Chapter 4.
3
Running of
Application
What exactly happens between pressing
the power button and seeing the
operating system load?"
Lesson Objectives
1. Understand the Role of BIOS:
• Explain the function and importance of the Basic Input/Output System
(BIOS) in a computer system.
2. Explain Interrupts in OS:
Define what an interrupt is and its significance in an operating system.
Introducing BIOS (Basic Input/Output System)
• Known as firmware (a tangible
electronic component with
embedded software
instructions, such as a BIOS)
• The BIOS settings are stored on
a CMOS chip (complementary
metal-oxide-semiconductor)
⚬ BIOS settings would be reset
if the battery was removed
or disconnected
• Responsible for booting up the
computer by loading part of the
operating system from
secondary storage into RAM
Application Software Running Sequence
Power On
Hardware
Application Software Running Sequence
Bios checks if every
Power On hardware is working
fine
Firmware
Hardware
(BIOS)
Loads the
BIOS
program
located in
the ROM
Application Software Running Sequence
Bios checks if every
Power On hardware is working
fine
Firmware Operating
Hardware
(BIOS) System
Loads the BIOS
BIOS loads the
program operating
located in system
the ROM
Application Software Running Sequence
Bios checks if every
Power On hardware is working Operating System
fine takes over
Firmware Operating Application
Hardware
(BIOS) System Software
Loads the BIOS
BIOS loads the
program operating
located in system
the ROM
Chapter 4.4: Software
INTERRUPT
IGCSE CS
DEFINITION OF
INTERRUPT
AN INTERRUPT IS WHERE A SIGNAL IS SENT
FROM A DEVICE OR A PROGRAM TO THE
OPERATING SYSTEM THAT CAUSES A
TEMPERORY STOP.
EXAMPLES OF AN
INTERRUPT : YOU TRY
Try to create two Try to perform
folders that have 5/0 in your
the same name calculator
OTHER EXAMPLES OF AN
INTERRUPT
A hardware fault Software error
(Printer out of
ink, paper jam)
A timing signal
FUNCTION OF AN
INTERRUPT
CAUSE THE CURRENT PROGRAM TO
TEMPERORILY STOP WHAT IT IS DOING SO
THAT THE OS CAN SERVICE THE INTERRUPT
FLOW
Device sends
an interrupt
signal
[Link] by 0, keyboard key
pressed, printer error, mouse
movement
FLOW
The interrupt
Device sends is collected
XX
an interrupt by an
signal interrupt
handler
[Link] by 0, keyboard key
pressed, printer error, mouse
movement
Conclusion
In this lesson, we explored the critical concept of interrupt handling in computer
systems. We learned that interrupts are signals sent to the processor to indicate
that an event requiring immediate attention has occurred, such as hardware
malfunctions or I/O operations.
