Question:

You bought a raw computer from the market. It has only the hardware and device drivers loaded in it. Which software is essentially to be loaded into this raw computer to make it usable ? Explain any four functions of this software.

To make a raw computer usable beyond its basic hardware and device drivers, you typically need to install an operating system (OS). Here are four essential functions of the operating system:

1. User Interface: The OS provides a user interface (UI) that allows users to interact with the computer. This can be graphical (GUI) or text-based (CLI), enabling users to manage files, run applications, and configure system settings.
2. Resource Management: The OS manages hardware resources such as CPU, memory (RAM), disk storage, and peripherals. It allocates resources to running applications efficiently and ensures that different processes do not interfere with each other.
3. File Management: It provides file management capabilities, allowing users to create, delete, modify, and organize files and directories. The OS maintains file systems that manage how data is stored and retrieved from storage devices.
4. Security and Access Control: The OS includes security features to protect the computer system from unauthorized access, malware, and other threats. It manages user accounts and permissions, ensuring that only authorized users can access specific resources and data.

Installing an operating system transforms a raw computer into a functional device capable of running applications, connecting to networks, and performing various computing tasks effectively.