Operating System (OS)

OPERATING SYSTEM (OS)

What is an operating system (OS)?

An operating system (OS) is system software that manages computer hardware and software resources and provides common services for computer programs.

Windows

Windows is a collection of programs known as an operating system (OS) that controls a PC (personal computer). First produced by Microsoft in November 1985, it has been frequently updated since, as computer memory has got bigger, as processing chips have got faster and, of course, when the internet was invented. Prior to Windows, PCs were operated by a series of text commands.

Windows' key benefits and features

• Allows the user to interact with the computer (through the keyboard, mouse, microphone, etc.).
• Controls the storage of data (images, files, music).
• Controls hardware attached to the computer such as webcams, scanners and printers.
• Helps to open and close programs (word processors, games, photo editors, etc.), and gives them part of the computer’s memory to allow them to work.
• Controls what access to a computer different users have and the computer's security.
• Deals with errors and user instructions, and issues simple error messages.
• Promotes multitasking by allowing the user to do several things on the computer at once – for example, watch a video while writing a letter.

BIOS setup

BIOS, which stands for Basic Input Output System, is software stored on a small memory chip on the motherboard. You might need to access BIOS to change how the device works or to assist in troubleshooting a problem.

It's BIOS that's responsible for the POST and therefore makes it the very first software to run when a computer is started.

The BIOS firmware is non-volatile, meaning that its settings are saved and recoverable even after power has been removed from the device.

What is the BIOS used for?

BIOS instructs the computer on how to perform a number of basic functions such as booting and keyboard control.

BIOS is also used to identify and configure the hardware in a computer such as the hard drive, floppy drive, optical drive, CPU, memory, etc.

How to Enter BIOS?

1. Restart your computer, or turn it on if it's already off.
2. Watch for an "entering setup" message in the first few seconds after turning on your computer. This message varies greatly from computer to computer and also includes the key or keys you need to press to enter BIOS.
3. Here are some common ways you might see this BIOS access message:

• Press [key] to enter setup
• Setup: [key]
• Enter BIOS by pressing [key]
• Press [key] to enter BIOS setup
• Press [key] to access BIOS
• Press [key] to access system configuration 

4. Quickly press the key or keys instructed by the previous message to get into BIOS.

Startup Menu

The Start menu is a user interface element used in Microsoft Windows since Windows 95 and in some other operating systems. It provides a central launching point for computer programs and performing other tasks. It has different names in different operating systems and window managers, such as Kickoff Application Launcher in KDE, Dash in GNOME and Unity, and Start screen in Windows 8.

Start screen for Windows 10

Install Windows

1. Enter your computer's BIOS. Turn off the computer that you want to install Windows on then turn it back on. When the BIOS screen appears or you are prompted to do so, press Del, Esc, F2, F10, or F9 (depending on your computer’s motherboard) to enter the system BIOS. The key to enter the BIOS is usually shown on the screen.

2. Find your BIOS' boot options menu. The boot options menu of your BIOS may vary in location or name from the illustration, but you may eventually find it if you search around.

• If you cannot find the boot options menu, search the name of your BIOS (most likely located in the BIOS menu) online for help. 

3. Select the CD-ROM drive as the first boot device of your computer.

• Although this method may vary among computers, the boot options menu is typically a menu of movable device names where you should set your CD-ROM drive as the first boot device. It can also be a list of devices that you can set the order of their boot on. Consult a manual or the internet for help if you're stuck.

4. Save the changes of the settings. Press the button indicated on the screen or select the save option from the BIOS menu to save your configuration.

5. Shut off your computer. Either turn off the computer by choosing the shut-down option in your current operating system, or hold the power button until the computer powers off.

6. Power on the PC and the insert the Windows 7 disc into your CD/DVD drive.

7. Start your computer from the disc. After you have placed the disc into the disc drive, start your computer. When the computer starts, press a key if you are asked if you would like to boot from the disc by pressing any key. After you choose to start from the disc, Windows Setup will begin loading.

• If you are not asked to boot from the disc, you may have done something wrong. Retry the previous steps to solve the problem.

8. Choose your Windows Setup options. Once Windows Setup loads, you'll be presented with a window. Select your preferred language, keyboard type, and time/currency format, then click Next.

9. Click the Install Now button.

10. Accept the License Terms. Read over the Microsoft Software License Terms, check I accept the license terms, and click Next.

11. Select the Custom installation.

12. Decide on which hard drive and partition you want to install Windows on. A hard drive is a physical part of your computer that stores data, and partitions "divide" hard drives into separate parts.

• If the hard drive has data on it, delete the data off of it, or format it.
  • Select the hard drive from the list of hard drives.
  • Click Drive options (advanced).
  • Click Format from Drive options.
• If your computer doesn't have any partitions yet, create one to install Windows on it.
• Select the hard drive from the list of hard drives.
• Click Drive options (advanced).
• Select New from Drive options.
• Select the size, and click OK.

13. Install Windows on your preferred hard drive and partition. Once you've decided on where to install Windows, select it and click Next. Windows will begin installing.

Format Computers

Warning - Formatting hard drive information does not permanently erase the data. Even after a computer has been formatted, deleted files can be easily recovered.

To format your hard disk, you'll need to start, or boot, your computer using the Windows installation disc or USB flash drive.

1. Turn on your computer so that Windows starts normally, insert the Windows installation disc or USB flash drive, and then shut down your computer.
2. Restart your computer.
3. Press any key when prompted, and then follow the instructions that appear.
4. On the "Install Windows" page, enter your language and other preferences, and then click Next.
5. If the "Install Windows" page doesn't appear, and you're not asked to press any key, you might need to change some system settings. To learn how to do this, see Start your computer from a Windows installation disc or USB flash drive.
6. On the "Please read the license terms" page, if you accept the license terms, click I accept the license terms, and then click Next.
7. On the "Which type of installation do you want?" page, click Custom.
8. On the "Where do you want to install Windows?" page, click Drive options (advanced).
9. Click the partition that you want to format and click Format.
   • If you have more than one partition on this hard drive and want to get rid them to make one big drive again, then select a partition and click on the Delete option for each partition. Once you have deleted all of the partitions, select the Unallocated Space partition and click Format.
   • Pick the formatting option that you want.
   • When you've finished formatting, click Next.
10. Follow the instructions to finish installing Windows, which include naming your computer and setting up an initial user account.
11. If you do not want to reinstall Windows, you can cancel the installation at this point and keep your newly formatted drives.

Source:

• https://www.wikihow.com/Install-Windows-7-(Beginners)
• https://www.whitecanyon.com/articles/how-to-format-computer
• https://www.lifewire.com/bios-basic-input-output-system-2625820
• https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Operating_system
• https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Microsoft_Windows