Windows Operating System
Software Description
3-5
The OS also provides two principal software management functions for Information
Center software -- File System and Registry (and its peripheral hardware drivers).
See Figure 3-4.
Figure 3-4 Operating System Components
File System The File System (NTFS) is a high performance file system used by Windows for the
storage of data. It incorporates more power for features, such as long file names and
better protection against viruses than the earlier Windows 3.x File Allocation Table
(FAT).
Registry The Registry is a structured set of records stored in a single OS database. It provides
a secure, unified database of configuration data for the operating system and for
Information Center application software.
The Registry replaces the Microsoft MS-DOS system files, such as
AUTOEXEC.BAT and CONFIG.SYS, as well as common Microsoft Windows 3.x
files, such as SYSTEM.INI, WIN.INI, and REG.DAT.
It uses a fault-tolerant approach to writing data that ensures that the Registry remains
intact even if a power failure occurs in the middle of an update.
The operating system uses the Registry for the following tasks:
• store configuration data
• provide startup information
• pass and receive device driver configuration parameters
• store new configuration data
Printer
Driver
OS
File
OS
Registry
System
Audio
Driver
Mouse
Driver
Display
Driver
Keyboard
Driver
Network
Driver
Adapter
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