Computer Course: Primary Storage

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Questions and Answers

What is the primary function of an operating system?

To provide a platform for running application software

To manage and control the user's interaction with the I/O devices (correct)

To design and develop software applications

To perform complex calculations and simulations

What type of software is responsible for controlling the CPU, memory, and I/O devices?

Programming languages

Word processors

Application programs

Operating systems (correct)

What is the primary role of an operating system in managing program execution?

To develop software applications

To perform data storage and retrieval

To provide a user interface for users

To manage and allocate system resources (correct)

What type of software is Windows 7 and OS/2 examples of?

Operating systems Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary responsibility of an operating system when running a program?

To manage and allocate system resources Signup and view all the answers

What type of software is used to write other software?

Programming languages Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary function of an operating system when a user presses a key on the keyboard?

To accept the key and provide it to the application program Signup and view all the answers

What type of software is used for specific tasks such as accounting and weather forecasting?

Other application programs Signup and view all the answers

What is the term for the set of 8 bits that stores one character?

Byte Signup and view all the answers

How many bytes are in 1 kilobyte?

1024 Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary function of the Arithmetic-Logic Unit (ALU)?

To perform calculations and comparisons Signup and view all the answers

What type of system do computers work in?

Binary system Signup and view all the answers

What is the term for the special-purpose storage locations in the ALU?

Registers Signup and view all the answers

What is the name of the device that displays the output of a computer?

VDU (Video Display Unit) Signup and view all the answers

What is the purpose of the output unit in a computer?

To provide the output of a computation to the outside world Signup and view all the answers

What is the term for the size of primary storage in a typical low-end PC?

1 GB Signup and view all the answers

What is one of the functions of an operating system?

To maintain an internal real-time clock Signup and view all the answers

What is the purpose of the system clock in an operating system?

To mark the date and time of file creation or modification Signup and view all the answers

What is one of the tools provided by an operating system?

A utility program to defragment disks Signup and view all the answers

What is the purpose of an operating system's interface?

To provide a way for users to interact with the computer Signup and view all the answers

What is a function of the operating system in terms of file management?

To create and manage the directory system Signup and view all the answers

What is not a function of an operating system?

Translating programming languages Signup and view all the answers

What is Windows 3.1?

A program that runs on DOS to create an operating environment Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following is not an operating system?

Windows 3.1 Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary function of the CPU in a computer?

To perform calculations and take decisions Signup and view all the answers

What is the unit of measurement for the CPU clock frequency?

Giga Hertz Signup and view all the answers

What happens if a CPU's clock frequency is doubled?

The CPU becomes faster Signup and view all the answers

What is the purpose of a set of programs in a PC?

To control the hardware devices Signup and view all the answers

What is the relationship between the CPU clock frequency and the time taken to perform an operation?

The CPU clock frequency is inversely proportional to the time taken Signup and view all the answers

What is the term for the base timing for all operations performed by the CPU?

CPU clock cycle Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary function of the hardware devices in a PC?

To accept and store data, perform calculations and display or print results Signup and view all the answers

Why does doubling the CPU clock frequency not necessarily result in programs running at double the speed?

Because other devices in the PC, such as the hard disk or CD-ROM, may not be able to operate at higher speed Signup and view all the answers

What was the first operating system developed for the IBM PC by Microsoft Corporation?

DOS Signup and view all the answers

What did all program files require to start the operating system in the beginning?

A floppy diskette Signup and view all the answers

What does the acronym 'GUI' stand for?

Graphical User Interface Signup and view all the answers

What is the main difference between Windows and DOS operating systems?

Windows can display characters in different shapes and sizes Signup and view all the answers

What is Windows 95 compared to Windows 3.1?

An updated and enhanced version Signup and view all the answers

What was released in 1998?

Windows 98 Signup and view all the answers

What does 'XP' stand for in Windows XP?

eXperience Signup and view all the answers

What is a significant feature of Windows operating systems compared to DOS?

Multi-tasking capability Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Computer Hardware

A byte is a set of 8 bits that stores one character.
The size of primary storage is usually specified in kilobyte (KB), megabyte (MB), or gigabyte (GB).
1 KB is equal to 1024 bytes, 1 MB is equal to 1024 KB, and 1 GB is equal to 1024 MB.
A typical low-end PC usually has a primary storage of 1 GB, while high-end PCs can have up to 16 GB, 32 GB, 64 GB, or 128 GB or higher.

Output Unit

The output unit provides information and results of a computation to the outside world.
It converts binary data into a form that users can understand.
Common output devices include:
- Printer
- Video Display Unit (VDU) or monitor
- Hard disk drive
- USB flash drive
- Floppy disk drive
- Magnetic tape drive

Arithmetic-Logic Unit (ALU)

The ALU performs all calculations and comparisons.
It takes decisions and performs logical operations, such as checking if one number is less than, equal to, or greater than another.
The ALU contains registers to hold data transferred from the storage unit.
It can perform basic operations like addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division.

Central Processing Unit (CPU)

The CPU is the brain of the computer and performs calculations, takes decisions, and controls all units of the computer.
Examples of CPU ICs include Intel 8088, 80286, 80386, 80486, Celeron, Pentium, Pentium Pro, Pentium 4, Core i3, Core i5, Core i7, AMD K6, Xeon, Dual Core Xeon, AMD Duron, AMD Athlon, AMD Phenom, and AMD Fusion.
The CPU operates at a fixed speed, which is measured in GHz (Giga Hertz).
The CPU clock frequency determines the base timing for all operations, with higher frequencies resulting in faster program execution.

Hardware and Software

Hardware refers to physical devices such as the monitor, floppy disk drive, hard disk drive, keyboard, and printer.
Software is a set of programs that makes the hardware work.
Types of software include:
- Operating systems (e.g., Windows, Linux, macOS)
- Programming languages (e.g., Basic, FORTRAN, COBOL, C++, Java)
- Application programs (e.g., Word processors, Spreadsheet, Database Management Systems)

Operating System (OS)

The OS is a collection of programs that controls all hardware and other resources in the computer system.
It operates and controls the CPU, memory, and various I/O devices.
The OS is responsible for the smooth and efficient operation of the computer.
Tasks performed by the OS include:
- Locating and loading program files
- Managing user interaction with I/O devices
- Creating and managing the directory system on secondary storage devices
- Maintaining an internal real-time clock
- Acting as an interface between the user and the computer
- Including tools and utility programs to help the user manage the computer system

Popular Operating Systems for PCs

Examples of popular operating systems for PCs include:
- DOS
- Windows 95/98
- Windows 2000/Me
- Windows XP
- Windows Vista
- Windows 7
- Windows 8
- Windows NT
- OS/2
- Unix and Linux
- Mac OS/OS X

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Description

This quiz covers the basics of primary storage in computers, including bytes, kilobytes, megabytes, and gigabytes. It also discusses the typical storage sizes found in low-end PCs.