Fundamentals of Computers: For Undergraduate Courses in Commerce and Management

5

OPERATING SYSTEM: MS-DOS AND WINDOWS

Chapter Outline

5.1 Introduction

5.2 Operating System: Definition

5.3 Evolution of Operating System

5.4 Types of Operating System

5.5 Functions of Operating System

5.6 Working with MS-DOS

5.7 Modern Operating Systems

5.1 INTRODUCTION

In the early days of computer use, computers were huge machines, which were expensive to buy, run, and maintain. The user at that time interacted directly with the hardware through machine language. A software was required which could perform basic tasks, such as recognising input from the keyboard, sending output to the display screen, keeping track of files and directories on the disk, and controlling peripheral devices such as printer and scanner. The search for such software ...