COMPUTER

SOFTWARE

WHAT IS A SOFTWARE?
COMPUTER SOFTWARE
Software is a set programs that
enables a computer system to
operate.
Classification of software
A. According to purpose
B. According to the method of
acquisition
C. End user licence (EUL)
1.According to purpose
a. System software
b. Application soft ware
a. System software
-It enables the user to communicate
with the computer and its various
devices e.g keyboard.
Programs under system
software
a)Firmware
-it is a combination of both
hardware and software.
-It is in form of a chip which
may be used to store
programs.
 b. Network softwares
-it is used to establish
communication between two
or more computers .
-This is done by linking them
using a communication
channel e.g cables to create
network e.g novel- Netware
c. Operating system
(O.S)
 it is a set of programs that control
and supervise the hardware resources
of the computer during processing .
Examples of O.S
1.Windows95/98/2000/ xp
2.Linux3.
3. Macintosh and
4. Ms Dos
d. Utility software
_They are programs that
perform commonly used
services that make
certain aspects of
computing to go on more
smoothly.
Types of utility software
 System level
 Application utility
 Program translator
 Setting editor
 Text editor
 Sort editor
 Calculator
 Time
 Back-up utility
 Anti-virus utility
 Diagnostic utility
 Calendar utility
b. Application software

-Software is designed to help

the user accomplish specific
tasks.
 Examples of application sw
Software uses Examples
1.Word processor -Typing docs like Ms Word, Lotus word
letters pro
2.Spreadsheets -Calculating Budgets Ms Excel. Lotus 1-2-3
3. Databases -Keeping records and Ms Access, My SQL
files

4.Desktop -Designing -Adobe page maker,

publisher Publications MS publisher
E.g books
5. Computer -Technical drawing Auto CAD
aided Design
6.Graphics sw -Manipulating Corel Draw, Photo
2.According to acquisition

a) In-house developed program (Bespoke)

-These programs are designed to serve a
particular purpose for specific groups or
people e.g in banks for managing their
operations, airlines for booking e.t.c
b) Standard software (vendor off the shelf/
packages)
-These programs are developed by the
software engineers, packaged and made
available for purchase through a vendor or
 ADVANTAGES OF STANDARD
SOFTWARE OVER IN-HOUSE
SOFTWARE
They can be easily installed and run
They are thoroughly tested hence
have few errors
They are readily available
They can be easily modified to meet
specific user needs
They are less expensive
 DISADVANTAGES
They may not meet special needs
They are not as efficient as user made
programs
When changes occur, extra costs are
usually needed from the user
Not all packages are compatible with
all computer systems
3. According to End-User-
Licence
a. Open source/non-proprietary
software
-Refers to software whose source code
(programmed set of instructions) is
freely made available to users.
-The user can use and modify the
software)
b. Proprietary
-Are software whose source code is
hidden from users. Modifications are
only made by software engineers.
-They are usually licensed to users at a
fee or applied freely.
c. Freeware
-They are softwares that are freely
made available to the users
Criteria for selecting computer
system (specification)
A. Hardware considerations
Factors considered when selecting computer hardware
include:
 Processor type and speed
 Computer memory capacity
 Upgrading and compatibility
 User needs
 Cost of the hardware
 Portability

B. Software considerations
1.User needs
2.Documentation
3.Authenticity
4.User friendliness
5.Cost
6.Portability
7.Warranty
 TOPIC 3:Operating system
-This
(OS) is the main programs that
control the execution of user
applications and enables the user
to access h/w and s/w resources
Examples: Ms Windows 98/2000/
xp/ vista, Unix, Linux, Ms dos
Functions of OS
1. Job scheduling
- it prepares schedules, controls and
monitors tasks submitted for execution
to ensure the most efficient processing.
2. Resource control
- it allocates computer resources such
as CPU time, main memory, secondary
storage and input/ output for use by
3. Error handling
-it provides the error correction routines to
ensure smooth operations within the CPU.
4. Interrupt handling- This is the break from
the normal sequential processing of an
instruction
-O.S determines the cause of the interrupt
and transfer the control to the most
appropriate programs.
5. Input/output handling- the OS governs
input/output of data and their location,
storage and retrieval.
6.Communication control
The o.s is responsible for managing
various communication devices and
provide an environment within which
communication protocols operate.
7.Memory management
-During storage the OS determines which
task/Data remains in the memory and which
one is to be put in secondary storage
devices.
 Types of operating systems
(OS)can be classified according to:
-They
a) Number of users
b) b. Number of tasks
c) c. Interface
a)Number of users
i. Single user OS
- it allows only one user at a time to
access the computer e.g Ms Dos, Ms
Windows 95/98/2000.
ii. Multi user OS
- it allows two or more users to access
the computer at the same time e.g
Windows 2000 server, Novel, Unix,
Windows NT e.t.c
b) Number of tasks
i. Single tasking OS
-It allows only one program to be
executed at a time e.g Ms Dos.
ii. Multi-tasking OS
- also known as multithreading.it
allows a single CPU to execute more
than one program at a time e.g
Windows Vista, XP
c) Interface
i. Command line- the user interacts with
the computer by typing a command at
the prompt found on the command line
e.g Ms Dos. comman
d

Command
Prompt
ii. Menu driven interface
-This interface allows the user to choose
commands or options from a list or menu using
keyboard or pointing device e.g mouse.
iii. Graphical user interface
(GUI)
-The interface represents commands as small
pictures on the screen called icons e.g Ms
Windows 95/98/2000/ XP/Vista, Windows7,
Icons Linux
e.t.c
Factors to consider when choosing an
operating system
1.Hardware configuration
2.Basic design of the computer
3.Applications intended for the
computer
4.User friendliness i.e easy to use
5.Cost of the operating system
6.Availability in the market
HOW AN OPERATING SYSTEM
ORGANISES INFORMATION

The operating
system organizes in
terms of files and
folders and Drives.
1.FILE
-It’s a collection of related
data stored in one
location given a unique
for ease of access,
manipulation and storage.
Features of a file
1.Every files has the following details :
1.A unique name and an extension.
-The extension usually suggests the type of
information held by the file.
e.g.
table.txt
2.Its size
3.date of creation File Extension
4. modified
 Types of files
A. System files
include
-These files contain
information that is critical
for the operation of the
computer system.
-Their extension is .SYS
B. Application files
-These files hold programs or
application files.
-Have an extension of .EXE
c. Data files
-Files for Ms word, Plain text, graphic
files etc.
-Have an extension of .DOC, .TXT, .TIF
respectively
Functions of files:
a. Storage of data
b. Organisation of information

2.FOLDER/DIRECTORY
-It is a named storage for area
where the user can store related
files to enable easy access
3. DRIVES
The operating systems
recognize storage
media/devices as drives.
Drives are given labels from
A-Z to identify them e.g hard
disk drives are assigned
letters C, D, E,F.
Getting started with MS
Windows
Once you turn on the computer
the window is loaded in the
main memory and finally the
desk top showing that the
computer is ready for use
appears.
Windows desktop
 Once you switch on your computer, windows automatically loaded into main
memory and a screen called a desktop appears. This means the computer is
ready for use.
The features of the
desktop
1) ICONS are:
-These are picture that represent a command, file,
program or folder.
-They are normally manipulated by a pointing
device like mouse.
-The most commonly used icons on the desktop
include;
2)Background
Isthe work space area on the
monitor on which icon and
running tasks are placed.
 3) TASK BAR
This is the strip that normally appears at
the bottom of the screen.
 It enables the use to easily switch
between programs and documents /task
that are currently running.
Whenever a user starts a program or
opens a file, its button appears on the
task bar and stays there until the user
exits from the program.
Parts of the task bar
The task bar has three main parts main parts:
1.Start button
Displays the start menu.
2.Task manager
Displays buttons of the programs currently
running.
3.System tray
This is at the right most part of the task bar. It has icons
of task running in the background which are not displayed
on the screen e.g. time and calendar, antivirus program,
volume control, etc.
 Parts of the task bar
3.Start menu items


When you click on the start button,

a list of choices appears called the
start menu.
Items displayed vary depending on
the version on the version of
Windows and the programs
installed.
3.Start menu items

Windows vista Windows

XP
Items on the start menu are:
a) programs/All programs
-Thismenu displays a list of all
programs installed in the computer.
-The menu has small solid arrow which
when you point other options/sidekick
appear
cont.
 B) Documents /recent
documents.
This is a special folder
recognized by Ms. windows that
helps the computer user to store
data or files.
c) Settings/control panel
An area that provide tools which the user
can use to maintain and make changes to
the computer setup.
d)Find /search
It helps the user to look for a file or folder
in case the user forgets its name or
location.
 d) Help /help and
support
It displays detailed information on how
to use the operating system and solve
some computer related problem in case
the computer fails to function correctly.
f) Run
It enables the user:
Install programs on the hard disk
Open files and folders from a storage location
Run programs from removable media without
necessarily installing it on the hard disk.
G) LOG ON/LOG OFF
-It provides a security measure to
ensure no unauthorized users from
accessing the computer resources.
-It prompts user to provide a username
and password in order to gain access.
-When done using the computer always
log off.
H) SHUT DOWN
The menu let the user shut down,
restart the computer or restart in
another mode. -It is advisable to
always save your work, close all
programs before shutting down a
computer.
Creating a file
Depending on the type of program installed
in your computer ,you can create different
types of files e.g drawing, text file etc.
To create a text file proceed as follows:

1.Using my computer display explorer window

2.Choose the location where to save the file
3.Point to new from the file menu.
4.Select the text document you want from the
list.
 The application window

-To enter data in a new file created,

one has to open it in its application
program.
-This is done by double clicking the
file icon. A rectangular area called
the application window appears on
the screen.
The application window Title
bar
Men
u bar Tool
bar
Work
area
Scroll bar

Insertion
pointer

Status
 PARTS OF THE WINDOW

1.Title bar -This is a bar across the

top of the window that displays the
name of the current application
programs.
2.Menu bar - Provides a list of
commands that can be used to
manipulate a task
3.Tool bar
They are buttons arranged in a
row that are short cuts to menu
commands
4.Work area- this is the area where
you can create your document
5.Status bar- this displays
information about the program
currently running
6.Scroll bars
- provides a way to “pan” your
window up-down or left-right to
show information that does not fit
in the window.
7.Insertion point/text cursor - marks
the place where the texts and
graphics will appear when typing or
drawing is started.
MANAGING
FILES/FOLDERS
1.Creating a file/folder
-To make a new file or folder
2.Sorting
- Refers to organising files and
folders in particular order.
3. Renaming
- Refers to changing the names of
files/folders from their original
ones to some other new ones.
4.Copying
- Making a duplicate of files and
folders to other locations.
5.Moving
- Refers to changing the position of
files and folders to another location.
6.Deleting
- Refers to removing the files and
folders completely from the storage
location.
7.Searching
- Refers to looking for certain
Disk management using operating
system
i. Formatting disk
- The process of preparing a new disk
for use by creating sectors and tracks
on the surface of the disk.
ii. Disk defragmentation
-Refers to arranging of scattered folders
and files on a storage media for easy
access of files and folders.
iii. Disk compression
-This tool helps in consolidating all
files and folders in smaller storage
areas hence creating more space on
the storage device.
iv. Disk partitioning
- The process of dividing the
physical disk into two or more
partitions called logical drives.
v. Backing up data
The tool enables the user to create
copies of data and programs on
separate storage areas to avoid
losing of data and programs in case
the storage device fails.
vi. Scanning storage devices
- This tool helps the user to check up
and repair minor storage problems e.g
lost storage or damaged surface.
vii. Scanning for virus
- Refers to checking your system for
virus and removing them e.g Norton
antivirus, McAfee software to scan.
Trouble shooting windows related
problems
-Troubleshooting refers to the process
of diagnosing and trying to fix hardware
or software related problems.
-Some problems windows experience
include:
1.Failure to boot
2.Computer hanging now and then
3.Abnormal restarting
 The problems maybe as a result
of
Problem during installation e.g
missing files
Insufficient system memory
Problem with the hard disk boot
sector e.g due to virus infection
Corrupted window registry system
Due to interrupt request conflicts
To trouble shoot you need
to:
Study the trouble shooting guide
Use the device manager to check
the devices causing problems
Reinstall the operating system if
the above problem persists