Utility Software

Utility software is software designed to help analyse, configure, optimise or maintain a computer. With regard to your Operating System e.g. Windows, there is a need for the user to have a range of utility software.

Utility System Functions

Utility programs do useful tasks to disks and files and any files, independent of the application that created them. Examples are: Virus checking programs; Norton's Disk Doctor, Undelete, Unformat, Defrag, Deltree, Xcopy.

Format - Does the arrangement and organisation of tracks on a disk

Undelete - Prevents files being lost and protects data on file servers. It recovers deleted files instantly. It works by scanning the hard disk or removable media in order to recover files.

Library Programs

A library program is a program that is available to all users of a multi-access system. Some tasks may be carried out by library routines that can be incorporated into users programs.

Fragmentation

• File B is fragmented

• This means that related data it is split and stored on different parts of the disk

• When data is fragmented, it takes longer for the disk heads to move between parts of the file,

• which slows the process of loading it.

Data fragmentation occurs when data is broken up and is not stored in contiguous locations of the hard disk. Disk defragmenters are programs designed to increase data access speed by physically re-arranging files on disk to address fragmentation.

Disk Defragmenter

Defragmentation is the process where files are physically re-arranged on disk so that they are no longer fragmented and the parts of each file are stored together.

This improves the speed of accessing data from disk.

Solid State Drive SSD

An SSD drive uses direct access to data (files)
There would be no deterioration in read times as there is no physical read-head to move.
Defragmentation may perform “trim” command which may slightly improve the speed of future write operations
SSD is currently made out NAND based flash memory
NAND based flash memory has a limited lifespan – defragmentation process may shorten its lifespan.

Solid State Drive SSD

An example of a SSD.

Firewall

Software or hardware that protects a network or system from unauthorised access. It monitors incoming and outgoing traffic and allows, or blocks, data packets based on a set of security rules.

Anti-Virus Software

To scan for viruses which could be causing issues with the disc access speed / damaging data

Anti-virus is a program to prevent, detect and remove viruses and other malware.

File Indexing

An indexed file is a computer file with an index that allows easy random access to any record given its file key.

File Conversion

Convert a sound file from WAV to MP3

Compression

software reduces file sizes using less space

Compression - Case Study (Professional Photography)

A professional photographer takes digital images and saves them on a computer. The images are not compressed and uses a large amount of memory. A friend may suggest to compress the files to save disc space but the photographer may not want to do this because compressing images may lose quality (particularly when printing).

The photographer wants to upload some images to a social networking web site. The site will only accept images in specified compressed file formats. The reasons for this are:-

Compressed images are quicker to upload
Quicker to view web page with compressed images / pages load quicker
Compressed image will take up less space (on the social web site’s server)
Server has limited space available

The hard disc on the photographer's computer is 2 terabytes (2000 gigabytes). The photographer would have to follow a range of detailed procedures to ensure their images are restored if the computer was destroyed.

The photographer will need a suitable device and medium to hold 2000 gigabytes. The device will have to be portable such as a tape drive, an external hard disc drive or a removable hard disc drive. Alternatively, they could purchase disc space from a third party on the Internet. He should regularly like once a week (periodically) copy all his images (or images added since last back up) to the portable medium. This medium should then be stored in a fire proof safe or stored at another location. If there was a disaster and the hard disc destroyed, the photographer could purchase a new hard disc and copy all the images from the portable medium back onto the new hard disc.

Task Management

Can see how much disk % a given program is using, can shut it down if dominating.

A Task Manager is a system monitor used to provide information about processes and applications running on a computer.

Disk scanning and repair

Fixes problems on disk.

Backup Software

Backup software creates copies of files or entire computer systems. These copies can be used at a later date to restore data that has been lost or corrupted.

Clipboard Manager

The clipboard is a buffer that provides for short-term, temporary storage and transfer between application programs.

Disk partition editor

A disk partition editor creates, resizes and deletes and manipulates partitions on a hard disk. Partitions are used to divide a hard disk into logical sections.

File Archiver

Software allows users to archive files and delete files on the hard disk to free up space.

A file archiver combines several files into one for archiving, using lossless compression techniques to reduce the size of the stored data.

Cryptography

Cryptography programs are used to encrypt and decrypt data held in files to increased security storage or communication and data recovery.

Revision Control

Revision control is the management of modification to files and applications.

Revision control is capable of reversing a modification, returning the file or application to its original state.

File Manager

A program that allows users to view, edit, copy and delete files from secondary storage devices.

Disk Checker

A program which can scan a hard disk to find files or areas that are corrupted in some way, or were not correctly saved, and repair them.

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