New computer users usually have a ton of questions that need to be answered in the most understandable and accessible way. One of them is the following: "What is the operating system?" Let's figure it out.
What is an operating system and what is its purpose?
It is a specialized shell designed to control a computer, run programs, ensure effective protection of data stored on a computer, and perform various service functions upon requests from programs and users. Any program uses the services of the operating system , so work can be carried out exclusively under the control of a particular OS. Only when this condition is fulfilled can one count on coordinated computer activity.
The required parts that are part of the operating system are as follows:
- the core, which is a command interpreter, that is, a kind of translator that transfers requests from users or programs in a form that is understandable to the physical components of the computer;
- specialized software components focused on managing a variety of devices that are included in the computer, they are called drivers;
- the user interface, that is, a convenient shell through which the main communication is carried out.
What is an operating system and what is included in its composition?
The OS is a complex formed from interconnected programs, which is designed to organize convenient user-computer interaction, as well as to execute other programs. It is important to understand that the installation of the second operating system is possible only on another logical drive, since each of them has its own modules and components. You can consider the structure of the OS, which consists of very specific components and modules:
- the core of the system or the base module is designed to control the operation of the program and the file system, providing convenient access to it, as well as the exchange of files between peripheral devices;
- the command processor is designed to decrypt and execute user commands, which usually come through the keyboard;
- drivers for peripheral devices are designed to ensure the consistency of devices and the processor, they are necessary due to the fact that each of the peripheral devices processes information in different ways and at different speeds;
- Utilities, which are additional utility programs that make the process of user communication with a computer versatile and as convenient as possible.
If with what an operating system is, more or less clear, then you can consider issues related to its loading. Files that are part of the OS are stored on disk. It is known that to run programs they must be in RAM. To begin with, a boot program should be executed, which was initially absent in RAM. And here there is a way out - the OS is gradually loading into RAM.
The first part of the system is loaded from a read-only memory device, where all the PC power supply testing programs are located. They are executed instantly after the first current pulses arrive. At the same time, a boot program is launched on the initial sector of the disk, taking control of itself. This application searches for the base OS module, and then transfers control to it. The loader from the base module searches for all other components and loads them into RAM. When the OS is loaded, control is given to the command processor, after which the user can interact with the system. Mobile operating systems work on a similar principle, however, with some modifications related to the features of the devices.
This principle applies to absolutely all modern operating systems.