Sukkur Institute of Business Administration University

Department of Computer Systems Engineering

CSE-111: Information and Communications Technologies

Handout # 02: Operating Systems (OS)

Fundamentals
[CLO-II]
Instructor: Engr. Muhammad Irfan Younas

Note: Submit this lab hand-out in the next lab with attached solved
activities and exercises

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Lab Learning Objectives:
After going through this lab student would be able to:
1. explain the structure and functions of an operating system,
2. Installation basics for installing any OS like Windows 10, Ubuntu etc
3. To give an overview of the many types of OS computing
environments like Windows 10, Linux(Ubuntu), Mac OS
Lab Hardware and Software Required:

Desktop Computer (PC)

Background Theory:

What is an Operating System?

A program that acts as an intermediary between a user of a computer
and the computer hardware.
Modern general-purpose computers, including personal computers and
mainframes, have an operating system to run other programs, such as
application software. Examples of operating systems for personal
computers include Microsoft Windows, Mac OS (and Darwin), Unix, and
Linux.
Operating system goals:

Execute user programs and make solving user problems easier

Make the computer system convenient to use
Use the computer hardware in an efficient manner

Computer system can be divided into four components:

1. Hardware – provides basic computing resources

CPU, memory, I/O devices

Computer architecture is a set of rules and methods that describe the

functionality, organization, and implementation of computer systems.

There are basically two types of digital computer architectures:

Von Neumann Architecture:

 It is named after the mathematician and early computer

scientist John Von Neumann.
 The computer has single storage system (memory) for storing data
as well as program to be executed.
 Processor needs two clock cycles to complete an instruction.
Pipelining the instructions is not possible with this architecture.

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  In the first clock cycle the processor gets the instruction from
memory and decodes it. In the next clock cycle the required data is
taken from memory. For each instruction this cycle repeats and
hence needs two cycles to complete an instruction.
 This is a relatively older architecture and was replaced by Harvard
architecture e.g. it was used in ENIAC, EDVAC etc.

Harvard Architecture:

 The name is originated from "Harvard Mark I" a relay based old
computer.
 The computer has two separate memories for storing data and
program.
 Processor can complete an instruction in one cycle if appropriate
pipelining strategies are implemented.
 In the first stage of pipeline the instruction to be executed can be
taken from program memory. In the second stage of pipeline data
is taken from the data memory using the decoded instruction or
address.
 Most of the modern computing architectures are based on Harvard
architecture e.g. AVR by Atmel Corp

2. Operating system
Controls and coordinates use of hardware among various applications
and users

The OS manages these resources and allocates them to specific programs

and users. With the management of the OS, a programmer is rid of
difficult hardware considerations. An OS provides services for
• Processor Management: OS decides which process gets the processor
when and for how much time
• Memory Management: refers to management of Primary Memory or
Main Memory
• File Management: OS manages the organization of file systems to
keeps track of information, location, uses, status etc of files.
• Device Management: An Operating System manages device
communication via their respective drivers (dedicated micro programs or
softwares for devices)
• Concurrency Control: OS ensures that correct results for concurrent
operations are generated, while getting those results as quickly as
possible.

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3. Application programs – define the ways in which the system
resources are used to solve the computing problems of the users
Word processors, compilers, web browsers, database systems, video
games

4. Users
People, machines, other computers

User Interface is the term used for specifying how a user interacts with
an electronic device, particularly computer. CLI and GUI are the different
types of user interfaces. Mainly they differ in the graphics employed in
the operating system.
To perform an operation on the CLI system one has to write a command
e.g. MS DOS (Microsoft Disk Operating System). On the other hand, in
GUI users provided the visual aids (graphics) that include images and
icons, which facilitates users to perform a task directly e.g. Windows.

CLI systems require expertise in the commands for performing task

whereas GUI doesn’t require expertise, it could be operated by novice
users too.

KERNEL
The lowest level of any operating system is its kernel. This is the first
layer of software loaded into memory when a system boots or starts up.

Virtual memory
A computer can address more memory than the amount physically
installed on the system. This extra memory is actually called virtual
memory and it is a section of a hard disk that's set up to emulate the
computer's RAM.

Booting an Operating System

Booting is a process or set of operations that loads and hence starts the
operating system, starting from the point when user switches on the
power button.
Following steps are made to boot an OS:

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 1. Power up; computer runs POST (power-on self-test -- one of the
first processes that a computer undergoes when booting)
2. Boot sequence governed by BIOS ROM (Basic input/output system:
BIOS software stored permanently(*) on a CMOS(Complementary
Metal-Oxide Semiconductor) chip on the motherboard)
o BIOS parameters stored in CMOS
o BIOS ROM may be password protected
3. Control passes to the MBR (Master Boot Record is the information
in the first sector of any hard disk or diskette that identifies how
and where an operating system is located so that it can be boot
(loaded) into the computer's main storage or random access
memory) of the first bootable device detected
4. MBR points to boot record of selected operating system
5. Operating system takes control

Mobile operating system

A mobile operating system (or mobile OS) is an operating system for
phones, tablets, smartwatches, or other mobile devices. Mobile operating
systems combine features of a personal computer operating system with
other features useful for mobile or handheld use; usually including, and
most of the following considered essential in modern mobile systems; a
touchscreen, cellular, Bluetooth, Wi-Fi Protected Access, Wi-Fi, Global
Positioning System (GPS) mobile navigation etc. Mobile devices with
mobile communications abilities (e.g., smartphones) contain two mobile
operating systems – the main user-facing software platform is
supplemented by a second low-level proprietary real-time operating
system which operates the radio and other hardware.

Popular Mobile Operating Systems:

 Android OS (Google Inc.)
 Bada (Samsung Electronics)
 BlackBerry OS (Research In Motion)
 iPhone OS / iOS (Apple)
 MeeGo OS (Nokia and Intel)

Lab Activities:

Activity 2.0. Getting Familiar with MS-DOS (Windows Command Prompt):

To launch Command Prompt select Start -> Run and type cmd in the box.

The Command Prompt shows up as a black terminal window. The command prompt should
look something like:

“C:\>” This is called the command prompt or DOS prompt.

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This is where you type commands. Windows does not care if you use upper or lower case.
That means that command cd is the same as CD.

Now, type the following command at the command prompt:

Command Description
Ver Displays MS-DOS installed version
Dir Displays the Contents of a Directory
cd changes directory e.g. C:\WINDOWS>
ren “oldname” Renames a file e.g ren notpad.exe padnote.txt
“newname”
md makes directory
Rd Deletes directory
Del Deletes a file e.g. del PADNOTE.TXT
copy “source” Copies a file from source to destination e.g. copy c:\windows\
“destination” notepad.exe c:\fruit

Activity 2.1. Installing Windows 10 as virtual machine:

Step 1: Use/Download the ISO image of Windows 10 or create a bootable Windows 10 DVD
(if available)

Step 2: Run/Download and install the Virtual Box program for Windows available at
oracle.com. If you have been using an older version of Virtual Box, please upgrade to the
latest version of VM VirtualBox as it includes support for Windows 10

Step 3: Launch the Oracle VM Virtual Box program from the Windows Programs Menu and
click the “New” button (or press Ctrl+N) to create a new Windows 10 Virtual Machine. Click
the “Hide Description” button to get started.

Step 4: Give your virtual machine a name (like Windows 10). Set the Operating System as
Windows and pick Windows 10 for the Version. Next you need to allocate RAM to your new

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Windows 10 VM. The minimum that you should allocate is 1024 MB (or 1 GB) though you
can always move that slider further right to 2 GB for improved performance. Click Create

Step 5: Next choose the file location where you would like to save the Windows 10 virtual
hard disk. If you just want to try Windows 10 and don’t plan to install any additional apps,
the recommended size is 25 GB.

Step 6: You are all set to create new hard disk for Windows 10. VirtualBox will create a large
physical file now (for storing the Windows 10 OS) and it might take anywhere between 3-4
minutes to finish the process.

Step 7: Your Windows 10 virtual hard disk is now ready but before you can use it, you need
to make a few modifications. While you are inside the VirtualBox Manager windows, select
the Windows 10 VM and press Ctrl + S to open the settings window.

 Go to System –> Motherboard and Enable IO APIC. (should be enabled by default)

 Go to System –> Processor and Enable PAE/NX. (should be enabled by default)
 Go to Display –> Video and Enable 2D Video Acceleration. (disabled by default)

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Step 8: Click OK to save all the settings and double-click the Virtual Machine labeled
Windows 10 to launch the program. You can either insert the Windows 10 installer DVD or
click the folder icon and browse to the folder where the Windows 10 ISO file is stored.

Click the Next button and this will initiate the actual Windows 10 setup routine. You can the
Windows 10 serial number and it should take about 20-30 minutes to complete the
installation process.

Activity 2.2: Get started using Windows 10

Perform the following tasks:

Sign in to Windows
1. Start your Windows 10 computer.

2. Dismiss the Lock screen, and then sign in to Windows 10.

Explore the desktop and taskbar

Sign in to Windows, and then perform the following tasks:

1. From the taskbar search box, search for desktop. Filter the search results list to display
only folders, and then open the Desktop folder for your user account.

2. Search for taskbar. Filter the search results list to display only settings. Then display the
settings pane in which you can specify which icons appear on the taskbar.

3. In the notification area of the taskbar, right-click the Speakers icon, and then select
Sounds to open the Sound dialog box.

4. Display Task View to view all active apps and dialog boxes in your computing session.
From Task View, close the Sound dialog box and then go to the Settings window.

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5. Display the hidden icons in the notification area of the taskbar. Point to each icon in the
window to display a ScreenTip that identifies the app. Then right-click any icon to display the
available commands for that app.

6. From the notification area of the taskbar, display the Action Center.

7. If the Action Center contains messages, preview the content of a message, and then
remove that message from the Action Center.

8. Minimize all open windows. (You’ll use them in upcoming tasks.)

Explore the Start menu

Perform the following tasks:

1. Display the Start menu, and then display your user account menu.

2. From the user account menu, lock the computer. Then sign in to Windows again.

3. Display the Start menu. Examine the app list for apps that have jump lists, and notice
the recent files and common actions for those apps.

Explore Windows settings

Perform the following tasks:

1. Open the Settings window.

2. Display any category of settings that interests you.

3. Within the selected category, display the settings for a specific feature.

4. Open Control Panel.

5. Leave the Settings window and Control Panel open for later use.

Manage content and app windows

Ensure that the Settings window and Control Panel are open, and then perform

the following tasks:

1. Activate the Settings window. Change only the width of the window so it is
approximately half the width of the screen. Then drag the window to the approximate
center of the screen.

2. Use the mouse or pointer to resize the Settings window in the following ways:

a. Maximize the window height without changing its width.

b. Maximize the window to fill the screen.

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c. Snap the window to the left side of the screen, and select Control Panel to fill the right
side of the screen.

3. Activate Control Panel, and then use keyboard shortcuts to resize it in the following ways:

a. Snap the window to the upper-right quadrant of the screen.

b. Move the window to the left side of the screen.

4. Temporarily minimize all the open windows to display the desktop.

5. Stack the open windows.

6. Minimize all the active windows, and then restore them.

7. Activate the Settings window, and then minimize all windows other than the active
window.

8. Close the Settings window. Then activate and close Control Panel (and any other
windows that you opened earlier).

End a computing session

Sign in to Windows, and then perform the following tasks:

1. From the user account menu at the top of the Start menu, lock the computer. Then
sign in to Windows again.

2. From the Power button at the bottom of the Start menu, put the computer to sleep.
Then sign in to Windows again.

3. From the Start shortcut menu, sign out of Windows to end your computing session.

4. From the Welcome screen, restart the computer.

Activity 2.3 Work with apps and notifications

Locate and start apps

Perform the following tasks:

1. Open the Start menu or Start screen and display the app list.

2. Manually scroll the list to display apps that begin with the letter G. Along the way, notice
the apps that are installed on your computer.

3. Display the alphabetic index of the app list. From the index, jump to the apps that begin
with the letter M.

4. From the app list, start the Maps app.

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5. In the taskbar search box, enter weather. Locate and start the Weather app.

6. Leave both apps running for the next task.

Explore built-in apps

Start the Maps and Weather apps, and then perform the following tasks:

1. Switch to the Maps app.

2. Enter your address in the search box. If the app locates an address match, select the
address to display it on the map.

3. On the button bar in the right pane, select the Map views button to display the
available views of the location.

4. Display each of the available views of the map. Experiment with zooming in and out in
each view, and note the details that are available in each view.

5. Switch to the Weather app. In the search box, enter the name of the nearest large city
to you. Experiment to find out what types of information are available in this app.

6. In the app list, scroll or jump to the W section. Open and browse the contents of the
folders in that section to familiarize yourself with the apps, accessories, and tools that are
available.

7. Exit all the running apps.

Install Store apps

Perform the following tasks:

1. Start the Store app.

2. Locate a free app that interests you, and install it. Then locate another free app that you
don’t want to keep and install that, too.

3. Display your library of recent apps and games, and then display the list of apps associated
with your account.

4. In the Your Apps pane, look for an app that has an Install icon. If you find one, install
the app on your computer.

5. From the Store, display your Microsoft account information. Locate your list of purchases
and identify the apps you installed in steps 2 and 4.

6. If you’ve had a Microsoft account for a while, identify the first year for which your
account has a record of transactions.

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7. In the app list, locate the apps that you installed in step 2. (Hint: If you display the
Recently Added section on the Start menu, it will be easy to find the new apps.)

8. Uninstall one or both of the apps.

Manage app notifications

Perform the following tasks:

1. Open the Action Center and examine any current notifications.

2. In the Settings window, on the System settings page, display the Notifications
& actions pane. Review your current notification settings.

3. Review the list of apps installed on your computer that can generate notifications.

4. Display the notification options for the Calendar app. Turn off audio notifications for
Calendar. Then return to the list of apps and note the change.

5. Review and modify the notification settings to meet your needs.

6. Turn on the Quiet Hours feature and note that the Action Center icon changes. Then
turn off Quiet Hours.

Activity 2.4 Understand user accounts and permissions

Windows 10 requires at least one user account. You specify that account when you’re
completing the installation processes, or the first time the computer starts after Windows
10 has been installed.

Windows 10 designates this first account as an Administrator account so that the account
can be used to manage the computer. It isn’t possible to sign in to the computer without a
user account.

A user is the person who is using the computer.

A user account is an account that a person uses to sign in to a computer.

Each user account is either:

A Microsoft account, which is any email address that has been registered with the
Microsoft account service.

A local account that exists only on a single computer and is not associated with a specific
email address.

You can use your Microsoft account to sign in to multiple computers, websites, and services
by using the same email address and password. By signing in with your Microsoft account
credentials, you can share settings and files among all your devices. Any device you sign in

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to with this account has access to the same settings and information. Signing in with a local
account places limits on the applications you can purchase or download from the Store, and
might limit your access to Microsoft OneDrive. Because almost any email account can also
be set up to be a Microsoft account, it’s a good idea to take advantage of the extra benefits
that allows.

Every user account is also classified as either:

An Administrator account

A Standard User account

This classification provides a specific level of permission to manage system actions on the
computer. The next section of this topic explains what each of these types of accounts can
do.

A user account can also be one of the following:

A Child account that is monitored by using Family Safety

An Adult account that can manage Family Safety settings for Child accounts

These are optional designations that make the user account holder part of your family
group. The sidebar “Manage and monitor family safety settings” contains theses settings.

Activity 2.5 How to increase virtual memory in Windows 10.

Steps to set virtual memory on Windows 10 computer:

1. Right click on the Start Button and select Control Panel.

2. Now go to System and Security.
3. Click on System.
4. Now tap on Advanced System settings from the right panel.
5. Click the Advanced tab, and then, under Performance, click Settings.
6. Under the option Advanced check the Virtual memory option and click Change.
7. Uncheck the option Automatically manage paging file size for all drives.
8. Under Drive [Volume Label], click the drive that contains the paging file you want to
change.
9. Click Custom size, type a new size in megabytes in the Initial size (MB) or Maximum
size (MB) box, click Set, and then click OK.

Activity 2.6. Installing Ubuntu as virtual machine:

Follow the same steps till step 6 as mentioned in Activity 2.1.

Select your new virtual machine. Once you've done this, click the “Settings” button.

Click “Storage” tab.

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Click the “CD/DVD icon" having "+" on it and select ISO to mount

Ubuntu ISO will be mounted under controller device.

Click on the system tab on the left. Choose boot order and keep CD/DVD on the top as first
priority.

Select your virtual machine. Then click the “Start” button

Ubuntu Virtual machine will start in a separate window.

Machine will boot from selected ISO and you will see language option. Choose your
preferred language and press Enter.

In next window you will see "Install Options". You can choose to try ubuntu without
installing, you can choose install ubuntu option, you can also check for disk and memory for
defects and problems and you can also choose to boot from existing hard disk. Choose to
INSTALL ubuntu option here.

Once ubuntu has loaded, Choose your language and Click “Continue".

On next screen, ubuntu will give you a checklist and you will be asked if you need to update
during install. Choose your required option and click "Continue".

Next option will ask you if you want to delete all data and install or you can also choose or
create your own partitions from option "Something Else".

Select your time zone from the map, then click “Continue.”

Click “Continue” to keep the default keyboard layout or choose your desired one.

Type your username in the first text box. This will automatically fill in the login name and
computer name. Type your password and confirm your password and click "Continue".

Ubuntu will begin the installation now.

Once installation is complete, click “Restart Now” to finish installation.

Machine will restart and Installed Ubuntu will load from hard disk, provide password to
username and login to main window of ubuntu.

Once you have logged in to Ubuntu, click on the "Devices" tab in virtualbox. Select "Insert
Guest Additions CD Image...

When Ubuntu asks to install a program and it needs a password, type your user password.
Click "Install Now."

Let the terminal program run, and when it has finished, press Enter.

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Reboot your VM and once it has booted, click on the "View" menu, and click "Auto-resize
Guest Display" and you will now have a full-resolution Ubuntu VM on your computer.

Lab Exercises:

Exercise 2.1. Which computer architecture does most modern computers employ?

Exercise 2.2. Intel is famous for manufacturing processors for general purpose computers.
Which is the leading company for manufacturing Smartphone processors?

Exercise 2.3. Make a timeline of OS Generations

Exercise 2.4. Write steps to create child and guest account in Windows 10.

Note: Students are encouraged to read and practice Windows 10, Step by Step, Second
Edition by Joan Lambert available at “elearning Sukkur IBA University portal”

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