OS

From Working EDRM

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Operating system

• Software which directs the overall activity of a computer (e.g. MS-DOS, Windows, Linux, etcetera).^{[1] [2] [3]}

• The most important program that runs on a computer. Every general-purpose computer must have an operating system to run other programs. Operating systems perform basic tasks, such as recognizing input from the keyboard, sending output to the display screen, keeping track of files and directories on the disk, and controlling peripheral devices such as disk drives and printers. For large systems, the operating system has even greater responsibilities and powers. It is like a traffic cop -- it makes sure that different programs and users running at the same time do not interfere with each other. The operating system is also responsible for security, ensuring that unauthorized users do not access the system.^[4]

• Software that controls the operation of a computer.^[5]

• The software that the rest of the software depends on to make the computer functional. On most PCs this is Windows or the Macintosh OS. Unix and Linux are other operating systems often found in scientific and technical environments.^[6]

See also

• DOS
• Linux
• Microsoft DOS
• Microsoft Windows
• NOS
• OS
• UNIX
• Xenix

Footnotes

1. ^  Fios, E-Discovery Glossary, http://discoveryresources.org/01_electronic_discovery_glossary.html.
2. ^  Vinson & Elkins LLP Practice Support, EDD Glossary.
3. ^  RSI, Glossary.
4. ^  Ibis Consulting, Glossary.
5. ^  Legal Electronic Document Institute, Basic Principles of Automated Litigation Support (2005).
6. ^  Kroll Ontrack, Glossary of Terms, http://www.krollontrack.com/glossaryterms.