Operating System Definition and Function

In the Computer System (comprises of Hardware and software), Hardware can only understand
machine code (in the form of 0 and 1) which doesn't make any sense to a naive user.

We need a system which can act as an intermediary and manage all the processes and resources
present in the system.

An Operating System can be defined as an interface between user and hardware. It is

responsible for the execution of all the processes, Resource Allocation, CPU management, File
Management and many other tasks.

The purpose of an operating system is to provide an environment in which a user can execute
programs in convenient and efficient manner.

Structure of a Computer System

A Computer System consists of:

o Users (people who are using the computer)

o Application Programs (Compilers, Databases, Games, Video player, Browsers, etc.)
o System Programs (Shells, Editors, Compilers, etc.)
o Operating System ( A special program which acts as an interface between user and
hardware )
o Hardware ( CPU, Disks, Memory, etc)
What does an Operating system do?

1. Process Management
2. Process Synchronization
3. Memory Management
4. CPU Scheduling
5. File Management
6. Security

Process Management in OS

A Program does nothing unless its instructions are executed by a CPU. A program in execution
is called a process. In order to accomplish its task, process needs the computer resources.

There may exist more than one process in the system which may require the same resource at the
same time. Therefore, the operating system has to manage all the processes and the resources in a
convenient and efficient way.

Some resources may need to be executed by one process at one time to maintain the consistency
otherwise the system can become inconsistent and deadlock may occur.

The operating system is responsible for the following activities in connection with Process
Management

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1. Scheduling processes and threads on the CPUs.

2. Creating and deleting both user and system processes.
3. Suspending and resuming processes.
4. Providing mechanisms for process synchronization.
5. Providing mechanisms for process communication.

What is Windows?

Windows is a graphical operating system developed by Microsoft. It allows users to view and

store files, run the software, play games, watch videos, and provides a way to connect to the
internet. It was released for both home computing and professional works.

Microsoft introduced the first version as 1.0

It was released for both home computing and professional functions of Windows on 10
November 1983. Later, it was released on many versions of Windows as well as the current
version, Windows 10.

History of Microsoft Windows

Version History
Windows Microsoft introduced Windows with its first version 1.0. It was released on 20 November 1985,
1.0 and at the beginning, it was sold for $100.00. Additionally, it was the first effort by Microsoft to
produce a graphical user interface in 16-bit.
Windows The second version, Windows 2.0, was produced by Microsoft on 9 December 1987 as well as it also
2.0 introduced the Window 386 on the same day. Initially, the price was the same $100.00 for both of the
Windows in the market.
It came with new features such as it was able to overlap each other, and it also introduced the new way
 to maximize and minimize the window, instead of using 'zooming' and 'iconizing' respectively.
Furthermore, it also included the control panel feature where several system settings and configuration
options are available in one place. Even Microsoft Word and Excel were also used for the first time on
Windows 2.
Windows It was released in June 1988, and at the beginning, its price was $100.00.
286
Windows It was the first Windows that needed a hard drive. It was launched by Microsoft on 22 May 1990. Its
3.0 full version was sold for $149.95, and the updated version was $79.95. Additionally, the multimedia
supported Windows 3 was introduced in October 1991.
Windows version 3.0 gained more success, and it became a challenge for Apple's Macintosh and the
Commodore Amiga GUI as it was provided pre-installed on computers by PC compatible manufacturers
as well as Zenith Data Systems.
It was also able to run the MS-DOS program in Windows that allowed multitasking in legacy programs
as well as supported 256 colors, which made the interface more colorful and advanced.
Windows It was launched in April 1992, when it was in development its code name was Sparta. It was the
3.1 commonly used operating system for the PC graphical user interface. In the first two months after its
release, more than one million copies were sold. It made the Windows usable publishing platform for
the first time by introducing the TrueType fonts. Minesweeper was also used for the first time on the
Windows 3.1.
It was needed only 1MB of RAM to run, and it allowed users to control the MS-DOS programs with the
help of a mouse for the first time. Furthermore, it was also the first operating system to be distributed on
a CD-ROM.
Some other generations of version 3.1 are as follows:
o In 1992, the Windows for Workgroups 3.1 was launched.
o Microsoft introduced Windows NT 3.1 on 27 July 1993.
o An updated version of Windows 3.1, Windows 3.11, was introduced on 31 December 1993.
o In February 1994, the Windows for Workgroups 3.11 was launched.
o On 21 September 1994, the Windows NT 5 was introduced.
o The next version Windows NT 3.51, was introduced on 30 May 1995.

Windows 95 As the name specifies, Windows 95 was launched on 24 August 1995, and within four days of its
release, more than one million copies were sold. It introduced the Start button and Start menu features
for the first time, including important features such as a 32-bit environment, multitasking, and taskbar.
Furthermore, MS-DOS still played a vital role in Windows 95, with the help of some programs and
elements.
Internet Explorer was also used on the Windows 95 for the first time, but it could not be installed by
default, it needed the Windows 95 plus pack for it. Later, Windows 95 improved and included the IE
browser by default.
Windows 95 It was introduced on 24 February 1996.
Service Pack
Windows On 29 July 1996, Windows NT 4.0 was launched.
NT 4.0
Windows
o The first version 0 of Windows CE was introduced in November 1996.
CE
o The Second version 0 of Windows CE was launched in November 1997.
o The next version 1 of Windows CE was released in July 1998.
o The third version, 3.0 of Windows CE, was introduced in 1999.

Windows 98 It was developed on Windows 95, and introduced in June 1998. It was released, including Internet
Explorer 4, Windows Address Book, Outlook Express, Microsoft Chat, and NetShow Player.
The second version of Windows 98 was introduced on 5 May 1999, in this version the NetShow Player
was replaced by Windows Media Player 6.2. It was also brought with the address bar and back/forward
navigation buttons in Windows Explorer, and more other features.
Windows 98 came with the new feature Windows Driver model for computer components and
accessories, which offered support to all future editions of Windows. Furthermore, it was improved USB
support including USB mice and USB hubs.
Windows On 17 February 2000, it was launched.
2000
Windows It was invented in September 2000, and it was the last operating system, which was based on MS-DOS
ME and in the Windows 9x line. According to the enterprise market, it was considered consumer-aimed
Windows with the Windows 2000. It was also provided some useful features for consumers as well as
more automated system recovery tools.
Additionally, an Internet Explorer, Windows Movie Maker, and Windows Media Player 7 were used on
Windows ME for the first time.
Windows It was introduced on 17 February 2000. Basically, it was based on Microsoft business-oriented system
2000 Windows NT, and later it provided the base for the Windows XP. Furthermore, the automatic updating
feature made their appearance for the first time on Windows 2000, and it was the first operating system
to support hibernation.
Windows Windows XP was considered the best edition of Windows; it was introduced on 25 October 2001. It
XP followed Windows ME and provided consumer-friendly elements. The 64-bit version of Windows XP
was introduced on 28 March 2003. Furthermore, Its Professional x64 version was introduced on 24
April 2005.
The start button and taskbar were replaced by including the green Start button, blue task bar, and vista
wallpaper, as well as several shadows and more visual effects.
It also brought some important features, such as ClearType, which helps to read content on LCD
screens, autoplay from CDs and other media, different automated update, and recovery tools.
Additionally, It was used for the longest time, and even when it was discontinued, it was used at an
estimated 430 m PC.
Windows It was introduced by Microsoft In January 2007. It was brought the better look and feel user interface
Vista and included transparent elements, security, and search. When it was in the development phase, its code
name was "Longhorn." Windows Media Player 11 and Internet Explorer 7 were made their appearance
for the first time on Windows Vista, included Windows Defender, an anti-spyware program. It was also
provided some useful features such as Windows DVD Maker, speech recognition, and Photo Gallery.
Furthermore, it was the first operating system to be distributed on DVD.
Windows On 27 February 2008, Microsoft introduced Windows Server 2008.
Server 2008
Windows 7 It was introduced on 22 October 2009 to overcome all problems that were faced by Windows Vista. It
 was released with user-friendly features and less dialogue box overload. It was more stable, faster, and
easy to use as compared to release other previous versions. Additionally, the handwriting recognition
feature was used for the first time on Windows 7.
As IE was the default browser in Microsoft Windows, the antitrust investigations used Microsoft in
Europe for making it a default browser. Consequently, it had to provide the users the option to choose
and install the browser on the first boot.
Windows On 4 September 2012, Microsoft was released Windows Server 2012.
Server 2012
Windows 8 It was introduced by Microsoft on 26 October 2012. It was released with new features, such as a fast
operating system, support for the USB 3.0 devices, and Web store. The Web store is a place where you
can download different types of Windows applications; its full-screen mode was run for the first time on
Windows 8.
Windows It was launched by Microsoft on 17 October 2013. It was re-launched the Start button, which was able
8.1 to display the Start screen from the desktop view of Windows 8.1. Furthermore, it provided a way to
select boot directly into the desktop.
Windows 10 On 29 July 2015, Microsoft introduced Windows 10. It was released with some new features such as
switching between a keyboard and mouse mode and a tablet mode, which was beneficial for the users
who use computers like surface Pro 3 with a detachable keyboard. It was designed for all Windows
platforms across several devices, as well as Windows tablets and Phones, including common
applications.

Since 1983, Microsoft is producing Windows. The founder of Microsoft 'Bill Gates' announced

for Microsoft Windows on 10 November 1983 and released the first version
of Windows in 1985. The following table contains history of Windows from edition 1 to 10.

Features of Windows

Microsoft Windows includes a lot of features to help users. Some of its excellent features are as
follows:

1. Control Panel: Windows provides a Control Panel feature that includes many tools to
configure and manage the resources on their computer. For example, users can change
settings for audio, video, printers, mouse, keyboard, network connections, date and time,
 power saving options, user accounts, installed applications, etc.

2. File Explorer: It is also known as Windows Explorer, which displays your files and
folders on the computer. It allows users to browse the data on the hard drive, SSD and
other inserted removable disks like pen drives and CDs, and you can manage the content
according to the requirements such as delete, rename, search, and transfer the data.

3. Internet browser: As the internet browser is very important to search for anything, view
pages, online shopping, play games, watch videos, etc. Windows come with a pre-
installed internet browser. in Windows 10, the Edge internet browser is the default
browser. Furthermore, Internet Explorer was the default browser in Microsoft Windows
 from the Windows edition 95 to 8.1 version.

4. Microsoft Paint: Since November 1985, Microsoft Windows comes with pre-installed

Microsoft Paint. It is a simple software to create, view, and edit an image. It offers
several tools to draw an image, crop, resize, and save an image with a different file
extension.

5. Taskbar: Windows comes with a taskbar that displays currently opened programs, it also
allows users to access any specific programs. Additionally, it includes the notification
area on the right side that shows date and time, battery, network, volume, and other
background running applications.

6. Start menu: Microsoft Windows contains a start menu to the left side of the taskbar. It
displays programs and utilities that are installed on the computer. It can be simply opened
 by clicking on the Start menu button or pressing the start key on the keyboard.

7. Task Manager: Windows includes the task manager feature that provides detail of the
running applications or programs on the computer. You can also check how much of the
system resources, such as RAM, CPU, disk I/O, are being used by each of the
applications.

8. Disk Cleanup: It is used to free up disk space with the help of deleting temporary or
unnecessary files. It also helps to enhance the performance of the computer, and boost
storage space to download the programs and documents. To open Disk Cleanup, follow
the below steps:
o Open the File Explorer by pressing Window + E.
o Then, right-click on any disk drive and select Properties option from the drop-
down list.
o Now, click on the Disk Cleanup.