Page 332 - DCAP103_Principle of operating system

Unit 10: Introduction of Windows and its Programming

• Windows NT (Windows New Technology) was intended for mission critical business Notes
applications as well as for home users.
• Programming (Windows 2000), which includes the Win32 application programming
interface which tells us that Microsoft has never made the list of Windows system calls
public and it also changes them from release to release.
• Windows 98 and Windows NT, different versions of Windows 2000 and the description
of the key.
• The SAM (Security Account Manager) subkey contains the user names, groups, passwords
and other accounts and security information needed for logging in.

10.4 Keywords

Hives: When the system is turned off, most of the registry information is stored on the disk
files called hives.
Registry: In Windows 95, nearly all the information needed for booting and configurating the
system and tailoring it to the current user was gathered in a big central database called the registry.
Win 32API: Windows 2000 has a set of system calls it can perform. However, Microsoft has
never made the list of Windows system calls public and it also changes them from release to
release. Instead, what Microsoft has done is define a set of function calls called the Win32 API
(Win32 Application Programming Interface).
Windows Me: In the millennium year, 2000, Microsoft brought out a minor revision to Windows
98 called Windows Me (Windows Millennium Edition).
Windows: Microsoft decided to give MS-DOS a graphical user interface (shell) that is called
Windows.

10.5 Review Questions

1. When the kernel catches system call, how does it know which system call it is supposed
to carry out?
2. Define Windows NT and describe why it is named so.
3. Describe in detail Windows 2000 and its versions.
4. What are the differences between Windows 98 and Windows NT? Describe.
5. Define Programming Windows 2000 and its structures.
Answers to Self Assessment

1. (c) 2. (a) 3. (d) 4. (b) 5. (c)

10.6 Further Readings

Operating Systems, by Harvey M. Deitel, Paul J. Deitel, David R. Choffnes.
Introduction to Operating Design and Implementation, by Michael Kifer, Scoott
A. Smolka.

wiley.com/coolege.silberschatz

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