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a23-1r1 Computer Theory and Procedures

website·Indexed 30 days ago

https://fsthilaire.github.io/a23-1r1

Educational documentation covering computer hardware theory and operating system procedures. Topics include processor and memory functioning, BIOS, file systems, virtual machines, and Linux introductions, alongside practical Windows 10 guides for display settings, power management, and file explorer configuration.

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What's inside a23-1r1

  1. Overview of USBDeview

    USBDeview is a utility that provides detailed information about all USB devices currently connected to a computer, as well as those that have been connected in the past. It is primarily used to identify device properties and verify the USB version being utilized by a peripheral.

  2. Overview of UNIX-like operating systems

    UNIX is a multi-tasking and multi-user operating system created by Bell Labs in the 1970s. It is primarily a command-line based system.

    Key characteristics include:

    • Multi-tasking: The ability to have multiple processes executing simultaneously.
    • Multi-user: The ability for multiple users to be connected to the operating system simultaneously via terminals.

    Many modern operating systems are based on UNIX or are 'UNIX-like', including GNU/Linux, macOS, BSD, Solaris, Android, and iOS.

  5. Access and run the Windows Command Prompt

    The Windows Command Prompt is a text-based command-line interface (CLI) or Shell. The executable program used to access this environment is cmd.exe. By default, it runs in user mode. To perform actions that require elevated privileges, you must launch cmd.exe specifically as an administrator.
    # The executable for the Windows Command Prompt
cmd.exe

  6. View storage device information in GParted

    To view detailed information about a storage unit in GParted, navigate to the View menu and select 'Device Information'. This opens a 'Device Information' section on the left side of the interface, which displays data for the drive currently selected in the top-right dropdown menu. The available information includes the device model, the size in binary bytes (ETC/1024), the system identifier, and the partition style.

  7. Understand Virtual Machine (VM) fundamentals

    A Virtual Machine (VM) is software that simulates a complete hardware environment, emulating either a specific hardware setup or a general architecture. The physical computer running the virtualization software is called the host. Virtualization allows for the simulation of specific amounts of memory, number of processors, and cores.

  8. Understand the difference between Windows Updates and Upgrades

    In the context of Windows operating systems, there is a critical distinction between an update and an upgrade:

    • Update (Mise à jour): Installation of patches to fix security vulnerabilities or bugs for the current version of Windows. Microsoft typically releases these on the second Tuesday of every month (known as 'Patch Tuesday'), though critical security patches may be released sooner.
    • Upgrade (Mise à niveau): Installation of a new version of Windows. Upgrades typically introduce new features or functional changes and result in a change to the system build number. These occur roughly 1 to 2 times per year.

    Lifecycle Note: Windows versions have a limited support window (generally 18 months after initial release). If a version is too old, it will stop receiving updates, making annual upgrades essential for security and stability.

  9. Understand the Von Neumann Architecture

    Modern processors are derived from the Von Neumann model, which divides the computer into several key components:

    • Control Unit: Manages the sequencing of operations (the 'conductor' of the processor).
    • Arithmetic Logic Unit (ALU): Executes instructions, performing mathematical operations (addition, subtraction) and logical operations (AND, OR).
    • Registers: High-speed internal memory used for immediate data access, including the program counter (next instruction address) and stack pointer.
    • Accumulator: A specific internal register that stores intermediate results from the ALU.
    • Memory: Stores both program instructions and data.
    • I/O Devices: Peripherals for receiving input from the user and returning output.

  10. Distinguish between software and processes

    In a computing context, a software (or program/application) is the set of instructions and code stored on a disk that allows tasks to be performed. A process is the 'living' part of a program—it is an instance of a program currently being executed. A single piece of software can have multiple associated processes running simultaneously.

  11. Understand Linux fundamentals and case sensitivity

    Linux is an open-source family of operating systems based on a common kernel, derived from the GNU project (GNU/Linux) and designed as a free clone of Unix. A critical characteristic of Linux is that it is case-sensitive for file names, folder names, and commands; failing to respect capitalization in a file path will result in the file being inaccessible.

  12. Understand keyboard layout configurations in Windows

    A keyboard layout defines the relationship between a physical key press and the character displayed by the operating system. The layout is independent of the physical labels on the keys; for example, a physical QWERTY keyboard will output an 'A' if the operating system is configured to the 'Français (France)' (AZERTY) layout. Multiple layouts can be installed and active within a single operating system instance.