Page 59 - DCAP104_EXPOSURE_TO_COMPUTER_DISCPLINES

Exposure to Computer Disciplines

Notes Most utilities are highly specialized and designed to perform only a single task or a small range
of tasks. However, there are also some utility suites that combine several features in one piece
of software.

Most major operating systems come with several pre-installed utilities.
3.7.1 Utility Software Categories

• Disk storage utilities
• Disk defragmenters can detect computer files whose contents are broken across
several locations on the hard disk, and move the fragments to one location to increase
efficiency.
• Disk checkers can scan the contents of a hard disk to find files or areas that are corrupted in
some way, or were not correctly saved, and eliminate them for a more efficiently operating
hard drive.
• Disk cleaners can find files that are unnecessary to computer operation, or take up
considerable amounts of space. Disk cleaner helps the user to decide what to delete when
their hard disk is full.
• Disk space analyzers for the visualization of disk space usage by getting the size for each
folder (including sub folders) & files in folder or drive. showing the distribution of the used
space.
• Disk partitions can divide an individual drive into multiple logical drives, each with its
own file system which can be mounted by the operating system and treated as an individual
drive.
• Backup utilities can make a copy of all information stored on a disk, and restore either the
entire disk (e.g. in an event of disk failure) or selected files (e.g. in an event of accidental
deletion).
• Disk compression utilities can transparently compress/uncompress the contents of a disk,
increasing the capacity of the disk.

• File managers provide a convenient method of performing routine data management tasks,
such as deleting, renaming, cataloging, uncataloging, moving, copying, merging, generating
and modifying data sets.

• Archive utilities output a stream or a single file when provided with a directory or a set
of files. Archive utilities, unlike archive suites, usually do not include compression or
encryption capabilities. Some archive utilities may even have a separate un-archive utility
for the reverse operation.
• System profilers provide detailed information about the software installed and hardware
attached to the computer.

• System monitors for monitoring resources and performance in a computer system.
• Anti-virus utilities scan for computer viruses.

• Hex editors directly modify the text or data of a file. These files could be data or an actual
program.

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