System Software

System software is a generic term referring to any computer software that is an essential part of the computer system in consistent to application software, which are programs that help the end-user to perform specific, productive tasks, such as word processing or image manipulation. System software consists of four programs.

• Operating systems
• Utilities
• Device drivers
• Language translators

Operating Systems

Every computer has an operating system, and every operating system performs three basic functions.

Utilities

Utilities are programs that make computing easier. Operating systems usually includes utility programs. For example, Virus guards are utility programs. Like virus guards there are several different utility programs. The five essential utility programs are:

Troubleshooting programs

To recognize the problems, before they become serious

Antivirus programs

To guard against viruses or other damaging programs that could invade your computer system.

Uninstall programs

To allow you to safely and completely remove programs and related files not needed from your hard disk

Backup programs

To make copies of files to be used if the originals are lost or damaged

File compression programs

To reduce the size of the files, to save storage space, and to be sent more efficiently over the internet

Device Drivers

Device drivers are specialized programs that allow devices such as the mouse or the keyboard to communicate with the rest of the system.

Every device such as the mouse or the keyboard, which is connected to a computer system, has a special program associated with it. It allows communication between the device and the rest of the computer system. When the computer system is switched on, OS loads all drivers into memory. Device drivers should be installed for all the devices that could be added to your computer.

Language Translators

Language Translators convert human-oriented programming languages into machine languages, so that language translators converts the program statements into zero’s and one’s the computer is able to process.