4.2.1 Windows Operating Systems

Operating System Fundamentals

• The main function of an operating system is to manage computer hardware and provide a platform for running applications.

Hardware and Applications

• Applications cannot run directly on the hardware because they require a layer of abstraction and management to access hardware resources efficiently and safely.

Kernel and Operating System

• The kernel is the core of the operating system, responsible for managing hardware resources, allocating system memory, and handling input/output operations.

Utilities in Operating System

• Utilities in an operating system provide a set of tools and functions to perform specific tasks, such as disk formatting, file compression, and network configuration.

Interacting with the Operating System

• The shell or command interpreter is the component that allows the user to interact with the kernel and the utilities, providing a user interface to access operating system services.

User Interface

• The main difference between a command line interface (CLI) and a graphical user interface (GUI) is that a CLI uses text commands to interact with the system, while a GUI uses visual icons, menus, and windows.

Security Features

• The security feature of the operating system is important because it protects the system and user data from unauthorized access, malware, and viruses.

Storage Devices

• The file system encompasses all the different storage devices installed on the computer, providing a hierarchical structure for organizing and accessing files and directories.