Task 2

Understanding computer systems

Virus Protection

I first clicked on the start menu then went on Symantec client security. After I went on the Symantec virus I clicked on schedule scans and selected new schedule scan. I clicked on full scan and then pressed next. I then gave the scan a name then again clicked next. I selected a weekly check, which would occur on every Friday at 10am. On the next window I saved the scan and I was done.

Firewall

I first went on the start menu and selected control panel. I then clicked on the security centre. Then I clicked on firewall then clicked on ON then I was done and my firewall was set.

operating systems

Windows vista
Windows vista is just one of the many operating systems created by Microsoft. When vista was first created it wasn’t initially known as Windows vista but it was called Longhorn. When this software first came out it was only available to computer hardware and software manufacturers, business customers and retail channels. But on January 30th 2007, Windows Vista was officially released worldwide. Vista has various different types of changes to any other windows which include things such as graphical user interface and visual style. It also has better searching features, multimedia creation tools like Windows DVD maker, audio, print and display sub systems. Vista intends to make the whole operating of a computer easier, by doing this they have included version 3.0 of the NEDT framework into the software. Windows Vista has many changes and new characteristics, including an updated graphical user interface and visual style dubbed Windows Aero, improved searching features, new multimedia creation tools such as Windows DVD Maker, and redesigned networking, audio, print, and display sub-systems. Vista also aims to increase the level of communication between machines on a home network, using peer-to-peer technology to simplify sharing files and digital media between computers and devices.


Macintosh
Mac OS (Macintosh) is an operating system that was created by Apple Inc. the Macintosh is known for the superb graphical user interface. Apple named the Macintosh ‘Mac OS’ at a later date but it was first brought out as unnamed system software in 1984. It was just referred to as the system software. Apple purposely played down any existence of the operating system at first so that it will make the machine look a bit more user friendly and to keep away from other operating systems such as MS-DOS, this was because it would give it a huge challenge in the selling market. The software was held in ROM were the updates that would be needed will happen through a floppy disk which Apple would provide. Apple introduced computers later with a PowerPC hardware, then the OS was upgraded to support this architecture due to the fact that The Mac OS was only compatible with Motorola 68000. Whereas Mac OS X is compatible with both PowerPC and Intel processors.
The Macintosh project started in the late 1970s with Jef Raskin, an Apple employee, who envisioned an easy-to-use, computer for the typical consumer. He wanted to name the computer after his favourite type of apple, the McIntosh, but the name had to be changed for legal reasons. In September 1979, Raskin was authorized to start hiring for the project, and he began to look for an engineer who could put together a prototype. Bill Atkinson, a member of Apple's Lisa team introduced him to Burrell Smith, a service technician who had been hired earlier that year. Over the years, Raskin assembled a large development team that designed and built the original Macintosh hardware and software; besides Raskin, Atkinson and Smith, the team included Chris Espinosa, Joanna Hoffman, George Crow, Bruce Horn, Jerry Manock, Susan Kare, Andy Hertzfeld, and Daniel Kottke.

Assignment 2.1 B

Computer viruses are small software programs that are made to spread from one computer to another and to interfere with computer operation. A virus might corrupt or delete data on your computer, use your e-mail program to spread itself to other computers, or even erase everything on your hard disk. Viruses are most easily spread by attachments in e-mail messages or instant messaging messages. That is why it is essential that you never open e-mail attachments unless you know whom it's from and you are expecting it. Viruses can be disguised as attachments of funny images, greeting cards, or audio and video files.

· Virus protection is a software that blocks out viruses to protect your computer. If you use this software the your computer would have many pluses to it. For example it would make the speed of your computer much quicker.

· It is important that you undertake a full system scan weekly to enable you to get the best outcome. Doing this weekly check will swipe out any viruses that somehow got through and will swipe it out.

· Defragment of hard drive is very good in ways that you will not get your work mixed up. Defragment cleans up your work, this will clear up such things like if your work was all mixed up it would divide them into different sections to make it clear and easy.

· When you create a file it makes life much easier in terms of saving work and placing software’s in the right places. Rather then having it spread all over the place, saving it in certain files makes it easy to find and it looks well presented, it also makes you feel and look organized.

· When you copy and delete files it helps with your computer in terms of speed and space. When deleting documents it enables you with extra space on your computer, when copying it benefits yourself as you will always have a back up copy of what ever you are doing.

· When you install a firewall it benefits everyone, you would be able to block the ones who go on websites that are not ones that you should go on, using these websites could easily cause you to pick up viruses. By using firewall you can block these sites being used therefore keeps your computer running well.

· Drive formatting can be very useful for many reasons. By installing this software you can get rid of viruses, also you can do such things like clean up your hard drive. 1

Functions of the system unit component

Shanur Ali

Functions of the system unit components

· The processer is sometimes known as the ‘CPU’ or the central processing unit. It is the base of the computer as this is where everything processes through. The processer is a very important chip, it also has the power-management features that expand battery life. Processor registers are at the top of the memory hierarchy, and provide the fastest way for a CPU to access data.

· The motherboard is the circuit board of the computer. The CPU, RAM, hard drive, optical drives and disk drives are plugged into the interfaces on the motherboard. If you wanted to you could easily build in a video interface and sound card. A motherboard can come in many configurations to fit different needs and budgets. It comes with lots of interfaces for needed components. The BIOS chip is there to set to control setup of the motherboard.

· The BIOS is placed in a ROM chip that would usually come with the computer. Sometimes this is also known as a ROM BIOS. It ensures that the BIOS will be available at all times and will not be able to get damaged by any disk failures. Also it can make the computer be able to boot itself up if it fails. The term ‘shadowing’ is used when computer manufacturers design systems so that BIOS is copied from ROM to RAM every time the computer is booted.

· The power supply is also known as power supply unit or PSU, it is the component that has to supply power to the computer. Computers such as laptops can be plugged into any sort of sockets. The power supply would pull out the amount of electricity needed and would convert the AC to DC current. Not all power supplies have the power to control such things as a computer, due to this it does not take up too much voltage.

· The heat sink is a component which is like air conditioning where it is designed to keep the temperature low in an electronic device. In these modern days all CPUs need to have a heat sink to prevent such things as the system blowing up and some could also have to have a fan. If a heat sink doesn’t have a fan it is called a passive heat sink where as if it does have a fan it is called an active heat sink. They are usually made out of alloy and also have fins on them.

· A graphic card is a hardware that is already installed inside a computer that is there to render the image on the computers monitor or on the display screen. Graphic cards can have many different types of features but they can also be very expensive pending on what kind you decide to buy.

· Plotter paper is a certain kind of paper that is only used on plotter machines. The plotter machines are printing devices that are only used with computers that are able to print vector type graphics. So that they can create their blueprints, architects or people like building designers use this plotter. Also they can be used alongside software programs like AutoCAD and other kind of drawing programs.

· The internal memory command is software that would allow the ROI of a number of different regions of arrays to be stored inside. The command of the internal memory is very powerful and dangerous, this is because each array that is extra needs to have more virtual memory. This means that the total demands of the virtual memory will grow and grow and could reach its final limit. But there would be no need to worry as if this was to happen then a warning would appear on the screen.

· The scanner allows you to be able to capture documents that are already printed on a piece of paper, they would then be turned into a online format or a digital one that is able to be viewed on the computer. After this you can edit anything from it and then use it or add it for print publishing or even online purposes.

· A parallel interface is for connecting an external device like things like printers and photocopiers. Most computers that you will come across would have at least one serial port and a parallel port.