The computer's master control program. When a computer is turned on, a small "boot program" loads the operating system. Although additional system modules may be loaded as needed, the main part, known ...

The original operating system for IBM PC compatible computers. It is the basic for the current Windows operating system. When people use the term DOS, they are commonly referring to Microsoft DOS or ...

There are a few different reasons why the average person — as opposed to an enthusiast tinkerer — might want to try out one of the many available flavors of free Linux-based operating systems. If ...

A system software component that is external to the operating system kernel. If the phrase is used to refer to the operating system itself, it is redundant because an operating system "is" software.