Fundamentals
This type of software runs the computer and coordinates instructions between sofware applications and hardware.
What is System Software?
This program helps coordinate all print jobs being sent to the printer.
What is a spooler?
This makes a large file more compact, making it easier and faster to send large attachments by e-mail, upload to the web, or save to a disc.
What is file compression?
In step 1 of the boot process, the CPU activates this.
What is BIOS?
The OS manages memory and this.
What is storage?
These are the top two operating systems for mobile devices/smartphones.
What are Android and iOS?
A special numerical code that prioritizes requests from various devices.
What is an interrupt handler?
A program that removes unnecessary files from the hard drive.
What is disk cleanup?
In step 3 of the boot process, the OS is loading to this.
What is RAM?
The OS provides this, which allows the user to interact with the computer.
What is a user interface?
This interface allows the user to type lines of text to communicate with the computer system.
What is Command-Driven Interface?
This is when the OS processes higher priority tasks before lower priority tasks.
What is preemptive multitasking?
A program to rearrange and unify fragmented data, or group together related pieces of files on the hard drive.
What is disk defragmenter?
In step 4 of the boot process, it does this to your settings.
What is configure and customize?
The OS manages computer hardware and this.
What are peripherals?
This type of inerface allows the user to click on elements such as windows, icons, and buttons.
What is Graphical User Interface?
A software program that provides the instructions your computer needs to communicate with a device.
What is a device driver?
A program that restores system settings to a specific previous date when everything was working properly.
What is system restore?
What does the acronym POST stand for?
What is Power-On Self-Test?
The OS manages the CPU, also known as this.
What is processor?
These are the top three operating systems for personal computers.
What are Windows, Mac OS X, and Linux?
This technology enables the operating system to recognize automatically any new peripherals and to configure them to work with the system.
What is plug and play?
A program that shows the programs currently running and permits you to exit nonresponsive programs.
What is task manager?
A program automatically executed by the processor when turning on a computer - it reads the hard drive and loads the operating system.
What is bootstrap loader?
The OS provides this between applications and the CPU.
What is consistent interaction?