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An operating system, such as Windows or Linux, is defined as the main program on a computer. It determines how the user performs tasks and how the interface appears. An interface example is your taskbar or desktop. An operating system, often referred to as an OS, also determines what software can be installed on a computer. For example, if a PC is running Linux, certain programs that run on Windows may not be compatible with this specific operating system.

Some operating systems use a GUI, or a graphical user interface that presents information through pictures, such as buttons, dialog boxes, and icons. This specific method allows for a user friendly interface, as information can be received and interpreted quickly and easily. Other operating systems use text only to relay information.

Among the more advanced functions that operating systems perform include: Managing Hard Discs, Scheduling tasks, navigating various and multiple programs, and managing your RAM (Random Access Memory). Smaller tasks that your OS performs are the mouse cursor, the keyboard, and an internet browser such as Internet Explorer or Firefox. Other purposes of an operating system include organizing and controlling hardware. The hardware and software in a computer, such as a graphics card, is managed by an OS. All desktop and laptop computers have operating systems so that they may better perform tasks and run simple programs.

Upgrades for hardware and software are managed by the operating System. Some updates are managed according to user preference. Usually the OS will prompt the user for updates in software, so that they may choose what best options suit them. After the user selects their preference, the operating system installs the software so that they may use the program successfully.

There are several other types of operating systems, including real-time, multi-user, single-user, and single-user, single-task operating systems. A multi-user operating system is primarily used for home and office computers so that multiple users can conveniently access the computer. It also allows for several programs to be used at one time, allowing the user to multi-task and operate more than one program at any given time. Single-user, multi-tasking operating systems are also one of the more popular types of operating systems allowing more than one program to be in operation at any given time.

Understanding the operating system is a simple task after determining what operating system that the PC has. Most operating systems are user friendly, and on the initial startup of the new PC, will introduce the consumer to the interface of the OS and how to use most of the simple tasks.

Martin writes about the upcoming Microsoft operating system Windows 7. You can read more of his work by
visiting his website Windows 7 where you can find Windows 7 Wallpapers

Windows has always come with stock games such as minesweeper and solitaire; however, if any game was added to the computer, it would then create its own separate folder in the Windows Start Menu. The Windows Vista Game Explorer has finally “fixed” this overabundance of excess folders in the Start Menu.

Upon analysis of the Windows Vista Game Explorer, one finds that all the information one would need to know about a game is right there as a Start Menu button. Although each game maintains its own separate folder in the computer, one no longer searches through the Start Menu to find it. With one click on the Windows Vista Game Explorer, one has access to all the games stored on the computer.

This new feature also enables multiple options that were previously not on Windows. An analysis of Windows Vista Game Explorer now gives the user a right-click option list, thereby enabling one to pin a game to the Start Menu for easy access, or even to place it on the desktop as a shortcut, or put the shortcut in the Quick Launch feature of Windows Vista.

Further analysis of Windows Vista Game Explorer reveals other options previously not featured on previous versions of Windows. One can organize the games in ascending or descending order of name of the game, which game was last played, the product version, publisher, developer, rating, parental restriction access, and content descriptors.

In this way, Windows Vista Game Explorer eliminates the hassle of right-clicking everything to try and organize the computer’s folders, and allows for a one-click fix to set to the user’s particular taste. Analysis of Windows Vista Game Explorer also shows that when a game is highlighted, a cursory summary of the product appears as an image on the right side of the window.

It displays the game’s cover art (if applicable and available), name, and rating with description/reason for rating. This facet enables the user to view the game they have highlighted, eliminating the hassle of starting the wrong program accidentally.

From the Windows Vista Game Explorer, one can highlight the desired game and use the “Community and Support” tab to view the game’s home or support website. This removes the multiple steps it takes to open the browser, find the right sight, and then search the site for the proper link.

Again, the Windows Vista Game Explorer does away with another slight yet bothersome hassle of web browsing. Analysis of the Windows Vista Game Explorer also has a “Play” tab, which the user can use to either directly start the game, or set multiple play options from which to choose.

Windows Vista Game Explorer has taken PC gaming and made it one-click-away simpler.

Martin helps people learn about technology and Internet. You can read more of his work like his article about Windows Vista Games on his Ghacks website.

Windows 7 is tentatively due to hit store shelves sometime around the middle of 2009 and seems to be a slightly revamped version of what Windows Vista should have been. Key amongst the new features include a pair of Mac OS X features that the Redmond giant is borrowing: the Dock & Multi-touch.

In Mac OS X the Dock serves as both a quick-launch area for commonly used applications and folders. It’s unknown how the dock in Windows 7 will function exactly, but it wouldn’t surprise many if the final product looked and operated remarkably like that of their Cupertino-based rival.

Windows 7: The next Microsoft operating system is also going to support a very Mac-like Multi-touch technology. The precise functionality is not entirely certain but it is very likely that the techniques pioneers on the iPhone and later by OS X are likely to become the industry norm. If that does indeed come true then it’d be reasonable to expect everything from zooming & scrolling to be common in all applications as well as rotational control on anything media-intensive such as Photoshop or even the media player.

Speaking of the media player, Windows 7 is due to receive a fairly major upgrade to various core components including Windows Media Center. The exact enhancements are not entirely clear at this time but gadget integration has been reported by many rumor mills claiming to either have a Milestone 1 (M1) copy or have sources that do.

Windows Explorer is another program due for an overhaul and if the trend of Microsoft attempting to catch up to OS X 10.5 Leopard (and 10.6 Snow Leopard) is true, we might see some attempts to speed Explorer up. Both Paint and WordPad are due to receive facelifts and additional functionality and an entirely new multi-line graphing calculator will finally be part of the package.

Bill Gates has gone on record by saying that Windows 7 will make a big step forward in speech technology and handwriting recognition. The first is not difficult to due as once again this is an area where Vista trails OS X, however the handwriting recognition might prove an opportunity for Microsoft to bring some of their Windows Mobile talent to bear. Microsoft has a much longer history in the smartphone market than Apple does and as a result this is one area where they aren’t lagging as noticeably.

Overall the changes in Windows 7 seem rather cosmetic and nagging technical difficulties that still trouble Vista may or may not have been resolved. We’ll find out in 2009 at the very earliest.

Martin helps people learn about the next Microsoft operating system. You can read more about the upcoming Windows 7 operating system like windows 7 Server information on the Windows 7 News website.

The Android basically is a software podium and an operating mechanism especially for mobile devices, which is developed by Google. It permits developers to write a managed code in a language that resembles Java, and it utilizes Java libraries that are developed by Google.

It does not sustain programs that are developed in the native code. The Android podium was unveiled on 05th November 2007, and coincided with the inauguration of Open Handset Alliance. This Alliance was formed with the help of a conglomerate of around 34 software, hardware and telecom organizations that pledged to promoting open standards for mobile phones.

Google acquiring Android Inc:

Android was known to make software programs for mobile phones. When in July 2005, Google acquired Android Inc., rumors spread that Google was making an entry in the mobile phone market. Google thereafter applied for a patent for a mobile payment scheme and came to be known as Gpay. It would let the customer send a message to Google by providing payment details to some specified recipient. The user’s account would then be debited by Gpay, by giving credit to the payee’s account.

Google’s Android may bring new risks:

Googles’s Android open source cell phone operating mechanism, along with Open Handset Alliance may expose mobile operators to more security risks than any other devices that are currently selling in the market. Currently there is no central authority that can sign and test the Android applications, and this unavoidably increases the risk of misuse. But Android was meant to be designed in such a manner as to reduce the effects of such misuse.

An independent procedure is followed by the Linux based Android system for each application. This prevents malicious programs from disturbing other applications or important telephone functions. If an application program makes it essential to access the data or phone operations, for instance to read phone numbers in the address book or make a telephone call, the user needs to explicitly enable this during installation itself.

The function in the system was neatly demonstrated with the help of an Android emulator and is a division of the software development kit that is available free of cost. It was also demonstrated as to how an Android terminal was able to study a shopping list using the Google spreadsheets, and show it in an appropriate format for mobile use. The data present in the spreadsheet application could also be edited in real time using the Android application. Thus it was asserted that Android was very much adaptable to such a kind of online data processing.

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CHKDSK errors occur whenever Windows detects a problem with the file system on your hard disk, and tries to automatically repair it by running the CHKDSK application. Although CHKDSK can fix such errors, Windows also frequently misdiagnose the cause of the problem, and can actually makes things worse.

What causes CHKDSK errors?

Many things can trigger Windows to launch the CHKDSK to scan and repair the hard drive. Among the most common are logical errors in the file system, bad sectors on the hard disk, lost clusters, cross-linked files, and directory errors. Viruses can also cause CHKDSK errors, in particular the notorious Zobot virus. All these things can lead to problems with Internet Explorer, files being corrupted or lost, and make the PC lag or even freeze up.

However, for the average PC user, the most frequent reason Windows launches CHKDSK is if the computer was shut down incorrectly. This can be caused by power blackouts, the computer freezing or crashing, or even if the user simply turns off the PC without shutting Windows down first. Similarly, when any program (such as MS Word or Photoshop) or is aborted instead of being closed out by the user, it can cause data clusters to become lost. In the case of improper shutdowns, Windows automatically launches CHKDSK the next time the PC is turned on.

Windows does this to scan the hard disk for corrupted sectors or file system errors so it can automatically fix them before the operating system boots up. Unfortunately, this automation can be a problem in cases where running CHKDSK makes things worse.

How can CHKDSK make problems worse?

As long as hard disk errors like lost clusters and bad sectors really are being caused by problems with the file system, CHKDSK works fine. The catch is that such errors are identical symptoms of other, more serious problems with the computer, such as a physically damaged hard drive. In such cases, Windows misdiagnoses the cause of the problem and runs CHKDSK anyway. Not only are these problems that CHKDSK does not and cannot fix, but it can also make the problem worse while trying to apply the wrong solution. Imagine a plumber trying to fix a leak that is actually being caused, not by the pipes, but by a hole in the roof.

In the process of CHKDSK attempting unsuccessfully to correctly rewrite a non-existent file system problem on a physically damaged sector of the hard disk, the data contained in that sector may become fragmented, corrupted, and irreparable. Consequently, files that may have been recoverable are now hopelessly scrambled. If those files are crucial operating system files, the PC can be damaged beyond repair, with the only repair option left being a complete reinstallation of Windows.

How can I stop CHKDSK from running automatically?

In Windows 95 and 98, an older version of CHKDSK (called Scandisk) will search the hard disk for problems and then ask you if you want to repair any errors found. As it is the repair process that can corrupt data on damaged hard drives, simply selecting “no” will avoid any problems. In Windows 2000/XP/Vista, however, CHKDSK will automatically try to repair any errors found without asking you first. To abort CHKDSK, simply press the ESC key within 10 seconds after it starts running. From there, your PC will continue to boot into Windows. Once in, you can back up you important files to another media (such as CD or DVD) before trying to fix the hard disk problems.

You can download a free trial of the registry cleaner software from Mehmet website to prevent chkdsk errors. He also shares some of his things he learned in 10 years experience. Visit: http://www.registryheal.com/