System software for PC

Quite often, many users of computer systems are faced with the question of what the system programs are. If you know the principles of their work and use them correctly, you can achieve a lot, at least avoid errors in the system or speed (optimize) its operation.

System software for the computer: general concepts

As the name implies, programs of this type are special utilities and tools for regulating a computer system - from diagnosing all software and hardware components to maximizing the use of absolutely all PC capabilities, even hidden ones.

In a sense, system programs and applications can be called a layer between the OS itself, installed software and hardware. A vivid example can serve as driver packages.

In general, if you describe the software of system software in more detail, it is worthwhile to start by looking at what they are and what functions are assigned to them.

Classification of system programs and their functions

If we talk about the division of system programs into classes according to their purpose, we can distinguish several main groups. So, system programs include (in different variants of classification): managing (resident and transit), processing, basic and service.

Considering the functions of the system software in general, without going into the subtleties of the principles of their operation, we note that control applications are designed to use internal OS data and are responsible for the correct functioning of all computing processes. Processing programs provide data exchange between the "operating system" and the installed components (the most striking example is DirectX and driver sets). Basic programs - this is the minimum set of software required for the functioning of the system as a whole. Finally, service programs are tools for diagnosing and improving the performance of modern computer systems.

Windows system utilities

As for Microsoft Windows operating systems , they all have some minimal set of applications that is installed in the computer system when installing the "operating system" itself.

If anyone does not know, the system programs themselves, for example, in Windows 7 can be found in the Start menu in the "Programs / Standard / Service" section. In addition, there are two more directories: "Administration" and "Maintenance". In all three directories there are system utilities designed to monitor, optimize, protect or restore the system, backup, etc. There is no point in describing them in detail, since, as a rule, not every user accesses them, preferring third-party applications Developers. And in this, I must say, there is a certain meaning.

You can not remove Windows system programs from your computer. Foci like in the Android OS, when, with root rights, you can remove any system component right up to the very "operating system", it does not pass here. In principle, you can uninstall only applications installed by the user. In general, this is correct, because after such an intervention the entire system will simply cease to function.

Third-Party Software

Windows is considered in the world almost the most common "operating system" by the number of users. However, in terms of vulnerabilities, and a minimal set of functions, a huge number of shortcomings and the absence of seemingly simply mandatory tools, it, unfortunately, is also ahead of all. Probably, it is for this reason that many developers of system software create a huge number of utilities and software packages for this OS. Judge for yourself, because by and large the same programs for the system administrator in Windows are practically absent.

But here, too, has its pitfalls. The matter is that very often there is a system error "The program can not be launched (for this or that reason or for no reason at all)." This is due only to the fact that each utility can be installed into systems, for example, due to inconsistencies in system requirements, different OS architectures and installed applications (error: "... is not a Win32 application"), lack of necessary drivers, etc.

Nevertheless, the main system programs of third-party developers are much more extensive than Microsoft's. Consider the basic applications that every user of the computer system must have at his disposal.

Antiviruses

As a rule, after the first installation or reinstallation of the system from scratch, the first thing to do is to install an antivirus software package that could provide system protection at all levels, including monitoring threats from the outside, viruses entering the computer's RAM, monitoring the network or browsing the Internet, E.

What the program will be, the user decides himself. Now the choice is wide enough. Among the most popular anti-virus packages one can distinguish the most famous ones: almost all Kaspersky Lab software products, Eset (NOD and Smart Security) applications, Dr. Web, Norton Antivirus, AVG, Avira, Panda, Avast, etc.

Naturally, each of these packages has advantages and disadvantages. In addition, some applications are distributed completely free of charge and have no restrictions on use, others will have to pay, and very often a round sum. However, everyone decides for himself what to use.

Archivers

The second component of the mandatory software, which must be installed in any system, is the program for working with archives. Most often, applications of this type are built into the Windows shell (the quick commands of the program are in the context menu).

The best archivers, according to many users and users, can be called WinRAR, WinZIP, 7-Zip and many others. Why do you need to install them? Yes, simply because compressed archives are now used everywhere. Even downloading large files from the Internet is done in the form of archival data.

Programs for testing the system and its components

Of course, we could limit ourselves to using only "native" Windows tools, but they give far from complete information about the state of the system and its components. For example, if you enter the "My Computer" / "Properties" menu, you can see only the main parameters of the "hardware" and the installed "operating system".

The same goes for DirectX. Although the information here is more detailed, it is still far from what can be squeezed out of third-party applications. The only thing nice - DirectX allows you to make special tests of some Plug & Play devices.

You can determine the system load or get more detailed information in the System Configuration tabs called by the msconfig command, use System Information in the Control Panel, or, finally, use the Ctrl + Alt + Del shortcut that calls the Task Manager (monitoring Running processes, load on the CPU and RAM, etc.).

It is much easier to use utilities such as Everest or something else that not only gives out the most detailed characteristics of the installed equipment, but also can monitor the change in its physical parameters in real time.

In addition, it also includes some programs for the system administrator, whose task is reduced to monitoring the state of the local network, its correct functioning, preventing the penetration of threats or unauthorized access to network computer terminals and servers.

Optimizers

System programs for optimization are very important. Probably, this need not be explained to anyone. Over time, the system starts to slow down in most cases because of the junk or computer garbage that has accumulated there. In addition, the reason may be the presence of a large number of fragmented data. Of course, you can use standard Windows tools such as cleaning or disk defragmentation, but as practice shows, they are less effective than third-party software products.

With the register and even worse. In Windows, there is no tool to clean it. And manually deleting or correcting incorrect or outdated records and keys is an absolutely thankless task. So you can "plant" the entire system.

As a rule, almost all utilities of this type are universal packages, in which a fairly large set of tools for all cases of life is presented. It can be a program for system errors in terms of fixing them, the same hard disk defragmenter, garbage on the hard disk or in memory in the form of permanently hanging processes and services, an optimizer or a registry defragger that allows, without damage to the system, to delete all unnecessary and Order its structure for faster access, an uninstaller that removes installed applications entirely, leaving no traces of presence after them (which can not be said for the "native" Windows uninstaller) Upgrading drivers and much more.

As you can see, the universality and usability of such software packages is obvious. The most famous applications of this type are CCleaner, Advanced System Care, Glary Utilities, Ashampoo WinOptimizer, etc.

The convenience of working with them is also in the fact that almost all of them have a special search mode and automatic correction of problems "in one click."

Backup and recovery software

System programs for creating backup copies of data on the hard disk, drivers or the "operating system" status image are as important as all other system software. With these copies, you can restore Windows in a matter of minutes. In addition, if you save images of the hard disk, its logical partitions or removable media, you can not lose important information, even if the hard drive, flash drive or removable hard disk such as USB HDD is out of order.

In the Windows OS itself, there is such an opportunity. You can create a special recovery disk or use the System Restore menu, for example, from the Control Panel. But here also there are failures. Sometimes recovery is impossible due to the presence of errors on the hard drive, and in the area where the snapshot was taken as the recovery control point. Even checking the disk with automatic error correction does not give the desired result.

Special system utilities like Acronis True Image, which is considered to be one of the most functional in terms of using the capabilities in the operations and fine-tuning, as well as most applications for working with images (Daemon Tools, UltraISO, Alcohol 120% or the same package Nero Burning ROM).

Additional options

Finally, among the additional tools for comfortable work, you need to install sets of codecs and decoders for viewing video and listening to audio (in addition to the standard device drivers). The most famous package is the K-Lite Codec Pack.

Be sure to have Adobe Flash Player to play some types of streaming video on the Internet, as well as programs like Adobe Reader to work with PDF files, which today are some of the most common in their field. Although the second application to the system does not apply, its presence is mandatory.

Most technical documentation or user instructions are distributed in this format.

Conclusion

Only the main system programs, applications and utilities were described, which are simply necessary for the correct functioning of the entire computer system and optimization of its operation. Of course, there are still many different kinds of system utilities designed to solve specific problems. But all of them can not be described. In this review, we are dealing only with the most necessary set.