OPERATING SYSTEMS, BIOS AND YOU!
NAME: ______________
The following is a note that relates to important aspects of software and firmware related to your computer.
Instead of doing the note on overhead, as a class, you will complete it yourself using the internet sites…

Find a reliable internet site that defines the following two terms and write down the definitions:
Software:

Can software be deleted from a device?  ____
Can software be updated on a device? _____	

Firmware:

Can firmware be deleted from a device?  _____
Can firmware be updated on a device? ______	

Visit http://www.gcflearnfree.org/computerbasics/2.0 and answer the following questions:
Define an operating system and what it does:

	

You can watch the short video, but it’s pretty basic.

What are the three things that happen when a computer boots up?

	

What are the three most common operating systems?

	

If you want to read about Apple’s first operating system, google: “the untold story behind apple’s $13000 operating system” and select the first link. The article explains how Steve Wozniak, Steve Jobs’ business partner, reduced a major design from 60 chips to only 6.
If you want to read about Microsoft’s first operating system, google: “MSDOS”. 
MSDOS used a Command Line Interface instead of a Graphical User Interface. 
If you wanted to see what was in your H: drive in DOS you would have typed dir h: and the list of files and folders would appear. Google some images of DOS screens just to see what they looked like.
Linux is an open source operating system. What does this mean? (page 5 of the site describes it briefly, but you might have to google “open source”).

What are two advantages and two disadvantages to open source software?

	

Google the following “10 things that can go wrong when updating your operating system” and click the first link.

Identify and briefly explain each thing that can go wrong:

	

Go to the following website: http://www.bioscentral.com/misc/biosbasics.htm
Read through the Introduction and the first paragraph of the BOOT PROCESS.
What does BIOS stand for?

What does the BIOS do?

	

Go to you tube and search for a video called: What is a BIOS? View the video that is 2 minutes and 54 seconds.

Go to google and search “do you need to update your computer’s bios?” click on the first link.
 
It is always recommended to update your BIOS.                                 			      T    F
BIOS’s are computer specific so you need to find the right BIOS update for your computer.    T    F

What does “flashing a BIOS” mean?