Class X ICT Skills

Unit 1. Distinguish between different Operating Systems

1.1 Classes of Operating systems

As we all know that computer is a very useful machine. It is very important to properly start the
computer and after finishing the work, it needs to be properly shut down. If the power of the computer
is switched off, and the files you were working on were not closed, the files and the operating system
may get corrupted.

1.1.1 Operating System

An operating system is a software that serves as an interface between the user and the computer.

Some of the functions of Operating system are:

• It manages all the devices of a computer and keeps track of the status of the device, whether it is
busy or not.
• It also checks whether the device is functioning properly or not.
• It also controls software resources of the computer.
• It manages the computer memory and keeps track of which memory space is in use by which
program and which space is free.
• It manages the structure of the files and directories on a computer system.
• It keeps track of the amount of disk space used by a specific file.
• It allows you to create, copy, move and delete files.
1.1.2 Types of Operating Systems
We have already discussed about some commonly used operating systems in class IX. These are:

• DOS (Disk Operating System)

• Windows It is an operating system developed by Microsoft.
• Linux It is an operating system designed for personal computers. It is a free and open-source
software
• Mobile operating Systems
✓ Android
✓ Symbian
✓ Windows Phone
✓ iOS
The different types of operating systems are as follows:
Interactive (GUI-based) A graphical user interface is a user-friendly operating system in which
commands can be entered by clicking/double-clicking/right-clicking a mouse. Windows operating
system is an example of an interactive operating system.

Single-user , single-task operating system This type of operating system allows only one user to do a
task on the computer and one thing at a time.

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 Single-user, multi-task operating system This type of operating system is used on Desktop computers,
laptops, where a single user can operate on several programs at the same time. For example,
Windows, Apple MacOS are examples of single-user multi task operating system.

Multi-user A multi-user operating system enables multiple users to work on the same computer at
different times or simultaneously.

Real Time A real time operating system is used to control machinery, scientific instruments, like
robots, in complex animations and computer controlled automated machines. A real-time operating
system is a computing environment that reacts to input within a specific period of time. It manages
the resources of the computer so that any particular operation is executed in the same amount of
time every time it is executed. Windows CE and Lynx OS are examples of real-time operating systems.

Distributed A distributed operating system runs on a set of computers that are interconnected by a
network. It combines the different computers in the network into a single integrated computer and
storage location. Windows, UNIX, and LINUX are examples of distributed operating systems.

1.2 Menu, icons, and task bar on the Desktop

Let’s discuss about Windows 7 operating system.

1.2.1 Windows 7 operating system

Windows 7 is an operating system developed by Microsoft and is used on personal computers.

After loading Windows 7, the first screen that appears on the monitor is called desktop. From the
desktop, you can access different components of Windows 7.

By default, Windows 7 has a picture for the desktop background. This is called wallpaper.

Small pictures on the desktop are called icons. These icons represent files, folders, applications, etc.
At the bottom of the desktop is a long bar called the Taskbar. To the left of the taskbar is the Start
button.

1.2.2 Components of Windows 7 Desktop

The components of Windows 7 Desktop are shown in figure 1.

Computer icons
icon
Wallpaper
Recycle
Bin

Task bar

Start
button
Fig 1: Windows 7 Desktop

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 We already know that use of following icons. Let us revise the use of some of the commonly used
icons.

Computer : It displays all the storage areas of the computer . Through the Computer icon, you can
access all drives, files, and folders on the computer. When you double-click Computer icon, a window
shown below in Figure 2 appears on the screen.

Maximize Close
Minimize

Hard disk

Removable
disk drives
like CD,

Fig 2 Computer Window

Taskbar

Taskbar is the long horizontal bar present at the bottom of the screen. To left of the Taskbar is the
Start button and to the right appears Date/Time. You can also see icons of active applications and
some shortcuts on the Taskbar

The main components of Taskbar are shown in the following figure 3:

Active Notification
Start button Date/Time icon
Applications Area

Fig 3 Taskbar

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Start button It is located on the left of the taskbar. Clicking the Start button
(Figure 4) opens the Start menu and provides access to programs and
features, like:

• Shut Down:- allows the user to turn off the computer

• All Programs: - Provides access to all the installed programs and
applications. To start an application, just click it.
• Search Box: - This allows the user to search a file or a folder or run
executable files.
• Control panel: - This allows the user to change various settings.

Fig 4 Start utton

Recycle Bin

Files and folders deleted by the user are stored in the Recycle Bin. From Recycle Bin, you can retrieve
files or folders deleted by mistake.

Lets Try It

1. Start your computer.

2. Name the operating system in your computer. ________________
3. Identify three main icons on the desktop and write their names
_________________
_________________
_________________
4. Identify and write names of three files on the desktop.
__________________
__________________
__________________
5. Identify the position of the taskbar on the desktop. Is it at the top, bottom, left or
right?
_____________________
6. Double-click the Computer icon on the desktop.
a. The Computer window opens up.
b. Click the Minimize button to reduce the window to a button on the taskbar.
c. Again click the Computer icon on the taskbar to restore the Computer window.
d. From the Computer window, identify and write the hard disk drives in your
computer.
_____________________________
_____________________________

_____________________________

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 Worksheet

1. What is an operating system?

________________________________________________
________________________________________________
2. Mention any three functions of operating system.
________________________________________________
________________________________________________
________________________________________________
3. Name any three operating systems for computers
___________________________________
___________________________________
___________________________________
4. Name any three mobile operating systems.
__________________________________________
__________________________________________
__________________________________________
5. What is the name given to the screen that appears after Windows operating
system is loaded?
__________________________________
6. Small images on the desktop are called _____________________
7. Name two special icons on the Desktop .
______________________
______________________
8. Name the icon that provides access to all the drives, files and folders on a
computer.
_________________________________
9. Name the button to the left of the taskbar.
______________________________
10. Picture for the desktop background is called _____________.

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