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Posts Tagged ‘Operating System’

With three Droid smartphones on the shelves (and, in some cases, in short supply), Verizon Wireless may be ready to add two more to take advantage of the popularity of the Android operating system.

Apple’s iPhone 4 arrives. Plus: Kindle and Nook e-reader prices are cut. Motorola’s Droid X, powered by Google’s Android operating system, arrives next month. And: Earnings from Adobe, Oracle and BlackBerry maker RIM.

The average person who uses a computer on a regular basis doesn’t think about what happens inside a computer once the power is turned on. As long as their version of MS Windows pops up within a few seconds, most people are quite content to continue on with what they want to do on their computer. A computer goes through many processes from the moment the power is turned on before its operating system (ex. Windows, Linux) is fully loaded and takes over.

The operating system is stored on the hard disk of a computer. It is stored on the hard disk because this type of storage is much less expensive and an operating system requires a large amount of storage space. So, in order to make computers more economical, they are designed to use a combination of ROM, DRAM, and hard disks. An explanation of each follows.

Once the power switch is turned on, the “boot-up” process begins. To “boot-up” a computer simply means to start it. Electricity then flows through all of the chips and their circuits. The instructions for what the computer is supposed to do next are found in the Read Only Memory, Basic Input/Output System (ROM BIOS). ROM is memory that can only be read from and has information that is permanently burned into it. It is nonvolatile and will not be lost or disappear once the power is turned off.

ROM BIOS or just BIOS, is designed to begin giving commands as soon as it receives power. The BIOS contains an entire set of instructions, in effect a computer program written into the chip that manages the boot-up process. Without the BIOS, the computer would not know what to do next. The first task that BIOS completes is to make sure that all of the hardware components are working properly (for example: disk drives, external buses, the mouse, the printer). This is called a power-on self-test (POST). After the POST is complete, the BIOS activates other chips on different cards installed in the computer (SCSI and graphics cards) and provides a set of low-level routines that the operating system uses to interface to different hardware devices such as the keyboard, mouse, printer, etc.

Once the POST is complete, the BIOS hands the next stage in the boot-up process over to the central processing unit (CPU). The CPU is a one chip processor or microprocessor that has two distinct capabilities:

1. The CPU carries out all of the mathematical and logical operations including basic math and comparisons of two or more numbers.

2. The CPU has the ability to intelligently manage the flow of instructions and data going into and out of its circuits.

The last instruction that the ROM sends to the CPU is to go to a specific location or address to find its next instruction. An address is a string of numbers that gives directions to where something can be found, much like an address on an envelope. Computers use addresses to keep track of information much the same way as the post office uses them to find residences and businesses. The bigger the number in an address the more locations it can refer to. Most current computers use a 32-bit address space for memory, which means that there can be over four billion separate locations to hold information.

Sometimes the most important aspects of a subject are not immediately obvious. Keep reading to get the complete picture.

The instruction that the ROM BIOS wants the CPU to carry out is sent through a chip on a bus (a set of wires) to the address specified. The data bus is able to carry information into and out of the chip within the CPU. The information is not available within the CPU so it has to look elsewhere. The CPU then sends the address on another bus called an address bus. When the CPU does this, it is called a fetch. The address bus is “fetching” information from elsewhere within the computer. The address bus is only able to carry instructions out of the CPU.

The address bus fetches information from the computer’s memory. Memory is a type of silicon chip that can hold instructions or data. This type of memory can be read from or written to by the CPU, but this type of memory or Dynamic Random Access Memory (DRAM) is volatile. Once the power is turned off, the DRAM looses its memory or information. Since the DRAM is basically a blank slate, the CPU has within, a set of sequential instructions as to where to look for the required information.

Before the address bus can get to memory, it has to pass through a set of chips called a chipset. The chipset refers to a group of chips that provide an intelligent interface for the core components of a computer – CPU, memory, graphics, I/O system, described as core logic or glue logic. If the information that the chipset requires is not in memory, the chipset then sends or redirects it to the Input/Output (I/O) bus. The I/O bus connects the chipset to other places where the information is stored, such as the hard disk. The hard disk allows the CPU to read from it and to write to it. The hard disk is non-volatile so it retains its data or information once the power is turned off. A hard disk is much slower at retrieving data from than memory but memory is much more expensive.

Once the hard disk receives the address (via the I/O bus and chipset), it retrieves the information and sends it back through the chipset and then puts it on the address bus back into the CPU. The chipset functions as a bridge for the two buses; the I/O bus and the address bus.

The CPU uses a four step sequence: fetch, decode, execute, and store. Since the CPU does not retain its memory, it has to obtain its information or fetch the information from elsewhere within the computer. To help with the speed of the process of fetching, the CPU has a pre-fetch area to make the information available more quickly.

Once the information has been fetched, it has to be decoded. Part of the decoding process of the CPU is to decide which circuits are appropriate to use for executing the instructions. Once that decision has been made, the CPU begins to execute the instructions. The part of the CPU where the actual execution of instructions takes place is called the Arithmetic Logical Unit (ALU). The ALU includes groups of transistors, known as logic gates, which are organized to carry out basic mathematical and logical operations. Logic gates are grouped into electrical circuits that execute the CPU’s instructions such as “add” two numbers or “compare” two numbers.

The final step of the CPU is to store the information. This final step takes place after the ALU completes its calculations. The results of the calculations are stored on a chip that has an area called a register. Registers can be accessed more quickly than any other kind of memory but are only for temporary holding (storage) of information.

The CPU also has a clock within it to keep the timing of all of the flow of information and processes of the computer. This clock is vital to the synchronization of all of the processes of the computer. This CPU clock controls all of the operations on its chip. The processes of the CPU can also be interrupted by an external interrupt controller chip which is part of the chipset. The chipset contains a small database of interrupt vector (numerical table). When an interrupt signal comes onto the chip, the CPU saves what it is doing and goes to the interrupt vector to find the address of the instruction that the interrupt is telling it to execute instead. Once it is finished with the interrupt, it goes back to what it was doing. The CPU finds what it was doing in a register called a stack. If interrupts were not possible, the CPU would have to complete one task before it could start another causing the speed to be greatly reduced.

Now that the CPU has found the operating system, loaded it into memory, the operating system takes over and the computer is now ready to be used by its owner. The user can now check email, play a game, or do whatever they wanted to do when they started the computer.

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Article Source: http://www.thecontentcorner.com

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Importance of Computer Data Back Up

Everyone who owns a computer should back up the data that goes into it. Since it is possible for data files to become corrupt and hardware has a tendency to fail, such failures cause the loss of data, whether or not the data is deemed important. The best defense against data loss is a data back up program and one that is performed consistently or regularly scheduled.

There are software applications that can be purchased which may be set to perform automatic back ups. The back ups can be done for the entire operating system or may be set to back up certain files or applications, such as Microsoft Outlook, that backs up important email messages and folders.
Not backing up data with a mainframe can be disastrous for a large or small business, lost of such data can make or break a business that relies on important data for generating revenue and it directly affects employees of such a company. It can have a trickle down damaging effect for society as a whole.

There are many excuses as to why individual PC users do not schedule back ups for their data. Among some of them are:

* Too busy with other issues
* Do not know how to back up data / too complicated to learn
* Haven?t had any problems with crashes/ no need to back up
* Fear of messing up the computer

The back up program is very easy to perform and some online sites can be accessed which use FTP technology to store password-protected data files.

Importance of Computer Data Back Up

Everyone who owns a computer should back up the data that goes into it. Since it is possible for data files to become corrupt and hardware has a tendency to fail, such failures cause the loss of data, whether or not the data is deemed important. The best defense against data loss is a data back up program and one that is performed consistently or regularly scheduled.

There are software applications that can be purchased which may be set to perform automatic back ups. The back ups can be done for the entire operating system or may be set to back up certain files or applications, such as Microsoft Outlook, that backs up important email messages and folders.
Not backing up data with a mainframe can be disastrous for a large or small business, lost of such data can make or break a business that relies on important data for generating revenue and it directly affects employees of such a company. It can have a trickle down damaging effect for society as a whole.

There are many excuses as to why individual PC users do not schedule back ups for their data. Among some of them are:

* Too busy with other issues
* Do not know how to back up data / too complicated to learn
* Haven?t had any problems with crashes/ no need to back up
* Fear of messing up the computer

The back up program is very easy to perform and some online sites can be accessed which use FTP technology to store password-protected data files.

Article Source: http://www.articlewarehouse.com

Diana Cole writes on topics such as Free Backup Software, TextRep. Visit Importance of Computer Data Back Up – Do It Regularly!!!.

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Computer security, in basic terms means keeping your computer and the data that’s in it safe and secure. More of our personal data is stored in or accessed from our computer, now more than ever before. Yet most people lack even the basic understanding of how to keep their computers safe and secure. By following just a few simple rules you can dramatically improve the overall security of your computer.

The first thing to understand is what exactly it means to be connected to the internet. Your computer connected to the internet is similar to your house in many ways. There are many ways into your house. Windows, doors, etc. The more windows and doors you have, the more ways someone has into your house. An open door doesn’t necessarily mean you are going to be robbed, but it does improve the chances. Complicating matters, the ones that you think are locked, may not be because the lock is faulty or even the door itself may have an as of yet undiscovered flaw that would allow an intruder easy access to your home.

Your computer has many windows and doors, not all of which are locked. New flaws are being found everyday, often with the fix not coming until days after. Just like you wouldn’t leave your front door unlocked, you shouldn’t leave your computer wide open either. The first two things we will discuss to help with this task are installation of a quality firewall and regularly updating your installed software.

Updating your software is becoming easier these days, especially your Operating System. We don’t have the time here to go into detail about the many ways to update the many software packages you may have or use, but generally speaking the software manufacturer will provide you a way to do this automatically via the internet. A good example of this is the Microsoft Windows Update feature. Be sure to get the updates for everything installed on your computer, nothing is too trivial.

There are two basic types of firewalls and both perform the same functions. One is hardware the other is software. A hardware firewall is probably included in your router if you are using one, while you may or may not have software firewall installed. To continue our house analogy, a firewall is like building a wall and gate around your home and giving the guard at the gate instructions on who to let in and out. While this does give a great deal of protection, it is not all that is required. Someone may know a way around or under your wall, or even be able to coerce the guard into letting them in.

You yourself may unwittingly allow someone in. This could happen by simply opening an email or even simply surfing the net. Spyware, viruses, trojans and the like are ever more adept in their methods of fooling you and your guards. Emails may come from a trusted friend containing a dangerous virus without them even knowing it. This is where the next layer of protection comes in, anti-virus software.

Anti-virus software is a large category these days. Often these packages come as “suites” including a firewall and Spyware scanner. While most of these programs are very effective in their promised tasks, it is not wise to be lulled into a false sense of security by them. They are simply one layer in what should be a multi tiered protection plan for you and your computer. One last important note about anti virus software is to be sure that it updates on a regular basis. New threats come out daily so check its updates manually to be sure they have happened.

Back to our house analogy, we now have all of our windows, doors and other entryways locked and fully updated. We have a wall around our house with a guard at the gate and we have software scanning everything that comes in past the gate. Sounds pretty good, but there’s one last security hole we need to address, you.

A large percentage of infections are caused by the computer user themselves. The internet is an ever changing place that requires it’s users to be educated about its use. I’m not suggesting that you need to be a computer expert to simply read your email. I am however suggesting that you take some time to educate yourself on some of the dangers that pop up everyday, and the precautions to take in order to avoid them.

In summary, your computer is a powerful machine connected to one of the greatest things ever invented, the internet. This vast resource can be a dangerous place if you are not properly prepared and informed. Regular software updates, a good firewall, anti virus software and a little education are the basics in computer security. Having and understanding these basics will make your computer safer, more secure and more enjoyable.

Computer security, in basic terms means keeping your computer and the data that’s in it safe and secure. More of our personal data is stored in or accessed from our computer, now more than ever before. Yet most people lack even the basic understanding of how to keep their computers safe and secure. By following just a few simple rules you can dramatically improve the overall security of your computer.

The first thing to understand is what exactly it means to be connected to the internet. Your computer connected to the internet is similar to your house in many ways. There are many ways into your house. Windows, doors, etc. The more windows and doors you have, the more ways someone has into your house. An open door doesn’t necessarily mean you are going to be robbed, but it does improve the chances. Complicating matters, the ones that you think are locked, may not be because the lock is faulty or even the door itself may have an as of yet undiscovered flaw that would allow an intruder easy access to your home.

Your computer has many windows and doors, not all of which are locked. New flaws are being found everyday, often with the fix not coming until days after. Just like you wouldn’t leave your front door unlocked, you shouldn’t leave your computer wide open either. The first two things we will discuss to help with this task are installation of a quality firewall and regularly updating your installed software.

Updating your software is becoming easier these days, especially your Operating System. We don’t have the time here to go into detail about the many ways to update the many software packages you may have or use, but generally speaking the software manufacturer will provide you a way to do this automatically via the internet. A good example of this is the Microsoft Windows Update feature. Be sure to get the updates for everything installed on your computer, nothing is too trivial.

There are two basic types of firewalls and both perform the same functions. One is hardware the other is software. A hardware firewall is probably included in your router if you are using one, while you may or may not have software firewall installed. To continue our house analogy, a firewall is like building a wall and gate around your home and giving the guard at the gate instructions on who to let in and out. While this does give a great deal of protection, it is not all that is required. Someone may know a way around or under your wall, or even be able to coerce the guard into letting them in.

You yourself may unwittingly allow someone in. This could happen by simply opening an email or even simply surfing the net. Spyware, viruses, trojans and the like are ever more adept in their methods of fooling you and your guards. Emails may come from a trusted friend containing a dangerous virus without them even knowing it. This is where the next layer of protection comes in, anti-virus software.

Anti-virus software is a large category these days. Often these packages come as “suites” including a firewall and Spyware scanner. While most of these programs are very effective in their promised tasks, it is not wise to be lulled into a false sense of security by them. They are simply one layer in what should be a multi tiered protection plan for you and your computer. One last important note about anti virus software is to be sure that it updates on a regular basis. New threats come out daily so check its updates manually to be sure they have happened.

Back to our house analogy, we now have all of our windows, doors and other entryways locked and fully updated. We have a wall around our house with a guard at the gate and we have software scanning everything that comes in past the gate. Sounds pretty good, but there’s one last security hole we need to address, you.

A large percentage of infections are caused by the computer user themselves. The internet is an ever changing place that requires it’s users to be educated about its use. I’m not suggesting that you need to be a computer expert to simply read your email. I am however suggesting that you take some time to educate yourself on some of the dangers that pop up everyday, and the precautions to take in order to avoid them.

In summary, your computer is a powerful machine connected to one of the greatest things ever invented, the internet. This vast resource can be a dangerous place if you are not properly prepared and informed. Regular software updates, a good firewall, anti virus software and a little education are the basics in computer security. Having and understanding these basics will make your computer safer, more secure and more enjoyable.

Article Source: http://www.articlewarehouse.com

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A computer which is running dead slow and freezing is really annoying.It is aggravating,time wasting and something you just do not need.

When the computer was newer it was not like that. It was a pleasure to use when it ran fast and smoothly. What can be wrong now? Most likely your registry is bloated and overstuffed with an assortment of useless pieces of data. The operating system while running your computer has to pick its way through all this excess material. There is a multitude of useless bits and pieces to be removed.Parts of uninstalled programs,parts of incompletely installed programs,dead drivers and many other things. Often there is also spyware which is using your computer for nefarious purposes and slowing its operation.

What is the computer registry? All Windows operated computers from Windows 95 onward have a registry. Simply put it is a databank of information which the operating system uses to run the computer and perform the tasks you ask of it. When it becomes overstuffed with useless data the computer can slow to a crawl and become balky.

What can be done to correct these problems? The answer is to clean your registry and remove all the useless data fragments and no longer needed information. You can do this manually by using regedit which is installed on all Windows computers. The average computer user does not know what should be in the registry and what should not be there. Removing the wrong things may disable your computer completely. You can also remove data needed to run some programs and they will no longer work.

If you do not have the needed computer skills to edit the registry yourself what can be done? The answer is to use a registry cleaning application. There are a number of these available on the internet from various sources. Some of them offer to perform a free scan on your computer and show you what has to be done to clean your registry thoroughly. If you have the knowledge,you can then edit your registry. The registry cleaning program will clean the registry for you for a reasonable price if you don’t want to risk removing essential data.

We have tried many of these registry cleaning applications and come to some conclusions as to which is the best. They will all do the job but some just do it better and more easily than others. The small price involved is certainly well worth it to get your computer back to good performance and end the aggravation.

A good registry cleaning application will begin by backing up your registry so that it can be restored if there are problems. The unecessary files and fragements,useless drivers,unused shortcuts,invalid paths and fonts and much other useless material including malicious spyware will then be removed. Your computer should then be back to top speed and running smoothly. What a relief it is to have your computer once more performing the way it should. We recommend you to try the program we have found to be the best of them all. The modest price is well worth it to end the annoyance of a slow computer.

Article Source: http://www.hobbyarticledirectory.com

Slow running,freezing computer giving you problems? You can restore it to good performance quite simply and quickly. We have tried trhem all and found that REGCURE is the safest and most efficient registry cleaning application.It will quickly and safely get your computer running at top speed again.Why not try it with a free scan.You can get it free here www.onesourceinfo.info

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Whether youre an avid movie watcher or a business pro, youll love the Toshiba Satellite L555-S7916 Laptop Computer. And if you enjoy watching movies in high-definition brilliance, youll want to click this powerful laptop computer into your shopping cart before its too late (Supplies are limited!) The new Toshiba Satellite L555-S7916 Laptop Computer features a 2.1GHz Intel Core 2 Duo T6500 Processor with a 2MB L2 cache, 3GB of DDR2 800MHz memory (upgradeable to 4GB), and a 320GB 5400 RPM SATA hard drive all running smoothly on the Genuine Windows Vista Home Premium operating system (SP1, 32-bit version). This elegant and powerful laptop computer sports a Fusion Finish with Breeze pattern in graphite gray, and boasts a 17.3-inch diagonal widescreen TruBrite® TFT LCD display at 1600×900 native resolution (HD+). Perfect for watching your favorite movies using the Toshiba Satellite L555-S7916 Laptop Computer- DVD SuperMulti drive with Labelflash technology.

Krups 203 Electric Coffee and Spice Grinder with Stainless-Steel blades ...

Nesco FD-75PR 700-Watt Food Dehydrator $58.84 Generates maximum speed and quality for dehydrating fruits, vegetables, beef jerky and vension jerky. Great for making trail mix, homemade yogurt, apple snacks, banana chips, dried soup mixes, dried tomatoes, dried fruits, herbs and spices. Also makes potpourri and dried flowers. Helps dry food in hours, not days like ordinary food dehydrators. U.S.A. Shape: Round, Watts: 700, Top Mount Fan: Yes, ...

Sunbeam 5891 2-Pound Programmable Breadmaker, White $51.63 Stunning almost 18-24 high very full plumes.......

Wipeout Pure $2.89 Wipeout Pure, the latest edition to the popular racing series for the PSP handheld entertainment system, provides an intense, combat racing experience as players choose from five different speed classes and race relentlessly around 16 futuristic, racing tracks. During both single and multi-player gameplay, racing fans will be able to enjoy challenging, action-packed gameplay modes that include Sin...

WOW WOW WUBBZY-TALE OF TAILS (DVD/8 EPISODES) $40.00 Studio: Starz/sphe Release Date: 09/23/2008 Run time: 92 minutes...

MX Unleashed (Playstation 2) $37.98 MX Unleashed - The game for fans of fast and wild racing is here. MX Unleashed brings to life the craziest and most intense elements of motocross & supercross racing. Realistic physics, incredible action and impossible tricks are waiting for you, in this hardcore racing action game!...

Monsters, Inc. (Four-Disc Blu-ray/DVD Combo + Digital Copy) [Blu-ray] $30.50 Features include: •MPAA Rating: G•Format: Blu-Ray•Runtime: 91 minutes...

Computer Captive [VHS] $12.98 ...

Fight Back:Emergency Self-Defense [VHS] $9.80 This software is BRAND NEW. Packaging may differ slightly from the stock photo above. Please click on our logo above to see over 15,000 titles in stock....

Belkin Pivot-Plug Surge Protectors Belkin Pivot Plug Surge Protectors provide premium power protection for your professional workstations and connected devices. It's rotating outlet design gives you much more convenience and flexibility in placing your plugged-in devices than traditional products. We have used advanced design elements, top-quality construction, and superior circuitry and components to provide the most complete prot...

SE 3 Pc. Power Extension Socket Bits for Drills $1.81 Add versatility to your power drills. 3pc Power Extension Socket Adaptor has Hex bit for all power drill chucks. Comes in 3 Sizes : 1/4 in. , 3/8 in. & 1/2 in.for your full range of sockets....

Solder Sucker $1.28 Fast action, heavy duty desoldering pump. Simply heat up solder joint and push button. Automatic nozzle cleaner. Display packaged. Standard replacement tip #370-031. Length: 8"....

As Palm had previously warned, its sales figures released last week were not as high as the company had hoped. Palm’s sales figures have declined by 29 percent compared to the same time last year, despite producing WebOS, a new and well-received operating system, and two new WebOS devices, the Palm Pre and Pixi.