K02 Flashcards
What is a GUI (Graphical User Interface) operating system?
A GUI OS uses visual elements like icons and buttons to let users interact with the system without needing to memorise commands—this abstraction simplifies system use.
What is a command line operating system?
A CLI OS requires users to type commands using a keyboard instead of clicking icons, offering more control but requiring memorisation of command syntax.
How does peripheral management work in a computer system?
Peripheral management sends commands in a device’s language via drivers, allowing the computer to control and communicate with peripherals.
What is a device driver?
A driver is software that allows the OS to communicate with hardware devices by translating commands between the device and the system.
What is Plug and Play (PnP)?
PnP allows the system to automatically detect and configure new hardware devices, often using BIOS during startup or when plugged in.
What are vendor-supplied drivers?
These are drivers provided by hardware manufacturers, sometimes bundled with extra tools or updates and support via their website.
What is the BIOS and what does it do?
BIOS is a firmware that acts as a bridge between the hardware and the OS, initiating system startup and hardware configuration.
How does PnP work with BIOS?
The BIOS checks for new devices during boot or connection and tries to “handshake” with them for automatic configuration.
How does data get stored and managed on a hard drive?
Data is written in blocks starting at the first available space. The File Allocation Table (FAT) tracks where data is stored and deleted.
What is memory and swap space?
RAM stores frequently needed data. When full, a portion of the HDD is used as swap space to hold temporary data—affecting speed if limited.
What are clean-up tools in an OS?
These remove internet history, cookies, temporary files, and saved data to maintain system performance and privacy.
What is defragmentation and why is it needed?
Defragmentation reorganises scattered file parts on a hard drive, improving speed by making file access faster.
What is drive formatting?
Formatting prepares a disk for use by organising it for a specific file system, making it compatible with an OS.
What is the system registry in Windows?
The registry stores software, hardware, system settings, file associations, and usage policies—acting as the OS’s internal manager.
What are restore points in Windows?
Restore points let you revert the system to an earlier state to recover from crashes or infections—though not for data recovery
What is a firewall and what does it do?
A firewall filters incoming and outgoing network traffic, blocking unsafe data and controlling access based on rules and known threats.
What is spyware?
Spyware is malware that secretly collects user data without consent, often for tracking or data theft.
What is anti-spyware software?
Software that detects and prevents spyware using rules or definition files to identify and stop malicious monitoring programs.
What is an unattended installation?
An automated OS/app installation process that requires no user input during setup.
What is an in-place upgrade?
An OS or app installation that updates the software without removing the previous version or erasing files.
What is a clean install?
A complete removal of the old system/software before installing the new version, often involving disk formatting.
What is a repair install?
Reinstalling the OS while keeping files, apps, and settings intact—used to fix system errors without full reinstallation.
What is multi-boot or dual-boot?
A setup where multiple OSs are installed on the same computer, letting the user choose one at startup (e.g., Windows & Linux).
What is remote network installation?
A system for deploying and managing software on remote computers across a network, used for centralised control.
