If you’ve spent any amount of time in the world of computers, you’ve heard the term “operating system”. You’re probably familiar with Windows 7, Windows 8, or Windows 10, and “veteran” users will remember all the way back to Windows NT, Windows, 95, Windows 98, Windows ME, Windows 2000, Windows XP, you get the idea. It occurred to me recently that while most people can recite different versions of operating systems, few understand what an operating system actually is, and many aren’t aware which one is installed on their own computers. It’s time to change all that!
Here’s the definition of an operating system from the good people at Wikipedia: “A software system that manages computer hardware and software resources and provides common services for computer programs. The operating system is a component of the system software in a computer system. Application programs usually require an operating system to function.” As a refresher, hardware is a physical component used by the system (such as a hard drive or DVD drive), and software is a program that is launched by the computer. How is it launched? Thanks to the programming that makes up the operating system. You can have the best computer comprised of top of the line components, but without an operating system the computer is unusable. Oh by the way, the same can be said for your smartphone. Smartphones need an operating system as well to function. There are three main players in the world of operating systems: Apple, Linux, and Microsoft. As you’ve probably guessed, new graphical interfaces and functions are developed, and thus, new versions are released.
Now that we know what an operating system is, how do we know which one we have? On a Windows computer, search for “Windows Information”. There are different ways to get there depending on the operating system you have. Try clicking the “Start” button in the lower left of the screen (Windows 7). In the window that appears, type “system information” in the box that says “Search programs and features”. Click on “System Information” (it will appear in the top of the list”, and the very top line of information will tell you which operating system you’re on. Look to the right of “OS Name” and you’ll have your answer. If your computer displays graphical “tiles” (Windows 8), look for a magnifying glass at the top right of the screen. In the search field that appears, type “system information” and click on the first suggestion below the search box. If you see a search field at the bottom of your screen to the right of the “Start” button (Windows 10), type “system information” and click on the first result.
It’s important to know which operating system is installed on your computer. If you’re ever looking to purchase new programs, you’ll need to know whether or not they’re compatible with your system. Most will work from one operating system to another (as long as both were developed with Windows in mind and not Apple), but WIndows 10 is it’s own animal and often requires it’s own set of drivers to make hardware such as a printer work consistently. In the case of your computer, knowledge is definitely power!