Computing
Computer Science LearnITWithMrC ⛯ Year 7 Year 8 Year 9 GCSE
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Lesson Video

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Lesson Tasks

  • Watch the Lesson video
    Make notes on your notes sheet.
  • Read the lesson notes
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  • Complete the learning activities
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  • Check the Learning outcomes
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What do I need to Learn?

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I need to learn how to understand the need for, and functions of, Utility Software
I need to learn how to understand that the OS handles management of processor(s), memory, I/O devices, applications and security

Key Terms

Utility software Backup Encryption Compression tools Disk defragmenters Antivirus Data Protection Act.

Task 1 - Getting organised Click to see more


Task: Learning Journal

Open your Learning Journal by clicking on the image below

Good notes will help you organise and process data and information


Task 2 - Utility Software Click to see more

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.

Maintenance utilities

These include:

  • Backup - This allows the user to restore the system to a previous state which is saved as a backup. This is only usually used if a system malfunctions.
  • Disk cleaner - The storage drive is divided into a number of clusters. The table of contents serves as an address book, keeping a record of each file and the clusters used to store that file. When a file is deleted, the address to the location on the disk is removed. .
  • Disk defragmentation - When files are deleted, unused clusters become available for reuse. These can end up being distributed across a drive, especially if the original files were small. If a large file is then written to a drive, its data could be spread across different clusters leading to file fragmentation. Defragmentation involves rearranging the information on a disk so that files appear in continuous sequences of clusters. This will improve file access times. Most modern operating systems run this process automatically..
  • Formatting - Storage drives need to be formatted to be compatible with an OS. The OS usually formats storage media when it is connected to the computer. It is often the case that a storage drive cannot be compatible with both Windows and Mac OS X.

Security utilities

These include:

  • user accounts - allow the user to allocate specific users and protects personal files and programs from unauthorised access.
  • encryption - can encrypt data when it is stored, or whenever it is transmitted over a network.
  • anti-virus software - detects and blocks viruses.
  • firewall - can be used to filter between trusted and untrusted networks and prevent programs from communicating through the use of ports.

Disk Organisation Utilities

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.

Go to BBC Bitesize in the resource bar to find out more


Task 3 - Questions Click to see more

Answer the following Questions on Utility Software inside your learning Journal

Questions

Create a table of Utility programs like the one below. List 3 different utility programs from each of the three areas

Utility Name Type of Utility Example Description
Anti-Virus Security AVG Checks files before they are opened for viruses. Performs scans of the system

Advantages/Disadvantages:

Discuss the advantages and disadvantages of utility software.


Task 4 - Book Task Click to see more

Task:

Open your student workbook at page 21 Read through the notes then complete the following tasks in your book.
  1. Task 11
  2. Task 12
  3. Task 13

  • When you are finished screenshot your answer into your Learning Journal