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Explaing software utilities. P3

Disk Cleanup:

Disk cleanup is a maintenance utility which is designed to free disk space on the computer’s hard drive.

How it works?

The cleanup process firstly involves searching and analyzing the hard drive for files which are no longer of use. It then proceeds to remove the unnecessary files, which is how it frees the space on the hard drive. Disk cleanup targets at many different file categories when performing the initial disk analysis and gives you the opportunity to choose which files you do not want to delete.

Below are the categories you can choose from:

· Compression of old files – Compressed files doesn’t delete files from the drive. It compresses files which the user has not gone on for a specific time. However next time they are accessed they will be decompressed.

· Temporary internet files – These are the internet cache of web pages which are stored on the hard drive for quick access.

· Temporary windows file

· Downloaded program files – These are files which are stored in the downloaded programs file folder; these files are the ActiveX controls and Java applets which are downloaded from web sites.

· Recycle bin – These are files which have been selected and deleted.

· Offline files – These are files which are available offline, however it can contain outdated information and many more

Why use disk cleanup?

Disk cleanup is used so the computer can free space of unnecessary wanted files which are on the computer system and are no longer needed.

Virus Protection:

Virus protection is on computer systems and can already be installed or can be installed from the internet. Virus protection is used to stop virus, worms or Trojan trying to enter the computer system.

How it works?

Virus protection is used to identify and remove viruses. Many of the anti-virus software’s uses signatures, identifying piece of code found in a virus. However, instead of attempting to try to relate a virus with a signature, heuristic technologies may look at a programs code or actions for potential damaging code or even actions. However, sometimes an anti virus may not be able to track the virus as it may have not been updated.

There are other ways in which identification of virus can be done such as:

Signature based detection which is the common method to identify viruses and other malware. It compares the contents of a file to a dictionary of virus signatures, this is because viruses can embed themselves in existing files, the entire file is searched and not just as a whole but also in pieces.

Malicious activity detection is also another way to identify malware. This system monitors the system for suspicious program behaviour. If any suspicious behaviours is detected, the program will then be investigated more further using other methods to make sure it is something to be worried about.

File Analysis is the process of searching a suspected file for a virus like instruction. However the downside to this is that it needs to analyse every single file.

Why use Virus Protection:

Virus protection is used to identify and remove a virus as well as other types of harmful computer software, which can corrupt the system and the data.

Describe and compare the features and the functions of two different operating systems. P2

Windows XP

What is Windows XP?

Windows XP is a family of 32bit and 64 bit operating system, which is produced by Microsoft.
This is for use on personal computers such as home or business desktops, notebooks and computers.

The common editions of the operating system of Windows XP is Home Edition, which is targeted at home users and Windows XP Professional which offers additional features such as support for two processors and is targeted for power users.
The image shows the skin for the Windows XP.

Purpose of Windows XP:

This operating system was created to provide an interface to the computers user to manipulate the software, controls the computer and so on.
Windows XP was designed to make these processes easy for any newcomers while still being flexible to satisfy power users.

Features of Windows XP:

The features for the Windows XP operating system is that it has an attractive visual style, this is very eye catching and can make the user pleased to use this.

Another feature for the operating system is that it has icons, which represents each program. This is very helpful as each program has a different icon; each icon has a different colour and a letter to represent the name for the program. Therefore, you do not need to search for the name, you can just see from the icon. Eg) Microsoft Word has W which represents the Word.

All of the program on the computer have been categorized, so that it is simpler to find related programs, the user does not need to search through all the program searching for one, all the user needs to do is go to the programs and find the name for it.

After all the programs have been categorized, they have been put in alphabetical order, which makes it easier to find what you are searching for.

The background can be changed to what the user prefers. The screen resolutions can be changed to make the screen larger or smaller, the colour quality can be changed from medium to higher; the user can change the background to what suits them.

The appearance for the operating system can be transformed to users wish, this includes the user to change the font size, as the user can have difficulty to seeing small font any may want larger font, and the colour schemes can be changed for each part such as the windows and buttons.

Functions of Windows XP:

A frequent used function for the XP operating system is Disk Defragmenter, which is a computer program, which is designed to increase access speed and sometimes increase the amount of usable space. This is done by rearranging files, which are stored on the disk and divert them to the nearby storage locations.

Another function for the operating system is a maintenance utility called Disk Cleanup.
This is designed to free up the disk on the computers hard drive. The cleanup process involves searching and analysing the hard drive for files, which are no longer of any use, it then processed to remove the unnecessary files, which frees up the disk space on the hard drive.

There are many different file categories that Disk Cleanup targets, when performing the disk analysis these files include:

Compressed old files
Temporary internet files
Temporary windows files
Recycle bin
Offline files

MS DOS

What is MS DOS?

MS DOS stands for Microsoft Disk Operating System.
Microsoft commercializes this operating system. This was the most common used member of the DOS family of operating systems and was the main operating system for computers back in the 1980s.

This operating system has no graphical user interface (GUI) and is strictly text based and performs functions using command lines. It has been gradually restored on customer’s desktops by operating systems offering a Graphical User Interface.
This image is of the MS-DOS screen.

What is Command Line?

A command line interface (CLI) is a device used for interacting with a computer’s operating system or software by typing commands to perform specific tasks, asked by the user.

This method of instructing a computer to perform a given task is referrers to as ‘entering’ a command: the system will wait for the user to terminate the submitting of the text command by pressing the ‘enter’ key on the keyboard. Then the command-line interpreters receive the analyses and start on the requested command. Once completed the command usually returns output to the user in the form of text lines on the CLI.

This could be an answer if the command asked was a question or it can be a summary of the operation took place.

Purpose of MS-DOS:

MS-DOS was designed to be an operating system that could run on any 8086-family computer. Each computer was to have its own distinct hardware and its own version of MS-DOS. The greater speed possible by the direct control of hardware was of particular importance when it came to running computer games.

Function of the MS-DOS:

MS-DOS includes having to type in codes when the user needs to perform functions certain operations, some of these codes are listed.
The user needs to type this in the black MS-DOS screen.

COPY- copies a file (cp)
DIR- lists the directory contents such as files and folders
TREE- shows files and folder in tree diagram
FORMAT- formats a disk to accept DOS files

HELP – provides help about a command

MKDIR - creates a new directory

RD - removes a directory

REN - renames a file

Conclusion

Overall, between the two operating systems, I think that Windows XP is more efficient due to it having special features and functions, which can improve the quality of the computer, the programs are easy to search for and you do not need to remember any codes to change specific details for the files or folders. The programs are arranged by category and apathetical order.
The colours and background can be changed which helps the user if they have some problem or if they do not like it, this makes the operating friendly to the user.

Also, if any folders of files need to be changed they can be right clicked on and changed whereas on MS-DOS you will need to change it in the black screen without viewing the folder, the user may forget that they done this.

While, MS-DOS just has a black screen where the codes need to be entered, and from there the details or programs can be viewed. For this program, the user will need to remember all the codes for each specific function.

Specialised Cards

Network Card:
A network card is a interface card which is a piece of computer hardware designed to allow computers to communicate over a computer network, as it provides physical access to a networking medium and provides a low-key system.

Video Card:
A video card is a hardware component whose function is to generate and output images to display.

How the network card communicate with the computer?
The network card usually has two indicator lights (LEDS)
The green light shows that the card is receiving electricity and the orange or red light indicates that the network Is in activity (eg sending or receiving data), as you can see in the image.

To prepare that data to be sent to the network card, it uses a transceiver, which transforms parallel data into serial data. Each card has a unique address, called a MAC address, which is assigned by the cards manufacturer, which lets the card have unique identification in all the network cards in the world.

To ensure that the computer and network are capable the card must be suitable for the computers data bus architecture, and have the appropriate type of socket for the cable. Each card is designed to work with a certain kind of cable. some cards include multiple interface connectors.

How the video card communicate with the computer?
The video card or Graphical Processing Unit (GPU) is the spirit of the graphics card. The graphics card usually processes images before they are base on the computer screen.

This GPU is a specialized processor which has advanced image processor capabilities, especially for 3D graphics. This is because of the high temperature of the graphics card processor can reach; the fan can be mounted on to it. The job of the video memory is to store images processed by the GPU before they are displayed on the monitor.

The larger the memory of the video the better the graphics card can handle textures when displaying 3D scenes.

BIOS

In computing the BOIS stands for Basic Input Output System, this refers to the firmware code which is run by the computer when it is first powered on; this is a type of boot loader.

The functions of the BIOS are used to identify and initialize the system components, such as the hardware devices including video display card, hard disk and floppy disk.

This is to prepare the machine into a known low capability slate, so that the other software programs stored on various media can be loaded and executed.
The BIOS machines can also be said to be a coded program embedded on a chip that recognizes and controls devices which make up the computer, and control the peripherals.

Hardware Configuration

IDE stands for Integrated Development Environment; this is basically a software application which provides wide-ranging facilities to computer programmers for a software progress.
An IDE normally consists of source code editor, compiler and sometimes a interpreter tools.

How IDE communicates with the computer?
The IDE communicates with the computer through the motherboard; all new motherboards are made with IDE connectors.

A 40-pin ribbon cable is connected to the hard disk drive to the host adapter on the motherboard. A connector at one end which is usually labelled blue, this is connected to the hard drives, the grey connector attaches to the slave device, while the black connector attaches to the primary master drive. Each cable contains wires, which are laid side by side, each wire, called pins is responsible for a particular functions.

Heat Sink

A heat sink is a object which absorbs the heat from another object using the thermal contact.
Heat sinks are used in a wide range of applications such as computers, lasers, refrigeration and heat engines.

How the Fan communicates with the computer?
This heat absorbent device is use to get rid of the heat which is generated by a component in the computer casing, this includes a flexible tubular conduit and a fan unit. The tubular conduit is adapted to be disposed in the computer casing, the first end is adapted to the computer casing which filters the heat.

Power Supply

A power supply unit also known as PSU is the components which supplies power to the computer, more specifically a power supply is typically designed to convert 220-240V.

This is so the mains can have a low voltage power for the internal components of the computer.

Ports

A port serves as an interface between the computer and other computers or peripheral devices. Physically the port is a special outlet on a piece of equipment which is a plug or cable.
There are a various amount of shapes such as

Round- PS2
Rectangular- Fire ware
Square- Telephone modem

The most common used peripherals these days are is the USB, which stands for Universal Serial Bus, this is used for the person to store data directly from the computer to the USB and use on a different computer, or to keep a back up of the work.

Serial Ports:
Serial ports allows the computer to share information with the outside world, the term serial refers to the data send via a single wire. The bits are sent one after another.

The data can be sent at random intervals, meaning there is no time limit of synchronization signal or clock is required.

Serial ports are normally built into the motherboard behind the casing. Serial connectors generally have 9 or 25 pins.

Parallel Port:
Parallel data transmission involves sending data at the same time on several wires. The parallel ports on personal computer can send up to 8 bits (one octel)

The first two parallel ports are allowed for speeds of 2.5mb/s.
Enhanced parallel ports have been development however to achieve higher speeds:

The EPP: Enhanced Parallel Port, which are designed to accomplish speeds of 8 to 16 Mbps
The ECP: Enhanced Capabilities Port, which are developed by Hewlett Packard and Microsoft.

This has the same character as the EPP with in addition a plug and a play feature, which allows the computer to be familiar with the connected peripherals.

Parallel ports like serial ports are built into the motherboard, and permit connection to an exterior element such as a printer.

Peripherals

A peripheral is a piece of computer hardware which is extra to a host computer, which means any computer except the computer.

The term also tends to be applied to devices that are enthusiastically up externally, typically through some structure of bus like a UBS.

Some examples of this are;
Joystick
Printers
Scanners

How different peripherals communicate with the computer?
Many peripherals have to be connected using a single standardized interface socket.
To improve the plug-and-play capabilities the computer permits devices to be connected and disconnected without the computer to be rebooted.

An advantage to use the peripherals is that when they are connected to the computer, there is no need to have any extra power supply and can allow other devices to be used without having to require a manufacture specific drives, which may need to be installed.

Processor (ALU), control unit and memory

The Arithmetic Logic Unit, ALU is one of the many components which is within a computer. The ALU performs mathematical, logical and decision operations in a computer and is the last processing performed by the processor.

Once the necessary information by the ALU has been processed it is sent to the computer memory.

Motherboard

Motherboards are the central circuit board which makes up a complex electronics system.
Motherboards are found in modern computers or modern laptops.

The motherboard is inside the processor and has important features for the computer to work such as memory banks, which gives the computer a lot of memory to store stuff on, BIOS which is the basic input and output system and IDE which is a software application which provides comprehensive facilities to the computer programmers for the software to work.

The chipset consists of two components or chips known as the Northbridge and Southbridge, though they may also be integrated into a single component, these chips will determine, to an extent, the features and capabilities of the motherboard and make sure they work to the extent.

Internal Memory

ROM- Read Only Memory is a class of storage media in computers and various other electronic devices. Data stored on the ROM cannot be modified, it is mainly used to distribute software which is very closely tied to specific hardware.

RAM- Random Access Memory which is a type of computer data storage that allows the user to store data and be accessed in any order, and can be returned in a constant line despite of the physical location.

How does the internal memory communicate with the computer?
The internal memory is inserted into the memory banks, which is located on the motherboard, through there the motherboard communicates with the computer.