Windows is a series of programs that control a computer. It allows the user to interact with it through a keyboard, mouse and microphone.
It is a graphical operating system developed, sold and marketed by Microsoft. It is grouped into families and sub-families that cater to particular sectors of the computing industry, including Windows (unqualified) for a consumer or corporate workstation, Windows Server for a server and Windows IoT for embedded systems.
Functions
Windows is a family of proprietary graphical operating systems developed and marketed by Microsoft. Its primary functions include providing an interface between hardware and software, facilitating security, storing and organizing files, and managing computer resources. It also provides tools for analyzing and optimizing system performance.
It uses a colorful graphics interface to allow users to access the operating system through on-screen pictures called icons and menus, rather than keyed commands. Icons and menus encourage the use of a mouse, which can make computer use fast and easy. The task bar displays open applications and allows the user to resize and position window icons.
The OS also monitors and controls the computer’s main memory by deciding which software should be loaded into it, determining how much memory each piece of software should retain, and allocating memory to different processes. The OS also manages the processor, monitoring processing status, allocating CPU time to software, and freeing up the processor when it is not needed.
Installation
Before you reinstall Windows on your computer, ensure that your hardware is compatible with the version you’re installing. Microsoft provides a Windows Compatible Products List for this purpose.
Insert the Windows installation CD or USB drive. Enter your computer’s BIOS or UEFI (Unified Extensible Firmware Interface) settings, which may require pressing a key during startup. Change your computer’s boot order to place the Windows drive before the hard disk drive.
Accept the Microsoft software license terms and notices. Select a partition to install Windows on or click “Custom” and follow the on-screen prompts to complete setup.
After the operating system is installed, install drivers for your computer’s hardware, download and install applications, such as antivirus programs and creative tools, and configure privacy settings. Back up important files to a separate drive, such as DAW projects, audio files, and photos. Remove unnecessary pre-installed apps for a cleaner system. Then connect your PC to the Internet and update Windows for new features and security fixes.
User interface
The Windows operating system has a user interface that allows users to interact with the computer by using windows, icons and mouse pointers. The operating system also facilitates file management and security features to keep computers or laptops secure from virus attacks. It also supports various hardware devices, allowing users to connect printers, scanners and cameras.
The desktop window is displayed when the computer boots up and you log in. This is the window from which you can launch programs and start tasks that you would like the computer to complete. Until you give it a command, the computer is essentially just sitting there, staring at you.
GUIs are flexible and allow multiple applications to run simultaneously. This makes them more accessible than text-based systems, which are often difficult to navigate for the blind. Xerox Palo Alto Research Center created the first GUI in the 1970s, and Apple, Digital Research and IBM adopted its ideas. The concepts were later adapted for the Microsoft Windows operating system and the Linux Motif toolkit.
Maintenance
Maintenance is a set of tasks that keeps your Windows operating system and applications running smoothly. It includes updating software, checking security configurations and running diagnostics. It also involves cleaning up your computer, such as deleting old files and resetting the registry.
The automatic maintenance feature runs a variety of background tasks, including disk optimization and defragmentation, software updates, malware scans and more. Third-party developers can plug their own tasks into the feature as well.
Each maintenance session lasts about an hour. If the computer is in use at the scheduled time, the system postpones the task and resumes it at the next idle window. Critical tasks will continue to run until they are finished even if you want to use your computer.
The Current Branch for Business (CB) option allows IT to preview and test updates. It also lets IT choose to delay an update for up to eight months. However, if IT fails to apply the update within that period, the device will lose Microsoft support.