Types of software

Question 1

System software

Answer 1

A software that provides the services that the computer requires. E.g operating system, utility software

Question 2

Functions of system software

Answer 2

• Control and manage the operations of hardware
• Required to allow hardware and software to run without problems
• Provides a human-computer interface to the user

Question 3

Operating system:

Answer 3

type of software that performs the basic functions of a computer and manages the hardware

Question 4

How operating system manages memory

Answer 4

• Manages movement of data to and from RAM
• Makes sure two process dont try to access same memory location at the same time ( by issuing interrupt)
• Allows multi-tasking

Question 5

Utility software:

Answer 5

utility programs perform specific tasks related to computer functions, resources, files and security.

They help to configure the system, analyse and optimise it to improve its efficiency

Question 6

Utility software
security utilities:

Answer 6

Antivirus
Encryption
Firewall

Question 7

Disk organisation utilities

Answer 7

System cleanup tools
Disk defragmentation tools

Question 8

Data compression utilities

Answer 8

File compression software

Question 9

File backup utilities

Answer 9

Full backup
Incremental backup

Question 10

Firmware

Answer 10

A type of software that is stored in the read only memory (ROM). It includes the basic input output system (BIOS) and the bootloader

Question 11

Application Software

Answer 11

a software that provides services the user requires and allows the user to performs task on the computer

Question 12

Example of application software

Answer 12

E.g
Word Processing Software, Spreadsheet Software, Web Browsers

Question 13

Example of operating systems

Answer 13

EG: windows, MAC, Linux

Question 14

Application software running sequence

Answer 14

1. Hardware is powered on
2. Firmware loads the BIOS program in ROM, checks if hardware is working fine
3. BIOS loads the operating system
4. Operating system provides a platform for applications to run

Hardware –> Firmware —> Operating system –> Application software

Question 15

what are interrupts

Answer 15

When a signal is sent from a device or a program to the operating system that causes a temporary stop. Allowing multi-tasking

Question 16

How interrupt is handled using an interrupt service routine:

Answer 16

• an interrupt generated (by something)
• interrupt collected by interrupt handler and sent to CPU
• the interrupt is assigned a place in a queue based on priority.
• The CPU checks if the next interrupt has a higher priority than a current task being processed.
• If it has a higher priority, CPU stops current task and fetches the interrupt
• interrupt is processed by the Interrupt Service Routine (ISR)
• Lower priority; CPU leaves the interrupt in the queue and carries on processing its current task

Question 17

What would happen if interrupt signals were not used?

Answer 17

• Computer will not be able to multitask
• Computer would become impossible to use
• The computer would only start a new task when it had finished processing the current task

Question 18

Software interrupts

Answer 18

• division by zero
• two processes accessing the same memory location
• Null value

Question 19

Hardware interrupts

Answer 19

• pressing a key on the keyboard
• Peripheral device connected or disconnected
• paper jam in the printer

Question 20

Operating system function

Answer 20

• Managing files (e.g saving, creating, opening, moving, deleting files)
• Manages security
• Managing multi-tasking
• Provides a user interface
• Providing a platform for applications to run on
• Interrupt handling routines
• Hardware peripheral management
• Managing user accounts

Question 21

Why interrupts are needed

Answer 21

• to stop the current task being processed
• To allow multitasking
• To process tasks with higher priority

Question 22

Firmware

Answer 22

• A type of software that is stored in the ROM, includes the BIOS and bootloader