Types of Bootable Devices and Third Party Software

Study Notes

Boot Devices

The primary purpose of a boot device is to load the operating system into the computer’s memory during startup, enabling the system to function.
Common boot devices include hard drives, USB drives, and optical disks, providing the means to initiate the operating system.

Non-Bootable Devices

Devices such as printers, standard peripheral devices, and non-bootable USB devices are NOT considered bootable because they do not contain the necessary operating system files to start a computer.

ISO Files

An ISO file is a complete disk image of an optical disc, containing all of the file and folder structures from the original disc. Primarily used for software distribution, it allows installation from a virtual medium.

Partition Styles

The Master Boot Record (MBR) partition style is used by older operating systems. MBR supports disk sizes up to 2 TB and a maximum of four primary partitions.

Purpose of an Operating System

The operating system serves as an intermediary between users and computer hardware, managing resources, executing applications, and facilitating user interaction with the system through a graphical or command-line interface.

Third-Party Software

Third-party software is defined by being created by developers other than the original manufacturer of the operating system, offering additional features and functionalities beyond the native applications provided.

Description

Learn about different types of bootable devices like hard disk drives, CD/DVD drives, USB jump drives, external hard drives, and SD cards. Explore the concept of third-party programs and software, including examples like Norton for Microsoft Windows.