OPERATING SYSTEMS FUNCTIONS

Operating System Functions

What is an Operating System
The operating system is the core software component of your computer. It performs many functions and is, in very basic terms, an interface between your computer and the outside world. In the section about hardware, a computer is described as consisting of several component parts including your monitor, keyboard, mouse, and other parts. The operating system provides an interface to these parts using what is referred to as "drivers". This is why sometimes when you install a new printer or other piece of hardware, your system will ask you to install more software called a driver.

What does a driver do?A driver is a specially written program which understands the operation of the device it interfaces to, such as a printer, video card, sound card or CD ROM drive. It translates commands from the operating system or user into commands understood by the the component computer part it interfaces with. It also translates responses from the component computer part back to responses that can be understood by the operating system, application program, or user. The below diagram gives a graphical depiction of the interfaces between the operating system and the computer component.

Other Operating System Function:
onsThe operating system provides for several other functions including:
• System tools (programs) used to monitor computer performance, debug problems, or maintain parts of the system.
• A set of libraries or functions which programs may use to perform specific tasks especially relating to interfacing with computer system components.
The operating system makes these interfacing functions along with its other functions operate smoothly and these functions are mostly transparent to the user.

Operating System Concerns
As mentioned previously, an operating system is a computer program. Operating systems are written by human programmers who make mistakes. Therefore there can be errors in the code even though there may be some testing before the product is released. Some companies have better software quality control and testing than others so you may notice varying levels of quality from operating system to operating system. Errors in operating systems cause three main types of problems:
• System crashes and instabilities - These can happen due to a software bug typically in the operating system, although computer programs being run on the operating system can make the system more unstable or may even crash the system by themselves. This varies depending on the type of operating system. A system crash is the act of a system freezing and becoming unresponsive which would cause the user to need to reboot.
• Security flaws - Some software errors leave a door open for the system to be broken into by unauthorized intruders. As these flaws are discovered, unauthorized intruders may try to use these to gain illegal access to your system. Patching these flaws often will help keep your computer system secure. How this is done will be explained later.
• Sometimes errors in the operating system will cause the computer not to work correctly with some peripheral devices such as printers.

Operating System Types
There are many types of operating systems. The most common is the Microsoft suite of operating systems. They include from most recent to the oldest:
• Windows XP Professional Edition - A version used by many businesses on workstations. It has the ability to become a member of a corporate domain.
• Windows XP Home Edition - A lower cost version of Windows XP which is for home use only and should not be used at a business.
• Windows 2000 - A better version of the Windows NT operating system which works well both at home and as a workstation at a business. It includes technologies which allow hardware to be automatically detected and other enhancements over Windows NT.
• Windows ME - A upgraded version from windows 98 but it has been historically plagued with programming errors which may be frustrating for home users.
• Windows 98 - This was produced in two main versions. The first Windows 98 version was plagued with programming errors but the Windows 98 Second Edition which came out later was much better with many errors resolved.
• Windows NT - A version of Windows made specifically for businesses offering better control over workstation capabilities to help network administrators.
• Windows 95 - The first version of Windows after the older Windows 3.x versions offering a better interface and better library functions for programs.
There are other worthwhile types of operating systems not made by Microsoft. The greatest problem with these operating systems lies in the fact that not as many application programs are written for them. However if you can get the type of application programs you are looking for, one of the systems listed below may be a good choice.
• Unix - A system that has been around for many years and it is very stable. It is primary used to be a server rather than a workstation and should not be used by anyone who does not understand the system. It can be difficult to learn. Unix must normally run an a computer made by the same company that produces the software.
• Linux - Linux is similar to Unix in operation but it is free. It also should not be used by anyone who does not understand the system and can be difficult to learn.
• Apple MacIntosh - Most recent versions are based on Unix but it has a good graphical interface so it is both stable (does not crash often or have as many software problems as other systems may have) and easy to learn. One drawback to this system is that it can only be run on Apple produced hardware.

174 USEFUL RUN COMMANDS

174 Run Commands For Windows XP
Run Commands Listed below In Alphabetical Order
All of the Run Command below Work in the Windows XP Operating System Some do Require that you have the application installed. To provoke the run dialogue box where you can enter the run commands Click start and then select Run or even faster hold down the Windows key and press 'R' then enter your command.

Program Run Command
Accessibility Controls access.cpl
Accessibility Wizard accwiz
Add Hardware Wizard hdwwiz.cpl
Add/Remove Programs appwiz.cpl
Administrative Tools control admintools
Adobe Acrobat ( if installed ) acrobat
Adobe Distiller ( if installed ) acrodist
Adobe ImageReady ( if installed ) imageready
Adobe Photoshop ( if installed ) photoshop
Automatic Updates wuaucpl.cpl

Basic Media Player mplay32
Bluetooth Transfer Wizard fsquirt

Calculator calc
Ccleaner ( if installed ) ccleaner
C: Drive c:
Certificate Manager cdrtmgr.msc
Character Map charmap
Check Disk Utility chkdsk
Clipboard Viewer clipbrd
Command Prompt cmd
Command Prompt command
Component Services dcomcnfg
Computer Management compmgmt.msc
Compare Files comp
Control Panel control
Create a shared folder Wizard shrpubw

Date and Time Properties timedate.cpl
DDE Shares ddeshare
Device Manager devmgmt.msc
Direct X Control Panel ( if installed ) directx.cpl
Direct X Troubleshooter dxdiag
Disk Cleanup Utility cleanmgr
Disk Defragment dfrg.msc
Disk Partition Manager diskmgmt.msc
Display Properties control desktop
Display Properties desk.cpl
Display Properties (w/Appearance Tab Preselected ) control color
Dr. Watson System Troubleshooting Utility drwtsn32
Driver Verifier Utility verifier

Ethereal ( if installed ) ethereal
Event Viewer eventvwr.msc

Files and Settings Transfer Tool migwiz
File Signature Verification Tool sigverif
Findfast findfast.cpl
Firefox firefox
Folders Properties control folders
Fonts fonts
Fonts Folder fonts
Free Cell Card Game freecell

Game Controllers joy.cpl
Group Policy Editor ( xp pro ) gpedit.msc

Hearts Card Game mshearts
Help and Support helpctr
Hyperterminal hypertrm
Hotline Client hotlineclient

Iexpress Wizard iexpress
Indexing Service ciadv.msc
Internet Connection Wizard icwonn1
Internet Properties inetcpl.cpl
Internet Setup Wizard inetwiz
IP Configuration (Display Connection Configuration) ipconfig /all
IP Configuration (Display DNS Cache Contents) ipconfig /displaydns
IP Configuration (Delete DNS Cache Contents) ipconfig /flushdns
IP Configuration (Release All Connections) ipconfig /release
IP Configuration (Renew All Connections) ipconfig /renew
IP Configuration (Refreshes DHCP & Re-Registers DNS) ipconfig /registerdns
IP Configuration (Display DHCP Class ID) ipconfig /showclassid
IP Configuration (Modifies DHCP Class ID) ipconfig /setclassid

Java Control Panel ( if installed ) jpicpl32.cpl
Java Control Panel ( if installed ) javaws

Keyboard Properties control keyboard

Local Security Settings secpol.msc
Local Users and Groups lusrmgr.msc
Logs You Out of Windows logoff

Malicious Software Removal Tool mrt
Microsoft Access ( if installed ) access.cpl
Microsoft Chat winchat
Microsoft Excel ( if installed ) excel
Microsoft Diskpart diskpart
Microsoft Frontpage ( if installed ) frontpg
Microsoft Movie Maker moviemk
Microsoft Management Console mmc
Microsoft Narrator narrator
Microsoft Paint mspaint
Microsoft Powerpoint powerpnt
Microsoft Word ( if installed ) winword
Microsoft Syncronization Tool mobsync
Minesweeper Game winmine
Mouse Properties control mouse
Mouse Properties main.cpl
MS-Dos Editor edit
MS-Dos FTP ftp

Nero ( if installed ) nero
Netmeeting conf
Network Connections control netconnections
Network Connections ncpa.cpl
Network Setup Wizard netsetup.cpl
Notepad notepad
Nview Desktop Manager ( if installed ) nvtuicpl.cpl

Object Packager packager
ODBC Data Source Administrator odbccp32
ODBC Data Source Administrator odbccp32.cpl
On Screen Keyboard osk
Opens AC3 Filter ( if installed ) ac3filter.cpl
Outlook Express msimn

Paint pbrush
Password Properties password.cpl
Performance Monitor perfmon.msc
Performance Monitor perfmon
Phone and Modem Options telephon.cpl
Phone Dialer dialer
Pinball Game pinball
Power Configuration powercfg.cpl
Printers and Faxes control printers
Printers Folder printers
Private Characters Editor eudcedit

Quicktime ( if installed ) quicktime.cpl
Quicktime Player ( if installed ) quicktimeplayer

Real Player ( if installed ) realplay
Regional Settings intl.cpl
Registry Editor regedit
Registry Editor regedit32
Remote Access Phonebook rasphone
Remote Desktop mstsc
Removable Storage ntmsmgr.msc
Removable Storage Operator Requests ntmsoprq.msc
Resultant Set of Policy ( xp pro ) rsop.msc

Scanners and Cameras sticpl.cpl
Scheduled Tasks control schedtasks
Security Center wscui.cpl
Services services.msc
Shared Folders fsmgmt.msc
Sharing Session rtcshare
Shuts Down Windows shutdown
Sounds Recorder sndrec32
Sounds and Audio mmsys.cpl
Spider Solitare Card Game spider
SQL Client Configuration clicongf
System Configuration Editor sysedit
System Configuration Utility msconfig
System File Checker Utility ( Scan Immediately ) sfc /scannow
System File Checker Utility ( Scan Once At Next Boot ) sfc /scanonce
System File Checker Utility ( Scan On Every Boot ) sfc /scanboot
System File Checker Utility ( Return to Default Settings) sfc /revert
System File Checker Utility ( Purge File Cache ) sfc /purgecache
System File Checker Utility ( Set Cache Size to Size x ) sfc /cachesize=x
System Information msinfo32
System Properties sysdm.cpl

Task Manager taskmgr
TCP Tester tcptest
Telnet Client telnet
Tweak UI ( if installed ) tweakui

User Account Management nusrmgr.cpl
Utility Manager utilman

Volume Serial Number for C: label
Volume Control sndvol32

Windows Address Book wab
Windows Address Book Import Utility wabmig
Windows Backup Utility ( if installed ) ntbackup
Windows Explorer explorer
Windows Firewall firewall.cpl
Windows Installer Details msiexec
Windows Magnifier magnify
Windows Management Infrastructure wmimgmt.msc
Windows Media Player wmplayer
Windows Messenger msnsgs
Windows Picture Import Wizard (Need camera connected) wiaacmgr
Windows System Security Tool syskey
Windows Script host settings wscript
Widnows Update Launches wupdmgr
Windows Version ( shows your windows version ) winver
Windows XP Tour Wizard tourstart
Wordpad write

Zoom Utility igfxzoom