Windows is an operating system that allows users to view and save files, run applications, play games, and connect to the Internet. It also provides security from virus attacks and malware.
Its graphical user interface is familiar to many people, making it easy to use. It also offers technical support for its users.
File system
The file system is a part of the operating system that manages the allocation and deallocation of disk space to store files. It also maintains a hierarchy of directories and files based on their logical location. It also ensures that file names are unique so that applications can refer to only one file at a time.
The Windows operating system uses several file systems to support different types of storage and use cases. The most commonly used is NTFS. Other Microsoft file systems include FAT16, FAT32 and exFAT. These file systems have different limitations and capabilities, but most are compatible with older operating systems.
NTFS also supports GPT volume support for disks larger than 2 TiB. However, the ability to boot from a GPT disk requires a system with UEFI and 64-bit hardware. NTFS has additional features, such as symbolic links and transactional NTFS, which make it more robust than other file systems. It also provides self-healing and partition shrinking, which reduce the risk of corrupt data.
Task manager
Windows has a built-in task manager that allows users to monitor and control the programs running on their computer. It also provides details about system performance. It can be used to close or bring to the forefront any open programs, as well as see how much memory and other resources they’re using. It can also be used to disable and uninstall programs.
In Windows 8 and newer versions of Windows, the Processes tab replaces Applications. The tab shows a list of all processes that are currently running on your computer, including standard apps, background processes, and Windows processes.
The Processes tab also displays a graph of CPU, disk, and memory usage over time. It can be used to detect if your system is running low on physical memory, or if it’s swapping to virtual memory. The details displayed include the name of each process, a description of its purpose, the image path and extension of its file, and the PID, which is a unique identifying number assigned to each process.
Search box
The search box found on the taskbar of Windows computers is a useful tool to find programs and files. It can save users time by avoiding the need to navigate multiple menus and folders. It can also help users find the files and programs they need quickly by typing specific commands into the search bar. For example, if you want to open the Windows Calculator, all you need to do is type calculator into the search box and press enter.
Windows Search uses an Index of files (audio tracks, documents, folders, programs, photos and videos), of non-file items such as messages in Microsoft Outlook and contacts in Microsoft OneNote and their metadata; as well as settings and the Control Panel. The index is updated incrementally as new files and items are created or modified.
The Windows search feature is powered by Bing and can provide Web results in addition to those from your local computer. However, the web searches can take up a lot of your system’s resources and may impact battery life or CPU consumption.
Hardware abstraction layer
The hardware abstraction layer, or HAL, is a thin software layer that offers a uniform interface between the underlying hardware and higher-level operating system layers. It hides hardware differences so that the operating system can use a single set of code for all devices. This allows software programs to be independent of the underlying hardware.
HAL is often used by a wide range of operating systems, including Microsoft Windows, Linux, and Mac OS. It is a crucial component of the windows system because it allows computers to interact with hardware devices at a general level, rather than a detailed hardware level. This allows the system to run more efficiently and reduces the risk of hardware failure.
A HAL is also useful for reducing the number of driver files in an operating system. Using a specialized file manager, such as WinDbg, you can view the different HALs in your operating system. The WDK provides tools, libraries, and header files that you can use to develop drivers for your hardware devices.