An operating system, sometimes called an OS, is the foundation for all system software on your computer. It is the part of your computer that is responsible for controlling input and output devices, managing files and prioritizing system requests, as well as controlling and allocating memory. If your computer didn’t have a working operating system, it would basically be a big paperweight.
Computers usually report the name of the operating system when the computer starts up.
If you’re having trouble with your computer and need to call a technical support hotline, you’ll likely be asked what operating system you’re running. The easiest way to determine what operating system your computer is running is to look at what appears when you start your computer. In most cases, the computer will display the operating system logo by running for a short time before loading all the software.
The computer operating system is the foundation for all system software on a computer.
Microsoft Windows dominates the personal computer market, although there are several different versions of the Windows operating system available. If your computer is running Microsoft Windows, you can go to START > RUN and type “winver.exe” in the open field to access a dialog box that describes what version of Windows your computer has.
If your computer is running Mac OS X, you can determine what version of the operating system you have by choosing “About This Mac” from the Apple menu. A small window will appear showing your version number.
Linux is the name commonly given to any Unix-like operating system that runs with the Linux kernel. Linux operating systems are primarily used by servers, but can also be found in video game systems, mobile phones, e-book readers, and DVRs. The Linux operating system is unique in that all of the underlying source code can be freely used, modified, and redistributed by anyone.
While troubleshooting technical problems is an example of a situation where knowing your computer’s operating system is helpful, knowing what your operating system is is also helpful when purchasing new software for your computer. Some games and desktop publishing or personal accounting programs are only compatible with certain operating systems. For example, your purchase may not work if you’re running a version of Windows that is considered outdated. However, for general web browsing and emailing friends and family, any operating system that allows your computer to run efficiently is sufficient. An update is only necessary when you start having problems that interfere with your productivity.
You may need to know your computer’s operating system if you call a technical support hotline.
