Software: Types Of Software And Interrupts: Understand How Hardware, Firmware And An Operating System Are Required To Run Applications Software (Copy)
| Component | Meaning | Role In Running Applications |
|---|---|---|
| Hardware | Physical parts of a computer | Provides physical resources to execute programs |
| Firmware | Low-level software stored in ROM | Starts hardware and prepares system for OS |
| Operating System | System software | Manages hardware and runs applications |
Written and Compiled By Sir Hunain Zia (AYLOTI), World Record Holder With 154 Total A Grades, 7 Distinctions and 11 World Records For Educate A Change O Level And IGCSE Computer Science Full Scale Course
| Hardware Examples | Function |
|---|---|
| CPU | Executes program instructions |
| RAM | Temporarily stores running programs |
| Storage (HDD/SSD) | Stores OS and application software |
| Input/Output Devices | Allow user interaction |
| Why Hardware Is Needed | Explanation |
|---|---|
| Processing | Applications need CPU to run |
| Memory | Programs must be loaded into RAM |
| Input/Output | Users must enter data and receive results |
Written and Compiled By Sir Hunain Zia (AYLOTI), World Record Holder With 154 Total A Grades, 7 Distinctions and 11 World Records For Educate A Change O Level And IGCSE Computer Science Full Scale Course
| Firmware | Role |
|---|---|
| BIOS / UEFI | Starts computer and checks hardware |
| Hardware Control | Provides basic instructions to control devices |
| Boot Process | Loads the operating system into memory |
| Why Firmware Is Needed | Explanation |
|---|---|
| Startup | Computer cannot start without firmware |
| Hardware Check | Ensures hardware works correctly |
| OS Loading | Transfers control to the OS |
Written and Compiled By Sir Hunain Zia (AYLOTI), World Record Holder With 154 Total A Grades, 7 Distinctions and 11 World Records For Educate A Change O Level And IGCSE Computer Science Full Scale Course
| Operating System | Role |
|---|---|
| Resource Management | Allocates CPU, RAM, storage |
| Interface | Allows applications to communicate with hardware |
| Multitasking | Runs multiple applications |
| Security | Controls access to system resources |
| Why OS Is Needed | Explanation |
|---|---|
| Application Platform | Applications run on top of the OS |
| Hardware Access | Applications cannot access hardware directly |
| Efficiency | Prevents conflicts between programs |
Written and Compiled By Sir Hunain Zia (AYLOTI), World Record Holder With 154 Total A Grades, 7 Distinctions and 11 World Records For Educate A Change O Level And IGCSE Computer Science Full Scale Course
| Execution Order | What Happens |
|---|---|
| Step 1 | Firmware starts hardware |
| Step 2 | Firmware loads operating system |
| Step 3 | OS manages hardware |
| Step 4 | Application software runs |
Written and Compiled By Sir Hunain Zia (AYLOTI), World Record Holder With 154 Total A Grades, 7 Distinctions and 11 World Records For Educate A Change O Level And IGCSE Computer Science Full Scale Course
| Exam Key Phrases | Use These |
|---|---|
| Hardware | “Provides physical resources” |
| Firmware | “Initialises hardware and loads the OS” |
| Operating System | “Manages hardware and provides platform for applications” |
| Relationship | “Applications require hardware, firmware, and OS to run” |
Written and Compiled By Sir Hunain Zia (AYLOTI), World Record Holder With 154 Total A Grades, 7 Distinctions and 11 World Records For Educate A Change O Level And IGCSE Computer Science Full Scale Course