Windows system is a GUI (graphical user interface) operating system developed, sold and marketed by Microsoft. It is a popular choice among computer users and has been credited with helping computers become personal.
It was first announced in 1983 as “Interface Manager.” Two years later, it was released as Windows 1.0. This version included overlapping, resizable windows and a control panel.
System architecture
The Windows system architecture is a software system that provides a foundation for applications to access hardware and system resources. It consists of a series of layers, including the kernel, device drivers, and user-mode components. It also includes a graphical user interface (GUI) that allows users to interact with the system.
The system architecture of Windows NT includes a hardware abstraction layer (HAL), which is an essential component that ensures the OS remains independent of the specific hardware. This layer hides differences between different hardware and makes it possible for the kernel to run on a wide range of devices.
The HAL also supports multiple processors and I/O interfaces. It also has an intermediate driver layer, which consists of function drivers—the main driver for a device—that can optionally be sandwiched between lower and higher-level filter drivers. This driver layer is based on the Windows Driver Model. The lowest level drivers are legacy Windows NT device drivers or PnP hardware bus drivers that directly control the hardware.
Device drivers
Many computer users are not comfortable with updating software, especially more technical components like device drivers. But there are services that make this process simple and secure. They can scan your system for outdated drivers, and automatically download the newest versions. And they can back up your existing drivers to prevent losing important files.
IObit’s Driver Booster is an easy-to-use program that sources drivers directly from manufacturers’ websites. It also tests the downloaded drivers to ensure they’re safe and functional before installing them on your system. This method of maintenance is more reliable than Windows Update, which can sometimes miss crucial updates and lead to hardware malfunctions.
In addition to providing a wide range of driver downloads, this tool offers other functions that make it an excellent choice for system administrators. These include a centralized management console that allows for mass deployment and customization of driver packs. It can even schedule updates for dynamic groups of machines.
User-mode components
User mode is a restricted execution context that isolates user applications from system hardware and sensitive areas of memory. This isolation improves security by reducing the risk of unauthorized data access and system damage by bugs or malicious software programs. User-mode applications cannot directly access hardware or other application memory areas, and must transition to kernel mode through predefined system calls before they can access deeper levels of system functionality. These transitions are enforced by hardware and software checks, preventing unauthorized user applications from accessing system resources or executing privileged CPU instructions. This separation of modes also improves system stability, reducing the impact of user applications on other operating systems running on the same machine.
Applications
Application software is third-party software that performs specific tasks based on user requests. It is programmed in high-level languages such as C++, Python, and Javascript and cannot function without system software. Examples include word processors, web browsers, media players, and graphical programs like Photoshop.
Applications available for Windows include Win32 desktop apps and UWP apps, which are based on a managed runtime environment (.NET). UWP apps also support Android apps running on Windows devices, such as tablets, Microsoft HoloLens, and Xbox.
Other operating systems, such as macOS and Linux, can also run a wide range of Windows applications. In addition to the underlying platform, the key requirements are a supported API and device hardware that supports multi-threaded programming. The earliest versions of Windows were often considered as graphical shells over MS-DOS, but they already assumed many typical operating system functions, including cooperative multitasking and the ability to support multiple graphical applications simultaneously.