Windows Operating System - Research Paper Example

An Overview of Windows Operating System Table of Contents Table of Contents 2 Introduction 3 Windows Development 3 Memory Management 6 Device Management 6 Future Versions of Windows 7 Recommendation 8 Conclusion 8 Bibliography 9 Introduction An operating system is system software that is responsible for managing the computer hardware. It also supports the application programs and serves as a mediator between the computer hardware and the computer user (Silberschatz, Galvin and Gagne 3). In this scenario, Microsoft Windows is the most commonly and widely used operating system and can be considered as most popular operating system of the present age. This paper presents the history and development of Windows operating system. This paper will also discuss the main ideas of this operating system such as memory management techniques and device management. Windows Development Microsoft Windows or simply Windows is an operating system family of personal computer operating systems that is developed by Microsoft to make use of the computer through graphical user interface (GUI). Additionally, the Windows operating systems have been developed from the MS-DOS (Microsoft Disk operating system), which is a non-graphical command line operating system developed for IBM compatible computers and was initially released by Microsoft in August 1981 and its final version MS-DOS 6.22 was released in 1994. However, currently the MS-DOS operating system is not widely utilized, but its command shell can be used through Microsoft Windows (Computer Hope; Microsoft Corporation). Additionally, this operating system was based on the text mode and used command-line to perform calculations. Thus, it was not a user-friendly operating system. The initial version of Windows operating system, which is also acknowledged as the initial Windows Graphic Environment 1.0 was introduced on 10 November 1983, however simply out of the marketplace in November 1985 designed to help and manage the computer requirements to display a picture. The initial Windows 1.0 is a software addition to 16-bit (that was not an OS) that executed on MS-DOS (as well as a number of alternatives of MS-DOS), thus, the DOS operating system was necessary to run this operating system. In addition, after this version the Windows Version 2.x and 3.x were released, which were of the similar type. A number of the newest versions of Windows (however these new versions start from the version 4.0 and Windows NT 3.1) were autonomous OS that no longer reliant upon the operating system MS-DOS (Microsoft Corporation). History of Microsoft Windows Beginning from DOS Shell for Microsoft’s DOS 6 Microsoft required struggling beside the best-selling Apple Macintosh that utilized a GUI, Microsoft produced Windows 1.0. However, the name “Windows” was suggested by the Microsoft employees who got the name of the application as a Windows program. Figure 1Windows 1.0, Source : (Microsoft Corporation) Figure 2Windows 1.0, Source : (Microsoft Corporation) Additionally, the Windows version 2.0 was the initial version of the Windows that was capable of installing the program. However, the only program that could be added in this version was Microsoft Word version 1.0. After that Microsoft released another version, Windows version 3.0 that assured extra applications, the unity of utilization and the attractiveness of the (GUI) user interface, and simple configuration interface. In addition, the Windows version 3.1 is the edition of Windows that could be optimized in the 32-bit processor that was based on Intel 80386. Moreover, Windows Version 3.1 was the ultimate edition of Windows 3:11 previous to the era of the ‘start menu’ concept in the operating systems. Additionally, the Windows version 3:11 was the first version of the Windows that was capable of maintaining networking/networks. Though Windows 9X Windows applications are able to run 16-bit, however Windows 9X has a grade operating system applications themselves, X86-32, Windows 9X extremely well-liked through the Blue Screen of Death (BSOD) (Tilley; Microsoft Corporation). Memory Management To enhance both the speed of the computer’s operations and the use of the CPU, computers must keep a number of programs in memory, forming a need for memory management. For instance, Windows operating system makes use of the Win32 API, which offers a number of ways for an application to utilize memory, virtual memory, heaps, thread-local storage, memory-mapped files (Silberschatz, Galvin and Gagne 24-25). Additionally, the memory management for the Microsoft Windows operating system has emerged into a sophisticated and a rich structural design, which is capable of scaling the tiny embedded computer platforms (where Windows operating system runs as of ROM) all the way is capable of the multi-terabyte NUMA arrangement configurations, getting full benefit of the entire abilities of existing as well as future hardware designs. In addition, with each release of Windows, memory management supported a lot of novel capabilities and features. Moreover, the developments in algorithms as well as computer techniques offered new ways to a rich as well as sophisticated code base, which is maintained as a single code base for the entire platforms and SKUs. Furthermore, the focus of memory management developments in Windows Vista is on areas like that dynamic system address space, improved NUMA as well as huge system/page maintenance, I/O and section access, advanced video model support in addition to robustness as well as diagnosability (Microsoft Corporation-2; Garg; biznatchio). Device Management An operating system is responsible for managing various resources, which can be acknowledged as devices. Additionally, some of these devices are physical devices for instance, disk drivers, while others can be acknowledged as virtual devices, for instance files (Silberschatz, Galvin and Gagne 64). Thus, the device management is one of the main needs for organizing embedded devices in a computer system. However, existing methods of installing files or applications on Microsoft Windows are based on the nature of devices and need user interaction as well as offer no way of maintaining devices and updating over time. In addition, they do not offer a way to an administrator to manage hardware, software, and distribute software. Moreover, Windows operating system makes use of the messages to inform applications regarding device as well as power changes. In this scenario, Windows operating system makes use of device messages to inform applications regarding device change events and power messages to inform applications regarding power administration proceedings. Applications as well as drivers are able to as well define plus use custom messages to facilitate announcement of additional kinds of proceedings. Additionally, the present design techniques in the Windows operating system offer a lot of advantages such as “simplicity”. The device management client employs an open as well as simple XML-based protocol. In additional, the product is intended to function like a box through the systems management server as well as the Windows client proxy. Moreover, ‘versatility’ is also another important feature of Windows operating system, which allows system administrators to organize all the files that they need (Robinson; Silberschatz, Galvin and Gagne). Future Versions of Windows Regarding the future of Windows there is an idea that Microsoft will stop developing kernel as well as take on a UNIX kernel in the similar way as Apple implemented a BSD based kernel. Additionally, containing an OS kernel that allows easy porting of code to/from additional platforms is completely against their company technology model that depends on inappropriateness to lock customers in. However, one simple method of attaining this would be to contain a shared object (DLL) interface available as well as contain the interface among the libc and additional libraries plus the kernel be undocumented plus ever-changing (merely renumbering system calls on each minor version growth would be a high-quality start). Another main future product of Windows is about the allow to run free the power of Windows 7 technologies in Windows embedded standard 7 via a solid platform that matches into accessible customer infrastructure (Microsoft Corporation-3; Coker). Recommendation If I have to recommend an operating system then I will recommend Windows. Why Windows? The main advantage of this operating system is its simplicity of use. The functions and operating tools in these operating systems are easy to handle and control. Another main feature in this operating system is simple confutation that offer novice user to utilize this application more easily. Here we can say that Windows is the only operating system that offers the maximum software support and accessibility. Conclusion An operating system is a most important component of a system. It helps manage the hardware components and run other application. There are a number of operating systems available in the market, but the windows are most commonly used operating systems. This paper has presented a detailed overview of the Windows operating system. This paper has discussed its emergence and technology based working. I have also outlined future development in Windows. I hope this research will offer a deep insight into the Windows operating system. Bibliography biznatchio. "An introductory guide to Windows Memory Management." 2010. SH/SC Wiki. 18 April 2010 . Coker, Russell. "Future Versions of Windows." 27 February 2008. Coker.com.au. 22 April 2010 . Computer Hope. MS-DOS. 2010. 22 April 2010 . Garg, Pankaj. "Windows Memory Management." 2009. IntellectualHeaven.com. 20 April 2010 . Microsoft Corporation. "Windows History." 7 March 2006. Microsoft Corporation.com. 20 April 2010 . Microsoft Corporation-2. "Windows Memory Management." 2020. 22 April 2010 . Microsoft Corporation-3. "Future Version: Windows Embedded Standard 7." 2010. Microsoft Corporation.com. 22 April 2010 . Robinson, Tim. "Device Management." 30 March 2002. Bona Fide OS Development. 18 04 2010 . Silberschatz, Abraham, Peter Baer Galvin and Greg Gagne. Operating System Concepts (7th Edition). New York: Wiley, 2004. Tilley, Chris. "The History of Windows CE : Contents...." 11 October 2009. HPC:Factor. 20 April 2010 . Read More