Multiple choiceQuestion 1 · Recall
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By the end you can name the utilities supplied with an operating system and say why each one is needed.
A utility is a small program that maintains or improves the computer system. Utilities come with the operating system, or are added to it, and they do housekeeping the OS itself does not do automatically.
They are not there to create your work — that is application software. They are there to keep the machine working.
| Utility | What it does | Why it is needed |
|---|---|---|
| Disk formatter | Prepares a disk by creating the file system, so it can store files; wipes existing contents | A new disk cannot store files until it is formatted |
| Virus checker | Scans memory, files, downloads and email for known malware, quarantines or deletes it, updates its definitions | Malware can destroy data, slow the system or steal information |
| Defragmentation software | Rearranges file blocks so each file occupies contiguous blocks | Scattered (fragmented) files take longer to read, because more disk head movement is needed |
| Disk contents analysis / disk repair | Examines the disk's structure, reports used and free space, finds and fixes errors and bad sectors | Errors in the file system can lose data or prevent the disk working |
| File compression | Reduces file size, as a .zip does, either to save space or before sending |
Saves storage space and reduces transfer time |
| Back-up software | Makes copies of files (full or incremental) to another medium, and restores them | Hardware failure, theft, malware or accidental deletion can destroy the only copy |
Defragmentation does not free space. It rearranges blocks so files are stored contiguously (next to each other), which makes reading faster. The total amount of free space is unchanged.
Compression does free space, because the file itself becomes smaller — but it must be decompressed before use.
On a solid-state drive, defragmentation is not needed in the same way: there is no moving read/write head, and the drive has limited write cycles. The syllabus still requires you to know the utility and its purpose.
Worked example: Worked example: choosing the right utility
For each situation, name the most appropriate utility and say why.