2.0 COMPUTER SYSTEM

2.3.3 Utility Program

LEARNING OBJECTIVES Differentiate between the type and usage of utility programmes (files management, diagnostic and file compression)

Differentiate between prosperity and open source software.

2.3.3 UTILITY PROGRAMUtility Program or service program is a type

of system software that allow user to perform maintenance-type tasks, usually related to managing a computer, its device, or its program.

Utility Program

Stand alone utility

Built in

FILE MANAGEMENT Utility Program

Usage Examples Type

File Management

To performs functions related to files and disk management

Task:-remove file-rename file-delete file

Windows Explorer

Built-in

DIAGNOSTIC UTILITYUtility Program

Usage Examples Type

Diagnostic Utility

To compiles technical information about computer’s hardware, system software and provide report.

Task:-provide information

Norton utilities

Stand-alone utility

FILE COMPRESSIONUtility Program

Usage Examples Type

File Compression

To shrink the size of files so they require less storage space and reduce transmission time if we send them over internet

Task:-reduce size of file

WinZIP,WinRar

Stand-alone utility

ANTI VIRUSUtility Program

Usage Examples Type

Anti Virus To protect computer against viruses by identifying and removing any computer viruses found in a memory, storage media or incoming files

Task- search, detect and remove virus

Kaspersky,AVG,Nod32

Stand-alone utility

DEFRAGMENTERUtility Program

Usage Examples Type

Defragmenter To reorganizes files and unused space on a computer hard disk

Task- Reorganizes data and memory space

Disk Defragment,

Built in

Norton Speed Disk

Stand-alone utility

DISK SCANNERUtility Program

Usage Examples Type

Disk Scanner To detect and corrects both physical and logical problem on a hard disk and searches for and remove unnecessary software

Task- Search software for hardware

Built in

Utility Program

Stand Alone Built In

Windows Explorer

Norton Utility

WinZip

WinRar

Kaspersky

Defragmenter

Disk Scanner

2.3.4 PROPRIETARY AND OPEN SOURCE SOFTWARE Proprietary Software

“…. The company that developed the software owns the software and no one may duplicate it or distribute it without that company’s permission. Users have to pay the software company if they want to use the proprietary software”

Example of proprietary software: Microsoft Office 2007 Adobe Photoshop CS3 Corel Office X3 Windows Vista

2.3.4 PROPRIETARY AND OPEN SOURCE SOFTWARE Open Source Software

“…is free to use and which provides the original source code used to create it so that advanced user can modify it to make it work better for them.”

Example of open source software Linux GIMP Mozilla Firefox 2.0 OpenOffice.org

Open Source Software Proprietary Software

Linux UbuntuOpenOffice.org WriteGIMP

Windows VistaMicrosoft Word 2007Adobe Photoshop CS3

Purchased wit its source code Purchased without its source code

User can get open software for free of charge

User must pay to get the proprietary software

Users can install software freely into any computer

Users cannot modify the software

No one is responsible to the software

Full support from vendor if anything happened to the software

Utility Program

Stand Alone Built In

Software

Proprietary Software

Open Software

Application Software

Operating Software