High-level & Low-level languages
Assemblers, Compilers & Interpreters
RAM, ROM & Virtual Memory
Storage Devices & Media
Utility Software
Good notes will help you organise and process data and information
Utility software is system software designed to help analyze, configure, optimize or maintain a computer.
Utility software helps the user to control, manage, and maintain a computer's operating system, hardware and application software. These programs are designed to perform specific functions like finding files, backing up data, playing multimedia files, viewing images and so on. Unlike system software, utility software can be set up, controlled or initiated by the user. Many utility software programs are built into a computer's operating system.
There are also stand-alone utility programs such as backup utilities and antivirus programs. Typically, these programs come with additional features that help improve the already built-in software. They have to be installed to the computer by the user, and they do not depend on other software packages to function. These programs remove spyware and adware, compress files, burn CDs and DVDs, play media files, convert files from one format to another and do other unglamorous tasks.
These include:
Formatting Software : - Formatting prepares the storage device for data storage.
It creates sectors and tracks on which data can be stored.
It also creates a special list called the File Allocation Table (FAT).
The FAT is used to keep track of where data is located. Each time you write a new file to your hard disk, the table is updated with where the data is stored.
File Transfer Software : - File transfer software enables data to be stored on the disk.
It does this by looking at the FAT and locating areas (sectors/clusters) which are free of data. Then it physically writes the data into that location on the disk.
It also enables data to be moved or copied from folder to folder in your own personal organised file system.
Defragmentation Software :- When the disk is formatted, sectors are created to store data. But, these sectors are only 512 bytes in size (tiny!). This means that a file is not stored ‘as one’ on a hard disk. It is instead stored in 512 bytes sized ‘building blocks’.
Over time, these ‘building blocks’ get fragmented over the hard disk. This means that reading a file takes longer as the hard drive needs to be searched in multiple places instead of one area.
To help improve read speeds, defragmentation software searches the disk for related data items and reorganises them so they become positioned physically next to one another.
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Answer the following Questions on Utility Software inside your learning Journal
Create a table of Utility programs like the one below. List 3 different utility programs from each of the three areas
Advantages/Disadvantages:
Discuss the advantages and disadvantages of utility software.