTER HARDWARE
✓ Error-detecting Aids: These contain methods that
include error messages, and other debugging and error-
detecting methods.
✓ Performance Monitoring: The operating system
provides tools for monitoring and optimizing system
performance, including identifying bottlenecks,
optimizing resource usage, and analyzing system logs and
metrics.
✓ User Interface: The operating system provides a user
interface that enables users to interact with the computer
system. This can be a GUI, a CLI, or combination of both.
 TYPES OF OPERATING SYSTEMS

❑ Operating Systems can be categorized according to

different criteria like whether an operating system is for
mobile devices (examples Android and iOS) or desktop
(examples Windows and Linux).

❑ NOW, we are going to classify based on functionalities

an operating system provides.
❑ It includes Batch OS, Multi-Tasking/Time-sharing OS,
Multi-Processing OS, Network OS, Distributed OS,
Real-Time OS
 BATCH OPERATING SYSTEM

❑ A batch system is one in which jobs are bundled together

with the instructions necessary to allow them to be
processed without intervention.
❑Batch Operating system groups jobs that perform similar
type of functions.
❑There is an operator which takes similar jobs having same
requirement and group them into batches.
❑The First operating system of the second-generation
computer is the batch operating system.
❑ This type of operating system does not interact with the
computer directly
BATCH OPERATING SYSTEM
 CHARACTERISTICS/ FEATURES OF
BATCH OS
❑A job is defined as a single unit which is made up of a
predefined sequence of commands, data, and programs.
❑These jobs are kept in a memory executing them without
manual information.
❑Processing is done in the order in which they are
submitted, i.e., first come first serve.
❑ The operating system releases memory of a job as soon
as it is executed successfully.
❑ Examples of Batch Operating Systems: Payroll Systems,
Bank Statements, etc.
 ADVANTAGES OF BATCH OS

❑ Batch processing takes much of the work of the operator

to the computer.

❑ Increased performance as a new job get started as soon as

the previous job finished without any manual intervention.

❑ It is easy to manage large work repeatedly in batch

systems

❑ Multiple users can share the batch systems

 DISADVANTAGES OF BATCH OS

❑ Difficult to debug program.

❑ The output is obtained only after all the jobs are
executed.
❑ A job could enter an infinite loop.
❑ Due to lack of protection scheme, one batch job can
affect pending jobs.
❑ It is sometime costly.
❑ Priority can not be implemented if a certain job has to be
executed on an urgent basis
 MULTI-TASKING/TIME-SHARING OS

❑ It is a type of Multiprogramming system with every

process running in round robin manner.
❑ Each task is given some time to execute so that all the
tasks work smoothly.
❑ Each user gets the time of the CPU as they use a single
system. These systems are also known as Multitasking
Systems.
❑ The task can be from a single user or different users also.
❑ The time that each task gets to execute is called quantum.
 MULTI-TASKING/TIME-SHARING OS

❑ After this time interval is over OS switches over to the

next task. Also known as context switching
 MULTI-TASKING/TIME-SHARING OS

❑ Each task gets an equal opportunity.

❑ CPU idle time can be reduced.
❑ Resource Sharing: allows multiple users to share
hardware resources such as the CPU, memory, and
peripherals, and increasing efficiency.
❑ Improved Productivity: allows users to work
concurrently, thereby reducing the waiting time for their
turn to use the computer.
❑ Each task gets an equal opportunity
 MULTI-PROCESSING OS

❑ It is a type of Operating System in which more than one

CPU is used for the execution of resources. It betters the
throughput of the System.
 ADVANTAGES OF MULTI-
PROCESSING OS

❑ It increases the throughput of the system as processes can

be parallelized.

❑ As it has several processors, so, if one processor fails, we

can proceed with another processor.

Examples of multi-processing operating systems include

Linux (including distributions like Ubuntu and Fedora),
macOS, Windows, Solaris, and HP-UX
 NETWORK OS
❑ These systems run on a server and provide the capability
to manage data, users, groups, security, applications, and
other networking functions.

❑ These types of operating systems allow shared access to

files, printers, security, applications, and other networking
functions over a small private network.

❑Examples of Network Operating Systems are Microsoft

Windows Server 2003, Microsoft Windows Server 2008,
UNIX, Linux, Mac OS X, Novell NetWare, BSD, etc.
 NETWORK OS

❑One more important aspect of Network Operating

Systems is that all the users are aware of the underlying
configuration, of all other users within the network, their
individual connections, etc.
 ADVANTAGES NETWORK OS

❑ Highly stable centralized servers.

❑ Security concerns are handled through servers.

❑ New technologies and hardware up-gradation are easily

integrated into the system.

❑ Server access is possible remotely from different

locations and types of systems.
 DISADVANTAGES NETWORK OS

❑ Servers are costly.

❑ User must depend on a central location for most

operations.

❑ Maintenance and updates are required regularly.

 DISTRIBUTED OS

❑These types of operating system is a recent advancement

in the world of computer technology and are being widely
accepted all over the world and, that too, at a great pace.
❑ Various autonomous interconnected computers
communicate with each other using a shared
communication network.
❑ Independent systems possess their own memory unit and
CPU.
❑ Examples of Distributed Operating Systems are LOCUS,
etc.
 DISTRIBUTED OS

❑Most commonly, the participating nodes of the system are

in a relatively SMALL GEOGRAPHICAL AREA,
something between an OFFICE AND A CAMPUS.
❑Distributed operating systems typically run cooperatively
on all machines whose resources they control.
 ADVANTAGES DISTRIBUTED OS

❑ Failure of one will not affect the other network

communication, as all systems are independent from each
other
❑ Electronic mail increases the data exchange speed
❑ Since resources are being shared, computation is highly
fast and durable
❑ Load on host computer reduces
❑ These systems are easily scalable as many systems can be
easily added to the network
❑ Delay in data processing reduces
 DISADVANTAGES DISTRIBUTED OS

❑ Failure of the main network will stop the entire

communication
❑ To establish distributed systems the language which are
used are not well defined yet
❑ These types of systems are not readily available as they
are very expensive. Not only that the underlying software
is highly complex and not understood well yet
 REAL-TIME OS

❑ These types of OS serve real-time systems. The time

interval required to process and respond to inputs is very
small. This time interval is called response time.
❑ Real-time systems are used when there are time
requirements that are very strict like missile systems, air
traffic control systems, robots, etc.
❑ A Real Time Operating System, commonly known as an
RTOS, is a software component that rapidly switches
between tasks, giving the impression that multiple
programs are being executed at the same time on a single
processing core.
 REAL-TIME OS

❑ Examples of Real-Time Operating Systems are Scientific

experiments, medical imaging systems, industrial control
systems, weapon systems, robots, air traffic control
systems, etc.

❑ There are two types of Real-Time OS. They are Hard

Real-Time OS, and Soft Real-Time OS
 REAL-TIME OS

Hard Real-Time Systems:

❑ Hard Real-Time OSs are meant for applications where
time constraints are very strict and even the shortest
possible delay is not acceptable.

❑ These systems are built for saving life like automatic

parachutes or airbags which are required to be readily
available in case of an accident.
 REAL-TIME OS

Soft Real-Time Systems:

❑ Are the RTOS that perform task almost in the specified
deadline. They do not guarantee a hard deadline.

❑ Task can be performed even after the time has elapsed.

For example, Multimedia, virtual reality, Advanced
Scientific Projects like undersea exploration.
 ADVANTAGES OF REAL-TIME OS

❑ Maximum Consumption: Maximum utilization of

devices and systems, thus more output from all the
resources.
❑ Task Shifting: The time assigned for shifting tasks in
these systems is very less.
❑ Focus on Application: Focus on running applications
and less importance on applications that are in the queue.
❑ In the embedded system: Since the size of programs is
small, RTOS can also be used in embedded systems like
in transport and others.
❑ Error Free: These types of systems are error-free.
 DISADVANTAGES OF REAL-TIME OS

❑Limited Tasks: Very few tasks run at the same time and
their concentration is very less on a few applications to
avoid errors.
❑Use heavy system resources: Sometimes the system
resources are not so good, and they are expensive as well.
❑Complex Algorithms: The algorithms are very complex
and difficult for the designer to write on
 FILE SYSTEM MANAGEMENT

❑ A file system is a method an operating system uses to

store, organize, and manage files and directories on a
storage device.
❑ File management is a critical component of every
operating system since it involves the organization,
manipulation, storage, and retrieval of data stored in files.
Files are data units on secondary storage devices like hard
disks, solid-state drives, or external storage media.
❑ Operating systems include operations and utilities for
efficiently managing these files.
 FILE SYSTEM MANAGEMENT

Some common types of file systems include:

❑ FAT (File Allocation Table): An older file system
used by older versions of Windows and other operating
systems.

❑ NTFS (New Technology File System): A modern file

system used by Windows. It supports features such as file
and folder permissions, compression, and encryption.
 FILE SYSTEM MANAGEMENT

❑ ext (Extended File System): A file system commonly

used on Linux and Unix-based operating systems.

❑ HFS (Hierarchical File System): A file system used by

macOS.

❑ APFS (Apple File System): A new file system

introduced by Apple for their Macs
 FILE HIERARCHY

❑The concept of a File Hierarchy is crucial in operating

system file management.
❑ It involves organizing files and directories (or folders) in
a hierarchical structure that resembles a tree.
❑ This system allows users to logically and conveniently
arrange and handle their files.
❑ The file Hierarchy concept is utilized by various
operating systems, such as Windows, macOS, Linux, and
others.
 FILE HIERARCHY

✓ Tree Structure: The file hierarchy is organized in a tree

structure with the root directory at the top. The other
directories and files branch off from the root, like
branches and leaves. Users can navigate to different
directories and access files from the root directory.

✓ Directories: Directories, or folders, are like storage

containers for files and subdirectories. They serves the
purpose of organizing related files and folders. As each
directory can hold multiple files or other directories, a
hierarchical structure is created.
 FILE HIERARCHY

✓ Subdirectories: Directories can contain subdirectories or

directories within directories, allowing for deeper
organization and structure in the file system. This nesting
enables a more organized and easily understandable file
organization system.

✓ Navigation: Users can navigate the file hierarchy by

moving up and down the directory tree. Uphill travel is
commonly referred to as "going up" or "going back",
whereas downhill travel is referred to as "going down" or
"entering" a directory.
 FILE HIERARCHY

✓ Paths: Inn the file hierarchy, every file and directory has
a specific path that shows its location relative to the root
directory. A path consists of multiple directory names
separated by delimiters, such as '/' in Unix or '\' in
Windows. For example, the Linux path
"/home/user/documents/file.txt" refers to a file named
"file.txt" within the "documents" directory, which is
inside the "user" directory, itself contained within the
"home“.
 FILE HIERARCHY

In summary
❑File Hierarchy concept is an important component of file
management in operating systems because it provides a
systematic and organized approach to storing and
accessing files and directories.
❑ It streamlines the data organization process, improves file
system navigation, and improves the overall user
experience when working with data on computers and
other devices.
 FILE OPERATIONS

❑ File operations are key operating system functions for

successfully managing files.
❑ Users and applications can utilize these activities to
interact with files, read and write data, create new files,
and execute different operations on existing files.
❑ Understanding file operations is essential for managing
files in any operating system.
❑ Some file operations include Create, Open, Delete, Read,
and Close.
 FILE OPERATIONS

❑ File operations are required for users and applications to

operate with files efficiently.
❑ They are the foundation of many software programs and
are essential for data management, data integrity, and user
cooperation in a multiuser environment.
❑ Modern operating systems feature a full file operation set,
allowing users to create, access, and modify files easily.
 FILE ATTRIBUTES

❑ File attributes refer to the metadata associated with files

in the file system.
❑ They provide comprehensive information beyond names
and contents.
❑ Operating systems utilize these attributes to store crucial
details like permissions, timestamps, file types, and
ownerships.
❑ Understanding file properties is vital for effectively
controlling and limiting access to files..
 FILE ATTRIBUTES

❑ File Name: The file name is a crucial element that

uniquely identifies a file within its directory.
❑ Extension: The file extension is a file name component
that appears after the last period ('.') and specifies the file's
type or format.
❑ File Type: The file type attribute specifies the file's
content category or format.
❑ Timestamps: Files contain three major timestamps that
indicate when they were created, modified, and accessed.
 FILE ATTRIBUTES

❑ File Permissions: controls all the files present in the

system by defining who can access which files and the
access controls they have, thus avoiding unauthorized
access and protecting the information. These permissions
include which user can read, write, or append to the
existing files.
 BASIC OS TROUBLESHOOTING

❑ Basic OS troubleshooting involves identifying the

problem, checking connections, and restarting the
computer.
❑ You can also try scanning for malware, checking for disk
errors, and updating the OS.
❑ No matter what's causing the issue, troubleshooting will
always be a process of trial and error.
❑ In some cases, you may need to use several approaches
before you can find a solution; other problems may be
easy to fix.
 BASIC OS TROUBLESHOOTING

Try starting by using the following tips.

✓ Write down your steps. Once you start troubleshooting,
you may want to write down each step you take. This
way, you'll be able to remember exactly what you've done
so you can avoid repeating the same mistakes.
✓ Take notes about error messages. If your computer
gives you an error message, be sure to write down as
much information as possible.
✓ Restart the computer. When all else fails, one of the
best things to try is simply restarting the computer. This
can solve a lot of basic issues with your computer.
TROUBLESHOOTING SPECIFIC PROBLEMS

❑ Problem: An application is running slowly

✓ Solution 1: Close and reopen the application.

✓ Solution 2: Update the application. To do this, click the

Help menu and look for an option to Check for Updates.
If you don't find this option, another idea is to run an
online search for application updates.
TROUBLESHOOTING SPECIFIC PROBLEMS

❑ Problem: An application is frozen

✓ Solution 1: Force quit the application. If a program has
become completely unresponsive, you can press (and
hold) Ctrl+Alt+Delete
(the Control, Alt, and Delete keys)
on your keyboard to open the
Task Manager.
You can then select the
unresponsive application and
click End task to close it.
TROUBLESHOOTING SPECIFIC PROBLEMS

❑ Problem: An application is frozen

✓ Solution 2: Restart the computer. If you are unable to

force quit an application, restarting your computer will
close all open apps.
TROUBLESHOOTING SPECIFIC PROBLEMS

❑ Problem: The computer is frozen

✓ Solution 1: Restart Windows Explorer.
To do this, press and hold Ctrl+Alt+Delete on your
keyboard to open the Task Manager.
Next, locate and select Windows Explorer from the
Processes tab and click Restart.
If you're using Windows 8 or higher, you may need to click
More Details at the bottom of the window to see the
Processes tab.
TROUBLESHOOTING SPECIFIC PROBLEMS
TROUBLESHOOTING SPECIFIC PROBLEMS

❑ Problem: The computer is frozen

✓ Solution 2: Press and hold the Power button for 5-10
seconds. This will force the computer to shut down.

✓ Solution 3: If the computer still won't shut down, you can

unplug the power cable from the electrical outlet. If you're
using a laptop, you may be able to remove the battery to
force the computer to turn off. Note: This solution should
be your last resort after trying the other suggestions
above.
 OS INSTALLATION AND CONFIGURATION

❑ Please follow this youtube link to enable you learn how

the OS installation works.
 ANY QUESTION?

THANK YOU