Windows is a graphical operating system developed by Microsoft. It is used on personal computers and tablets. It has extensive compatibility with hardware and software devices.
It was first released in November 1985, and has undergone many developments since then. It has evolved as computer memory and processing chips have grown larger.
System architecture
The system architecture of Windows provides the foundation for all types of applications. It consists of two major components, user mode and kernel mode. The processor switches between these modes depending on the type of code it’s executing. Applications and services operate in user mode, while core operating system components function in kernel mode.
The Hardware Abstraction Layer (HAL) is a layer that sits between the physical hardware and the rest of the operating system. It was designed to hide differences in hardware and provide a consistent platform on which applications could run. The HAL includes hardware-specific code that controls I/O interfaces, interrupt controllers, and multiple processors.
The user-mode components consist of the Windows API, graphical device interface (GDI), and other user-mode subsystems. These enable applications to call system functions, such as storing and drawing. These functions are provided by one or more subsystem dynamic-link libraries (DLLs). The DLLs translate a documented function into internal, native Windows operating system calls.
Hardware abstraction layer (HAL)
The hardware abstraction layer (HAL) is an integral part of the windows system and is responsible for enabling the operating system to remain independent from the underlying hardware. It encapsulates the logic of different drivers and hardware platforms and provides a standard API to software applications. This enables developers to write code that is more logical and easier to maintain.
The HAL also enables the operating system to interact with hardware devices in a more consistent manner. For example, when a software application requests data from a hard disk, the HAL will translate the request into low-level instructions for the specific hard disk used in the computer.
In addition, the HAL enables the operating system to identify errors in hardware components. For example, if an error occurs during a system boot sequence, the operating system will display a message indicating that the device encountered an unexpected event. The HAL also uses the cy_rslt_t type to provide structured error reporting, and the device driver headers include macros that provide easy access to the error codes that are returned by a HAL function.
File system
File systems are an essential part of operating systems that manage how data is stored, organized, and accessed on storage devices like hard drives. They also provide a way for computers to locate files. The file system indexes all the data on the hard drive into individual pieces called files and directories, which are arranged in a hierarchical format. Each file also contains metadata that describes the contents, including its size and location on the disk.
Windows OSs have supported different types of file systems over the years, starting with FAT (File Allocation Table) and evolving to NTFS with the release of the Windows NT operating system in 1993. All modern versions of Windows include NTFS as the default file system.
The underlying technology used by file systems varies between OSs, but most of the features are the same. These include improved performance by storing data efficiently on the disk and robust security measures to prevent malware and other malicious software from corrupting or changing file system data.
Graphical user interface (GUI)
GUIs present users with graphical elements, such as windows, icons, and visual indicators to facilitate interaction with electronic devices. They are used to replace command-line interfaces (CLIs), which require the user to input commands on a computer keyboard. These interfaces use spatial metaphors that mimic real-world objects and are easy to learn.
The graphical elements in a GUI are displayed on the computer screen, and the user interacts with them using a pointer, also known as a cursor. Each task occupies a resizable window, which can be moved, layered one on top of another, minimized, or hidden as desired by the user.
GUIs have shaved seconds, and sometimes minutes, from every task by streamlining interactions. This makes the technology more user-friendly for users of all ages and backgrounds. They are now the default for all electronic devices, from computers and mobile phones to self-service checkouts and train ticket kiosks. And they’re even featured in movies like Minority Report and Jurassic Park.