HANDOUT – 4 (Chapter 4.
1) Final Term (2024-2025)
Name: Class: ix Roll: Section:
Subject: Computer Science Paper 1 Teachers: Md. Shahinur Alam Date:
Software
System Software
System software is a type of software that controls and manages a computer hardware and software
resource. It provides a platform for running application software.
Application Software
Application software is a type of software designed to help users perform specific tasks. It runs on top of
system software and is used for activities like word processing, web browsing, or playing games.
How application software runs?
Operation
Hardware Application
System
• Application software talks to the operating system, this allows it to interact with the hardware
• The hardware processes and sends the information to the operating system which talks directly to
the applications software
• This process is repeated while application software is in use
System Software features Application Software features
• set of programs to control and manage the • used to perform various applications (apps) on
operation of computer hardware a computer
• provides a platform on which other software • allows a user to perform specific tasks using
can run the computer’s resources
• required to allow hardware and software to run • may be a single program (for example,
without problems Notepad) or a suite of programs (for example,
• provides a human computer interface (HCI) Microsoft Office)
• controls the allocation and usage of hardware • user can execute the software as and when
resources. they require.
1. BIOS/Firmware (Boots up) 1. Spread Sheet
2. OS (Manages __?_ __?__ , Provides ___?_____) 2. Word processor
3. Utilities (maintain, enhance, troubleshoot) 3. Internet Browser
4. Device Drivers (enables hardware ? with OS) 4. Games
Difference between System Software and Application Software
Feature System Software Application Software
Purpose Manages and controls computer hardware Helps users perform specific tasks
User Interaction Runs in the background; not directly used by the Directly used by the user
user except some part like OS interface
Dependency Needed for the computer to work Depends on system software to run
Examples Operating System (Windows, macOS), Device Microsoft Word, Excel, Web
Drivers, Utility Programs Browsers, Games
Installation Usually comes pre-installed with the system Installed as per user needs
How Computer boots up?
1. Computer is powered on, it reads firmware (BIOS) from the ROM
2. BIOS does
o Performs POST (Power-On Self-Test) It detects hardware (CPU, RAM, keyboard, etc.)
o Loads the Bootstrap Loader
3. Bootstrap Loader loads the OS from hard disk to RAM.
EEPROM (Electrically Erasable Programmable Read-Only Memory)
• Stores BIOS -- Non-volatile
CMOS (Complementary Metal-Oxide Semiconductor)
• Stores BIOS settings -- Volatile (needs battery to keep data)
Different System Software
Firmware/ BIOS
Program that are embedded directly on hardware. It contains boot up instruction that loads other program (OS) to
correctly startup a computer system. Basic Input Output System (BIOS) is a firmware.
of a program that provides low level control for devices.
• This layer ensures that hardware devices e.g. keyboard and mouse are available and can
be communicated directly by the operating system
• Firmware translates between the hardware and the software
Utility software
The software that helps maintain, enhance and troubleshoot/repair a computer system. Interacts with the
computer’s hardware. Some utility software comes installed with the operating system. Designed to perform a
limited number of tasks. Examples:
1. Defragmentation (maintain) 3. Encryption (enhance)
2. Compression (enhance) 4. Task manager (troubleshoot/repair)
Device Drivers
The software that enables one or more hardware devices to communicate with the computer's operating
system. It acts as a translator between the OS and the hardware.
• Without drivers, a hardware device (for example, a computer printer) would be unable to work with the
computer and OS will give an error message.
Operating System
Software that manages computer hardware and provides an interface between the user and the hardware.
It provides a platform for running applications in a computer system
Functions/Roles of System Software
1. Provides an interface
A user interface is the way a user communicates and gives commands to the computer. Different type of
User Interfaces:
• Graphical User Interface (uses pictures, icons, menus, buttons) (e.g. Windows, Android, Mac)
• Command Line Interface (uses typed commands) (e.g. MS-DOS, PowerShell)
Advantages Disadvantages
GUI • Intuitive and user-friendly • Uses more system resources
• Requires no previous knowledge to use • Can be slower to find and execute commands
• Information is visual, making it easier to • Can be frustrating when doing repetitive tasks
understand
CLI • Uses less system resources • Requires users to remember commands
• Useful for automation of tasks • Typing errors are common
• Commands are often faster to type than • Less intuitive than GUI
navigating menus
2. Manages user accounts
• Maintains access levels and permissions (administrator, guest user, etc.)
• Allows each user to customise their account settings
• Stores each user’s files separately
3. Manages files (File manager)
• Allow users to performs actions on files like renaming, closing, deleting, editing, etc.
• Maintains access levels
• Maintains the directory structures
• Manages the allocation and storage of files
• Ensures memory allocation for a file while reading it from the secondary storage and loading it
into the RAM
4. Providing system security
• Password-protected system accounts to controls access level
• a firewall to blocks unwanted network connection
• Antivirus gives protection from malwares.
• File encryption adds another level of security
• Offers the ability to restore lost/corrupted data
5. Manages peripherals and drivers
• Communicates with the input and output devices using device drivers
• Controls the usage and allocation of hardware resources
• Translates files/data into a format that can be understood by the input/output devices using
device drivers
• Downloads device drivers for new devices, or loads drivers for old devices for communication
between the computer and the device
6. Manages memory
• Operating system allocating primary memory (RAM) between different programs that are open
at the same time
• Allows data to move between the RAM and the secondary storage
• Ensures two different processes do not try to access the same memory location
7. Manages multitasking
• Enables the computer to perform multiple functions at once
• Allocates hardware resources to each task according to its priority
• Resources are allocated to each task for a specific time limit
8. Handle interrupts
• Uses the ISR (Interrupt Service Routine) to service interrupts
• Determines the priority of interrupts
• Pauses and stores data of current tasks before managing any interrupt received
9. Provide a platform for running application
• Uses several device drivers for different purposes while reading the application and loading it
onto the RAM
• Points to the first executable instruction for the program’s execution
Interrupts
An interrupt is a signal for the CPU to stop what it is currently doing and do something else as a higher
priority
• The CPU is in a continuous loop of carrying out the fetch-decode-execute cycle, however there are
occasions when this needs to be interrupted
• An interrupt can be generated by hardware and software:
o Hardware - power button press, moving the mouse, clicking an icon to open a new program,
keyboard presses e.g. ctrl, alt, delete
o Software - a program is not responding, division by zero, two processes trying to access the
same memory location
• Interrupts are added to an area called the interrupt service routine (ISR) with instructions that will need
to complete the commands of the interrupt
• Previous task's contents of the registers are copied to a reserved area in RAM called a stack.
• It will be required for later retrieval when the interrupt is complete.
• The interrupt will be executed.
