Which term describes the operating system function that decides where data is stored on a hard disk and keeps track of where it is so it can be found again?
File management
What is meant by process management?
Sharing the processor time between programs and moving them through the ready, running and blocked states
Which term describes the operating system function that handles logins and passwords and stores details of everyone who can use the computer?
User management
What is meant by a device driver?
A program that controls a peripheral device such as a printer or mouse
What is meant by peripheral management?
The operating system handling the input from and output to devices such as printers, mice and displays
Which term describes the settings that control whether a person is allowed only to read a file or is also allowed to change it?
Access rights
Which term describes the part of the operating system that allows a user to give instructions and see information, for example through windows and icons?
User interface
What is the main purpose of an operating system?
To manage the hardware, users and resources used by software
A student listens to music while writing an essay and chatting online. The operating system shares the processor time between all of these tasks. What is this called?
Multitasking
The operating system manages processes. Why does it allow each process to use the processor for only a short amount of time?
So that every process gets a turn to use the processor
What does the operating system do when it carries out memory management?
It records where programs and data are held in main memory
A computer in an office is shared by several members of staff. Which of these is an example of access rights?
A user can read a file but cannot edit it
Why does the operating system store user passwords in an encrypted form?
So that anyone reading the password file cannot understand them
Which of these tasks is carried out by the operating system as part of file management?
Moving a document from one folder to another
A process is waiting for the user to type a command. Which state is this process in?
Blocked
A document is being sent to a printer when the printer runs out of paper. What will the operating system do?
Report the error to the user on screen
A program has just been opened and its instructions have been copied into main memory. The process is waiting for its turn on the processor. Which state is it in?
Ready
A user opens a program that is stored on the hard disk. What must the operating system do before the processor can run it?
Copy the program into main memory
In a school, a technician can install new software on the computers but the teachers cannot. What is this an example of?
Users being given different levels of access rights
A student connects a brand new type of graphics tablet to a computer but it does not work. What should the student install to make it work?
The device driver supplied with the tablet
Several programs are open at the same time and each one has data in main memory. Why must the operating system manage this memory?
So that one program's data is not overwritten by another
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