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Questions and Answers
Where does the processor fetch instructions from during the instruction cycle?
Where does the processor fetch instructions from during the instruction cycle?
What is typically stored in the program counter (PC) during instruction execution?
What is typically stored in the program counter (PC) during instruction execution?
After fetching an instruction, what happens to the program counter (PC)?
After fetching an instruction, what happens to the program counter (PC)?
Where is the fetched instruction loaded for interpretation by the processor?
Where is the fetched instruction loaded for interpretation by the processor?
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Which stage of the basic instruction cycle involves the processor interpreting and executing instructions?
Which stage of the basic instruction cycle involves the processor interpreting and executing instructions?
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During the instruction cycle, what does the processor do after fetching an instruction?
During the instruction cycle, what does the processor do after fetching an instruction?
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What is the main function of an operating system?
What is the main function of an operating system?
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Which hardware component is responsible for performing data processing functions?
Which hardware component is responsible for performing data processing functions?
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What type of memory is typically volatile?
What type of memory is typically volatile?
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Which component stores program instructions, data, and configurations for program execution?
Which component stores program instructions, data, and configurations for program execution?
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What is the primary function of I/O modules in a computer system?
What is the primary function of I/O modules in a computer system?
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Which term is used to refer to the Central Processing Unit (CPU) that controls the operation of the computer?
Which term is used to refer to the Central Processing Unit (CPU) that controls the operation of the computer?
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What is the purpose of interrupts in a processor?
What is the purpose of interrupts in a processor?
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In the example of program execution described, what does 'PC' stand for?
In the example of program execution described, what does 'PC' stand for?
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Which part of the computer system must pause to wait for devices that are slower than it?
Which part of the computer system must pause to wait for devices that are slower than it?
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What does the acronym 'IR' commonly refer to in computing systems?
What does the acronym 'IR' commonly refer to in computing systems?
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Why do most I/O devices cause the processor to pause?
Why do most I/O devices cause the processor to pause?
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What is a common reason for implementing interrupts in a computer system?
What is a common reason for implementing interrupts in a computer system?
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What is the purpose of a Timer interrupt?
What is the purpose of a Timer interrupt?
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Which type of interrupt is generated by conditions like arithmetic overflow or division by zero?
Which type of interrupt is generated by conditions like arithmetic overflow or division by zero?
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In which stage of the instruction cycle are interrupts enabled?
In which stage of the instruction cycle are interrupts enabled?
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What typically generates an I/O interrupt?
What typically generates an I/O interrupt?
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When does the user program interrupt handler execute?
When does the user program interrupt handler execute?
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Which type of interrupt is generated by a memory parity error?
Which type of interrupt is generated by a memory parity error?
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What happens when an interrupt occurs during the execution of a processor's current instruction?
What happens when an interrupt occurs during the execution of a processor's current instruction?
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In the context of interrupt processing, what is the purpose of the PSW (Program Status Word)?
In the context of interrupt processing, what is the purpose of the PSW (Program Status Word)?
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What action does the processor take after acknowledging an interrupt?
What action does the processor take after acknowledging an interrupt?
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How does a processor handle multiple interrupts?
How does a processor handle multiple interrupts?
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What changes occur in memory and registers when an interrupt happens after instruction at location N?
What changes occur in memory and registers when an interrupt happens after instruction at location N?
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In the context of multiple interrupts, what scenario illustrates when another interrupt occurs while one is being processed?
In the context of multiple interrupts, what scenario illustrates when another interrupt occurs while one is being processed?
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Study Notes
Computer System Overview
- A computer system consists of three basic elements: processor, main memory, and I/O modules
- The processor controls the operation of the computer and performs data processing functions
- Main memory stores data and programs, is typically volatile, and its contents are lost when the computer is shut down
- I/O modules move data between the computer and its external environment
Stored Program Concept
- A program consists of instructions, data, and configurations that must be stored in main memory before execution
- The stored program concept allows the computer to execute a program by fetching and executing instructions from memory
Instruction Execution
- The instruction execution process involves two stages: fetch and execute
- In the fetch stage, the processor reads an instruction from memory based on the program counter (PC)
- In the execute stage, the processor interprets the instruction and performs the required action
Interrupts
- Interrupts are a mechanism by which other modules may interrupt the normal sequencing of the processor
- Interrupts are used to improve processor utilization, as the processor must pause to wait for I/O devices
- There are four classes of interrupts: program generated, timer generated, I/O generated, and hardware failure generated
Interrupt Handling
- When an interrupt occurs, the processor saves the current state of the process and transfers control to an interrupt handler
- The interrupt handler processes the interrupt and returns control to the user program
- Multiple interrupts can occur simultaneously, requiring the operating system to manage priorities
Fetch Stage and Execute Stage
- The fetch stage retrieves an instruction from memory and loads it into the instruction register (IR)
- The execute stage interprets the instruction and performs the required action
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Description
Test your knowledge on the basic elements of an operating system and its role in managing hardware resources, providing services to users, and handling memory and I/O devices. This quiz is based on Chapter 1 of 'Operating Systems: Internals and Design Principles' by William Stallings.
