A computer will not run without an operating system, as it is the program that controls the running of the computer
When a PC is switched on, the first
thing that happens is that the
operating system is loaded into
memory usually from the hard-drive.
The computer is designed with a
small amount of software on a ROM
chip, which allows the computer to
find the main part of the operating
system
This process is called booting
An operating system can carry out the following functions
It loads and runs programs
It maximises the use of memory (RAM)
It handles inputs and outputs
If interuptions occur, then it handles them
It maintains the security of the system
Applications software is specific to a certain operating system and so cannot run under
another one. For example, a Windows program could not run under a UNIX or Linux
operating system