Advantages and disadvantages of Windows ICF

Alexander Antipov

Windows ICF (Internet Connection Firewall) is built into Windows XP (both Home and Professional). This is really an excellent firewall that will prevent most attacks from the Internet. However, the lack of customization options limits its use by advanced users. In this article, we will give an overview of ICF, see how it works in a simulated attack, and discuss all the pros and cons of ICF.

Finally, the ICF performs some additional checks, unlike standard packet filters:

It imposes a triple handshake procedure - this protects against some scanning technologies. It blocks packets that have the wrong set of flags (for example, both SYN and FYN) - this helps to prevent attacks by bad packets on the IP stack. Prevents IP spoofing using Raw Sockets and the IP_HDRINCL option - Protects against some forms of distributed DOS attacks.

ICF under attack

For testing, we installed Windows XP with ICF enabled, connected to the Internet. In this test, we did not enable ICS (Internet Connection Sharing), which is often used on a local network. After that, we launched attacks against ICF both from the Internet and from Windows XP itself.

Tools

We used the following tools for testing:

ISIC - IP Stack Integrity Checker Fscan - Windows Port Scanner Nmap - Foundscan Nessus Port Scanner - Fragrouter Vulnerability Assessment Tool - IP Packet Fragmenter

Methodology and results

The testing methodology consisted of simulating hacker attacks against ICF users. To simulate attacks, we used available free and commercial port scanners and vulnerability assessment utilities. In addition, we used utilities such as ISIC and fragrouter to test how bad packets were handled. The testing methodology included vulnerabilities previously discovered in other firewalls to make sure that Microsoft did not make the same mistakes as other manufacturers of these products.

Testing was focused on attacks from the Internet, since most hacker attacks are carried out from the outside. Besides, possible attacks at penetration of the malevolent user on the Windows XP system are checked.

We ran the ISIC, port scanners, vulnerability assessment utilities listed above against Windows XP running ICF. Port scanners and vulnerability assessment utilities are used by many hackers to identify running services on a remote computer and identify potential vulnerabilities. ISIC and Nmap were used to create non-RFC packages in order to heavily load the ICF. However, ICF not only blocked all attacks, but there was not even any performance degradation observed. The user would not even notice the attacks carried out. All non-RFC packages created by ISIC and Nmap were blocked by the ICF as invalid.

Fragrouter attacks have also been carried out to fragment IP packets. With this utility, we could split a single TCP packet into multiple packets in the hope that ICF would let them through. Nothing happened. Other standard attacks against firewalls have also been tried. The bottom line is that ICF is very confident withstanding attacks from the Internet.

Since most firewalls have DoS protection from internal users, we ran Fscan from the ICF system itself. And found a little surprise. Although there was no DoS situation, we saw that no matter which host we scan, ports 21, 389, 1002 and 1720 are always open. What is it, backdoor? From what it suddenly ICF opens ports? After a lot of research, we have determined that these ports are opened for the application proxy in the ICF/ICS service. It turned out that in order to support protocols that do not work well with firewalls, Microsoft created the appropriate proxy.

What does “poorly performing” protocols mean? Protocols that dynamically open incoming ports make it impossible to create a simple contextual firewall. Let's take the FTP and H.323 protocols as an example. In normal FTP mode (not PASV), the client connects to the FTP server on port 21. Everything is great until the client issues the FTP PORT command. This command tells the FTP server to create a reverse connection to the client on an arbitrary incoming port to send data. If the firewall does not detect and process the PORT command, it will block the packet. The ICF includes an FTP proxy to process the PORT command.

Similarly, H.323 is used for VoIP (Voice over IP) connections (calls). And only for making calls. In reality, voice and video RTP streams use dynamic ports that are determined during a call. Thus, ICF is forced to listen on port 1720 in order to pass the corresponding traffic.

Ports 389 and 1002 are used by the LDAP and ILS protocols for Netmeeting.

Application proxies have been developed for ICS. However, since ICS and ICF are implemented as a single service, proxies work even when ICS is disabled. But, despite the fact that there may be security problems in proxy servers, we stopped our tests on this. Why? Yes, because if a hacker has already physically penetrated your computer or local network in the case of ICS, you may already have big problems. However, application proxies can be a good target for finding vulnerabilities.

Also, ICF listens on PPTP connections to resolve GRE packets, as well as T.120 connections used for VoIP.

Although ICF is good at protecting against attacks from the Internet, we have developed an e-mail Trojan attack that simply goes through the firewall. Of course, ICF is not a virus scanner and should not detect Trojans; however, insufficient filtering of outgoing traffic allows our trojan to open a connection for a hacker. Read more about such attacks in the When Dreamcasts Attack article. Also, while ICF protects against DDoS attacks by preventing source IP address manipulation, these addresses can still be changed by creating Ethernet packets using NDIS driver calls.

As a result, despite the small shock caused by application proxies, it must be stated that ICF protects well from attacks. However, the lack of outbound filtering is a huge drawback in ICF.

pros

Windows ICF has a large number of features and benefits. It is impossible not to pay attention to some of them, in particular:

ICF is free and embedded in the operating system. ICF works confidently both under attack and under heavy load. ICF will protect against most attacks from the Internet. By default, the firewall rule set denies almost all connections, preventing most attacks. Most because it will not protect against a virus or attacks launched from your computer. ICF is a contextual firewall. Such firewalls are usually more secure than simple packet filters. You may already have ICF installed and enabled. If you have used the Network Setup Wizard, it may have already enabled ICF for you. The ICF API allows you to open the right ports for applications to allow incoming traffic. This is useful for programs like Windows Messenger and games like Warcraft 3 that require incoming connections. Application proxies allow ICF to work with protocols that are "unfriendly" to firewalls.

Minuses

Despite all these advantages, Windows ICF can pose some challenges, especially for corporate and power users who want more control over their firewall. Some of these problems are listed below:

nice feature

Conclusion

ICF is an excellent security tool for most people. It protects against most attacks from the Internet. And it works well with applications that can use the ICF API. ICF has support for industrial protocols such as FTP, H.323, PPTP. However, if you are an advanced user, you may want to use a different firewall, which will give you more granular configuration options, without which you sometimes just have to disable ICF, which interferes with some applications.

"Operating Windows systems»

Content

Introduction…………………………………………………………………………...3

Chapter 1 Basic Concept of OS and History of Creation………………………..........5

1.1 Operating system……………………………………………………5

1.2 History of Windows……………………………………………………….9

Chapter 2 Features of Windows XP ……………………………………………...12

2.1 Advantages and disadvantages operating system………………..12

2.2 Networking. ……………………………………………….17

Chapter 3 Features of Windows Vista …………………………………………...23

3.1 Innovations………….………………………………………………….23

3.2 Advantages of Windows Vista over Windows XP…………………..29 Conclusion………………………………………………………………………….32 References… ……………………………………………………………34

Introduction.

The relevance of this topic is that Microsoft's Windows operating system is currently considered the most common system on a PC. It is obvious that familiarization with a PC must begin with an acquaintance with Windows, because without it, working on a PC is unthinkable for most users. When you turn on the computer, the operating system is loaded into memory before other programs and then serves as a platform and environment for their work. It is impossible to imagine working with a computer without an operating system. Knowledge of the operating system is necessary for the successful use of modern computers.

The history of information technology development is characterized by a rapid change in conceptual concepts, technical means, methods and areas of their application. In modern realities, the ability to use industrial information technology. The penetration of computers into all spheres of society convinces us that the culture of communication with a computer is becoming a common human culture.

The object of research is the consideration of operating systems.

The subject of the research is the study of the main features of the operating systems Windows XP and Windows Vista.

The purpose of the work is to explore the concept of the Windows operating system.

This goal determines the following tasks:

Consideration of the basic concept of the operating system and the history of its creation.

Studying the features of Windows XP, its advantages, disadvantages and networking capabilities.

Research of features of Windows Vista , its advantages over Windows XP .

In the process of preparing the term paper, the works of domestic and foreign researchers, professors, programmers such as Sviridova M.Yu., Gordeev A.V., Bolshakov T.V. were used.

Chapter 1 Basic concept of the OS and the history of creation.

The system boots up when the computer is turned on. It produces a dialogue with the user, manages the computer, its resources (RAM, disk space, etc.), launches other (application) programs for execution. The operating system provides the user and application programs with a convenient way to communicate (interface) with computer devices.

The main reason for the need for an operating system is that elementary operations for working with computer devices and managing computer resources are very low-level operations, so the actions that a user and application programs need consist of several hundred or thousands of such elementary operations.

For example, a magnetic disk drive “understands” only such elementary operations as turning on / off the drive motor, installing reading heads on a specific cylinder, selecting a specific reading head, reading information from a disk track to a computer, etc. And even to perform such a simple action as copying a file from one floppy disk to another (a file is a named set of information on a disk or other machine medium), you need to perform thousands of operations to run drive commands, check their execution, search and process information in tables placement of files on disks, etc. The task is further complicated by the following:

There are about a dozen floppy disk formats, and the operating system must be able to work with all of these formats. For the user, work with diskettes of various formats should be carried out in exactly the same way;

a file on floppy disks occupies certain sections, and the user should not know anything about which ones. All functions for maintaining file allocation tables, searching for information in them, allocating space for files on diskettes are performed by the operating system, and the user may not know anything about them;

during the operation of the copy program, several dozens of different special situations can occur, for example, a failure when reading or writing information, disk drives are not ready for reading or writing, there is no space on the diskette for the file being copied, etc. For all these situations, appropriate messages and corrective actions must be provided.

The operating system hides these complex and unnecessary details from the user and provides him with a convenient interface for work. It also performs various auxiliary actions, such as copying or printing files. The operating system loads all programs into RAM, transfers control to them at the beginning of their work, performs various actions at the request of executing programs, and frees the RAM occupied by programs when they complete.

There are several types of operating systems: DOS, Windows, UNIX, Macintosh OS, Linux. Other modern operating systems, such as Linux, UNIX, OS /2, have their own advantages and disadvantages. Linux provides more advanced security than Windows and has a smarter interface; UNIX is used where high system reliability is required. The big disadvantage of OS /2 and UNIX is the rather poor selection of software tools, and here Windows outperforms other operating systems. The most common operating system is Windows. There are several versions of Windows: Windows -3.1, Windows -95, Windows -98, Windows -2000, Windows NT. All of them are close to each other in content, so in the future we will consider the DOS and Windows-9x operating systems.

MS - DOS- one of the first operating systems and one of the most famous. The peak of popularity of this operating system falls on the 90s, now this operating system is rarely used. Microsoft operating systems are currently the most popular in the world. Their share is about 90% among all operating systems. The firm's most robust systems are based on NT technology.

The DOS operating system consists of the following parts:

Basic input/output system (BIOS) located in the read-only memory (read-only memory, ROM) of a computer. This part of the operating system is "built into" the computer. Its purpose is to perform the simplest and most versatile operating system services associated with I/O. The basic input-output system also contains a test of the functioning of the computer, which checks the operation of the memory and devices of the computer when it is turned on. In addition, the basic input-output system contains a program to call the boot loader of the operating system.

The operating system loader is a very short program found in the first sector of every DOS floppy disk. The function of this program is to read two more operating system modules into memory, which complete the DOS boot process.

The DOS command processor processes commands entered by the user. The command processor is in the disk file! COMMAND.COM on the drive from which the operating system is loaded. Some user commands, such as Type, Dir or Cop) are executed by the shell itself. Such commands are called internal. To execute the remaining (external) user commands, the command processor searches the disks for a program with the appropriate name, and if it finds it, it loads it into memory and transfers control to it. At the end of the program, the command processor removes the program from memory and displays a message about the readiness to execute commands (DOS prompt).

External DOS commands are programs that come with the operating system as separate files. These programs perform maintenance activities, such as formatting floppy disks, checking disks, and so on. Device drivers are special programs, which complement the DOS I/O system and provide services for new or non-standard uses of existing ones.

Window -9 x evolved from a graphical add-on for DOS to a full-fledged operating system. At least that's what the developers said. In fact, things were more complicated: Windows 95 was still based on the good old DOS. Slightly modernized, of course, and not declared as a separate product. However, most consumers were satisfied with this option. After all, they still had the opportunity to work in the usual DOS mode without loading the Windows graphical shell - and, therefore, not to part with the usual DOS programs.

Same operating system Window -9 x became 32-bit. All previous versions of DOS and Windows were 16-bit and, therefore, could not fully use the capabilities of even the 386 family processors, and even more so - the new Pentium processors. Of course, there were some inconveniences in this advantage - especially under Windows, users had to replace all their Windows programs with new, 32-bit versions. However, in practice, the transition turned out to be relatively easy - within a year, new versions of all popular software products were released. But even the old 16-bit versions could work with the new OS without any problems.

1.2 History of Windows.

The history of Windows dates back to 1986, when the first version of the system appeared. It was a set of programs that extended the capabilities of existing operating systems for greater ease of use. A few years later, the second version was released, but the Windows system did not gain much popularity. However, in 1990, a new version was released - Windows 3.0, which began to be used on many personal computers. The popularity of the new version of Windows was due to several reasons. The graphical interface allows you to work with objects on your computer not with the help of commands, but with the help of clear and understandable actions on the icons that represent these objects. The ability to work with several programs at the same time has greatly increased the convenience and efficiency of work. In addition, the convenience and ease of writing programs for Windows has led to the emergence of an increasing variety of programs that run on Windows. Finally, work with a variety of computer equipment was better organized, which also determined the popularity of the system. Subsequent versions of Windows focused on improving reliability, as well as support for multimedia (version 3.1) and networking (version 3.11).

In parallel with the development of Windows, Microsoft in 1988 began work on a new operating system called Windows NT. The new system was tasked with a significant increase in reliability and effective support for network operation. At the same time, the system interface should not differ from the interface of Windows 3.0. Interestingly, the most common version of Windows NT also became the third version. In 1992, Windows NT 3.0 was released, and in 1994, Windows NT 3.5.

The development of operating systems does not stand still, and in 1995, Windows 95 appeared, which became a new stage in the history of Windows. Compared to Windows 3.1, the interface has changed significantly, and the speed of programs has increased. One of the new features of Windows 95 was the ability to automatically configure additional computer hardware to work without conflict with each other. Another important feature of the system was the ability to work with the Internet without the use of additional programs.

The interface of Windows 95 became the main one for the entire Windows family, and in 1996 a revised version of Windows NT 4.0 appeared, which has the same interface as Windows 95. The operating system that appeared in 1998 became a continuation of the development of Windows 95. While maintaining the interface, the internal structure has been significantly redesigned. Much attention was paid to working with the Internet, as well as support for modern information transfer protocols - standards that ensure the exchange of information between various devices. In addition, a feature of Windows 98 is the ability to work with multiple monitors.

The next step in the development of Windows was the emergence of Windows 2000 and Windows Me (Millennium Edition - Millennium Edition). The Windows 2000 system was developed on the basis of Windows NT and inherited from it high reliability and security of information from outside interference. The Windows Me operating system is the successor to Windows 98, but has gained many new features. First of all, this is an improved work with multimedia tools, the ability to record not only audio, but also video information, powerful tools for recovering information after failures, and much more. Gradually the difference between different systems Windows is being erased and the Windows XP operating system is designed to replace both Windows 2000 and Windows Me.

In 2007, after Windows XP, a new operating system appears. This time Microsoft's operating system is Windows Vista. This system was created based on Windows XP. Bug fixes, design improvements, a new Aero Glass 3D interface that requires a video card with DirectX 9.0 support. Windows. Vista has become more demanding than Windows XP.

After a while, Windows Seven appears. Known to everyone as Windows7. This operating system was created based on Windows Vista. There were revisions in the structure. Fixed bugs, expanded network capabilities. In the new system, the developers obviously paid a lot of attention to working with the Internet. Windows 7 is also less vulnerable than earlier releases. Windows 7 is the newest operating system today. And most people use this system.

Chapter 2 Features of Windows XP .

2.1 Advantages and disadvantages of the operating system.

The system has become more complex - but it crashes much less often, practically does not "freeze" and almost does not display cryptic error messages. All this is provided by the following innovations:

New coreWindows . The developers of Windows XP removed the last remnants of the MS-DOS compatible code used in Windows 95/98 (and, despite attempts to hide it, in Windows Me). Inside both versions of Windows XP is a stable and reliable kernel that first appeared in Windows 2000. With a fully protected memory model, integrated protection system, and a Hardware Abstraction Layer (HAL) that protects key system components from bad programs, Windows XP has much less chance of failure in the course of daily work. And if a failure does occur, you can use a set of recovery utilities that are far superior in their capabilities to those available in previous versions of Windows applications.

Robust system protections. A typical source of problems in previous versions of Windows was the replacement of vital system files with outdated or incorrect versions. Windows XP controls these overrides by maintaining the correct version of the file from the system's point of view while allowing the application to use the versions of the dynamic link libraries that it needs. Additional protection is provided by recovery tools that monitor the system and, thanks to the saved "snapshot" of system files and settings, allow you to "roll back" to a previous configuration if a new application or device driver causes problems.

Roll back device drivers. Experienced Windows users know that buggy device drivers can completely destroy even a carefully tuned system. Windows XP protects against driver-related hassles by warning you if you try to install a driver without a digital signature that certifies that it is compatible with Windows XP. The system also allows you to uninstall the driver and restore the previous version, and even in safe mode if necessary.

Equipment compatibility. Any user clearly understands how important it is to have good support by the operating system of this or that equipment. In this mutual understanding of the OS with the hardware, device drivers play a significant role. They are designed for compatibility of specific equipment with a specific OS. Without exaggeration, I note that Windows is the only operating system of its kind that is able to "correctly" work with the vast majority of modern equipment designed to work with a computer. Have you seen today, say, a printer or scanner whose accompanying drivers are written only for Linux or Mac OS? Of course not! Due to its mass prevalence, modern Windows today is simply obliged to support any computer equipment and peripherals. Therefore, today in the world the largest number of drivers and their versions are written specifically for Windows. Installation drivers today usually come with the hardware itself on an accompanying disk or floppy disk. Moreover: for a large number hardware in the base of Windows itself today there are standard drivers installed in the operating system by its developers. So, for example, for a SIS 6326 video card or Epson LX printer today it is not at all necessary to look for an installation disk with drivers. Windows itself will detect new installed hardware and correctly install the driver for it from its database. However, a caveat should be made here:

Drivers in the Windows database are not present for all equipment, especially new ones. Most often there you can find a driver for equipment that is obsolete today. In general, the modern OS supports everything modern types devices designed to work with a computer: scanners, printers, information digitizing devices, modems, tuners, IR sensors, network cards, disks, flash drives (by the way, the same hot-plug/disconnect USB drives are now supported as standard devices Windows is relatively recent), as well as many other Windows-compatible computer hardware and peripherals.

OS stability. In general, the stability of modern Windows can be called acceptable. However, the word "acceptable" here must be accompanied by a mass of reservations:

1. The stability of the OS becomes acceptable only after its high-quality and competent configuration - it’s not worth talking about an untuned system (as well as an untuned guitar, by the way).

2. The stability of modern Windows also largely depends on the version of the product and the availability of installed service packs and add-ons - alas, without their presence in the OS, frequent crashes occur.

3. The stability of Windows XP also depends on the applications themselves installed on the OS by the user: the more stable they are in operation and the more compatible with the Windows software shell itself, the less failures we will be able to observe in the operation of the main OS.

4. The stability of modern Windows is greatly influenced by the hardware itself, which is used in conjunction with a running OS. Often, some users simply attribute the incompatibility or incorrect operation of this or that equipment to the instability of Windows.

5. Also, the stable operation of modern Windows XP is far from being the last influence of device drivers. These mini-programs, which are responsible for pairing certain software with certain equipment, truly work wonders. Today's problems arise for a lot of users - much in the operation of a device is decided by the version of a particular driver. If we consider drivers written for video adapters, then their releases can easily be used to build a family tree of the most famous computer games, their additions, updates, etc. The fact is that today the release of the next video drivers is most often timed to coincide with the release of a video game. Many video drivers are written specifically for a specific instance of the game and for a specific instance of the video card. The purpose of such a focus is only one - to maximize the performance of the video adapter. Such drivers usually come as an accompaniment to the games themselves on the same game installation discs. By and large, the release of new drivers is always the elimination of errors in the old ones, plus "sharpening" for the most modern computer games and popular benchmarks for testing

performance of video adapters. Therefore, the "curvature" of the drivers installed on the OS plays an important role in the normal functioning of modern Windows XP.

6. Using the Internet and the number of viruses picked up as a result of surfing, living in the vastness of the World Wide Web, also directly affects the stability of the OS. These virtual viruses can turn any computer into a hell of a job. Sudden and frequent reboots, spontaneous shutdown of the computer, unauthorized access of the computer to the Internet and other cases of virtual life are a sure sign of a PC being infected with viruses. In general, Windows XP is able to work for quite a long time (more than a year) without

the occurrence of special problems and the need to reinstall the OS (of course, subject to all the precautions described above).

However, a computer can become unusable, and the stability of Windows XP is, unfortunately, no exception.

New interface design. For the first time since the adventWindows95 the user interface was so overhauled only inWindowsXP. If you choose a new interfaceWindowsXP, you will notice some differences immediately:

Bright colors. The default color scheme in Windows XP is brighter and sharper than the calm color combinations of previous versions of Windows. The new operating system takes full advantage of the 24-bit and 32-bit color graphics hardware.

Large windows and buttons. When you select the Windows XP style, windows and buttons become three-dimensional with rounded corners and smoothed shadows. You can also notice that all objects change their colors slightly when hovering over them with the mouse cursor - buttons, tabs and other interface elements are highlighted, like links on web pages.

Responsive icons. All system icons have been redesigned. The new icons are brighter, the color set is richer, because they are designed for resolution up to 24 bits (true color ). Each icon comes in three sizes, including "giant" (48x48 pixels), which looks twice as large as the default 32x32 from previous versions of Windows. This feature is most useful in the Tile view mode, where several lines of description can be displayed next to the icon to provide additional information to the user.

Built-in themes. Desktop themes first appeared in the Microsoft Plus package for Windows 95. A theme is a combination of color

schemes, fonts, sounds and other properties of the dialog interface. In Windows XP, theme support is integrated into the Display utility, and you can also change the properties of controls, window borders, and menus.

Compatibility issues. Many programs originally written for Windows 95, Windows 98, and Windows Me will not work properly under Windows XP. Moreover, some devices require the use of drivers that are not compatible with Windows XP.

2.2 Networking.

The most common multitasking PC operating system in the world is Microsoft Windows, which is gaining more and more popularity every year. The Windows XP release takes advantage of features to improve network performance, reliability, and efficiency.

The Windows XP operating system provides for the use of the Fast User Switching feature.

This allows you to organize the work of several users on one computer. Each computer user can create a separate password-protected account with personal setting and private files. Several accounts can be active on one computer at once, switching between them is simple and fast.

Connecting computers to a network greatly increases their capabilities. Powerful and easy-to-use Windows XP networks save you time and money.Networked computers can share a common Internet connection, a shared printer and other equipment, and shared files. You can even play online computer games with other participants.

In addition, setting up a network with MS Windows XP is easier than with any previous operating system. You don't have to be a networking expert to set up a network at home or in a small office, the wizard will take you through the steps. It remains only to answer a few questions about the computers you want to connect, and the wizard will do the rest.

Once a network is up and running, Windows XP helps maintain it by automatically monitoring for changes and adjusting settings to ensure maximum performance with minimum user effort.

Windows XP introduces powerful new features designed to keep your network up and running under all circumstances. Sophisticated software protects the operating system of each computer, and also creates a protective barrier, or firewall, to prevent unauthorized persons and viruses from the Internet from entering the network.

Thus, the Windows operating system is the most common system. Windows XP networks have many advantages, including power and ease of use. Among the advantages of the system stands out and reliability. The OS software protects your computer from viruses and unauthorized use of information by others.

Creating local networks in the OSMS WINDOWS .

The local network usually intended for the collection, transmission, dispersed and distributed processing of information within the same laboratory, department, office or company, often specialize in performing certain functions in accordance with the profile of the company and its individual divisions. In many cases, a LAN serving its local information system is connected to other computer networks, internal or external, up to regional or global networks.

When you create a home or small office network, computers running Windows XP Professional or Windows XP Home Edition are connected to a local area network (LAN). At Windows installation XP detects the network adapter and creates a LAN connection. By default, the LAN connection is always active. Only connections of this type are created and activated automatically. If you break the LAN connection, it will no longer automatically reactivate. This information is stored in the hardware profile, so the profile can take into account the needs of mobile users who change their location.

By creating a home network or a network of a small organization, you can effectively use all the resources of your computer, using it for both work and play.

If you have multiple computers or other equipment such as printers, scanners, or cameras, you can use the network to share files, folders, and Internet connections. For example, when a computer is connected to a network, the user of another computer can also access the Internet at that time. If you have multiple computers and one or more peripheral devices (printers, scanners, or cameras), these devices can be accessed from all computers.

There are several ways to connect computers to a network. For home and small office networks, the simplest model is the peer-to-peer network.

A peer-to-peer network, also known as a workgroup, allows computers to communicate directly with each other and does not require a server to manage network resources. It is most suitable when placed on a total area of less than ten computers. Computers in a workgroup are treated as nodes because they are equal and share resources. Each user decides for himself what local computer data can be shared on the network. Resource sharing will allow users to print to a single printer, access data in shared folders, and work on a single file without transferring it to a floppy disk.

A home or small office network is like a telephone system. While on the network, each computer is provided with a network adapter that performs a function similar to that of a handset: like a handset used to receive and transmit a conversation, the computer's network device sends and receives information to other computers on the network.

Thus, the Windows XP local area network is used within the same firm or enterprise. The most common local area network is the peer-to-peer network, which allows computers to communicate with each other directly and does not require a server to manage network resources. The local network provides the following opportunities: to use the general access to the Internet connection, to files and folders, to office equipment, as well as joint games and entertainment.

INTERNET global network

Global networks are computer networks that cover large geographic areas. The most common global network is the Internet. The Internet is a global international computer network of digital communications that combines many servers into a single logical architecture, which contain a huge amount of information on a variety of topics. The WAN always consists of many local networks connected together.

If you are using Windows XP, you use the Network Connection Wizard to set up a new Internet connection. The connection wizard will create an Internet connection and display a list of Internet service providers on the screen along with information about the services they offer. It remains to select the appropriate provider from the list, then a new account is provided.

Windows XP contains the most latest version MSN Explorer with the full package of Microsoft services and Last update Internet Explorer.

The information resources of the Internet, concentrated on the servers of the World Wide Web, allow users not only to view existing pages, moving from link to link, but also to request the necessary information.

Internet users can use the network not only as a source of information, but also as a means of communication.

Windows XP offers the following ways to help you stay safe and private while browsing the Internet:

Use Internet Explorer's security and privacy settings to keep your computer and your personal information safer and more private.

Use security zones to increase the security of your computer by setting different levels of security for different areas of the Internet.

Use of access control tools (Content Advisor) to avoid displaying objectionable pages on the screen, using standard ratings that have been independently determined by the PICS (Platform for Internet Content Selection) committee.

Thus, the Internet is the most widespread global network. MSN Explorer is a new universal program that allows you to more fully use the Internet. It allows you to access various Internet resources (text, images, files) at a given address. For communication in the Windows XP operating system, programs such as E-mail, Outlook Express, Windows Messenger are used. Windows XP uses powerful tools to secure and protect your network.

Chapter 3 Features of Windows Vista .

3.1 Innovations.

One of the most touted innovations in Windows Vista was the 3D Aero Glass interface. If your video card is compatible with DirectX 9.0, get ready to spend the first two hours of getting to know the new system, looking at local beauties. Needless to say, Aero looks unnatural. After the flat 2D "world" of all previous Windows, the 3D icons, alpha transparency, and colorful special effects are a bit overwhelming. In the first minutes, the spectacle seems somewhat implausible, as if we are not looking at the Windows interface, but a skillfully drawn flash movie. This feeling, of course, disappears after some time spent in Vista. Absolutely all windows in Windows Vista have a translucent border that resembles glass. Through the title bar and the Minimize / Maximize / Close buttons, you can see the blurry content of the lower window or the desktop wallpaper. Not to say that this effect was in demand, but it looks great. The "Start" panel is also made translucent, which again does not carry any functional load. The animation of all windows and moving elements has been completely redone. Windows pop up gracefully, unfolding and changing transparency on the fly. There are no sharp changes between colors at all - only smooth gradient transitions. The main color scheme of the entire system interface is shades of blue. However, the settings panel allows you to change it to your liking, even semitones are available. It is difficult to imagine the beauty of the system based on words or illustrations. Worth a look at Vista in dynamics.

The desktop area in Vista has remained the same. The developers once again redrawn all the icons, embellished them. Previously, desktop pictures could not be viewed without opening. In Vista, even here, the picture icon is converted to a thumbnail of the content. When selected, a square with cut corners appears around the icon (instead of an overlay of a blue translucent layer, as it was before). The bottom panel has changed slightly. From the "Start" button, only the "glass" sphere with the Windows logo remained. Slightly to the right is the quick launch bar. As before, shortcuts to frequently used programs are placed there. There's also a "maximize" window button, one of the main advertised features of Vista. Once you click on it, all open windows will slightly change the perspective and line up on top of each other. In fact, this feature was supposed to facilitate navigation, because maximized windows remain “alive”, loading indicators crawl on them, special effects flash. However, Alt+Tab is faster and more convenient to use. The All Programs subcategory no longer opens in a new layer in full screen. A list with all installed programs was built into the Start menu. Of course, the entire list would not fit into such a limited space, so the developers implemented a scrollbar. Folders with programs now open "down", forming a tree structure. Live Search is also available here - right below the list of programs there is a field for entering a search query. The list of all found data replaces the list of programs. In this case, the found files are divided into categories depending on the type. The content of applications minimized in the Start line can be found by simply moving the cursor over them - a small square window with a reduced copy of the contents and a title will pop up. But the changes in the Start panel do not end with the changes in the Desktop area. With Windows Vista, Microsoft begins to promote gadgets (gadgets) - mini-applications that are located on the right side of the desktop, on the sidebar (Sidepanel). Most gadgets are Internet applications. Exchange rates, weather forecast, quotes - these programs contact the server and get the necessary information.

Let's explain the action of some mini-applications.

The News Headlines gadget is an RSS client that fetches all the information from the feeds you subscribe to. RSS makes it easy to check news - the gadget changes its content in real time when a new headline arrives. You can expand the title (for more information) and by double-clicking go to the full news on the site. This is the first time an RSS client has been built into Windows at this level. The Slideshow app is an alternative to a full photo gallery slideshow, but running in Sidepanel. The CPU Usage gadget displays two gauges on the sidebar that display CPU usage and RAM usage as a percentage. Microsoft has allowed anyone to design their own gadgets. The sidebar opens up enough opportunities to expand the functionality of the Desktop. Companies such as Yandex or Google have already developed a working sidebar gadget. The application contains a line for entering a search request through the system and - you do not have to go to the site. As soon as you enter a query and press "Enter", an Internet browser will open and take you to the search results.

Live Search, which is how advanced search is called, is used throughout Vista. For example, the search bar, located next to the address bar in Explorer, allows you to quickly search in the selected folder. Go to the folder and enter, say, the letter "a" in the search bar. Windows will process the request and leave only files that start with the letter "a" on the screen. Live Search can be accessed from the Start bar. Windows Vista offers strict content cataloging. If in Windows XP the folders "My Pictures", "My Music" were rather optional, then in Vista it is these folders that open when "Explorer" opens, and first of all index the built-in programs to create their libraries. This is where Live Search comes into its own. The Live Search program was introduced because the number of files on the average user's computer is growing every year. This trend will continue for a long time to come. Understanding and quickly finding the necessary file in a huge dump of all kinds of documents, drawings, music is not so easy. Vista solved this problem by indexing the information.

Internet Explorer 7.0. The Internet browser built into Windows is not loved by most advanced users, and deservedly so, because it has not changed much since the first versions (except cosmetically). Third-party developers quickly picked up the wave, figured out the desires of people and presented their versions of browsers for Windows. By far the most popular of these are Opera and Mozilla FireFox. With Internet Explorer 7.0, Microsoft promised to completely redesign its interface. Having tested the new product, we can say with confidence that Microsoft has carefully examined the popular browsers of our time. An experienced user will immediately notice the similarity in the first place with Opera. Internet Explorer finally got bookmark support, meaning all pages open in one window without cluttering up the Start bar.

Secondly, a page preview function has appeared - click on the button with four squares and you will see miniature copies of all open windows. In the new Internet Explorer, Microsoft has implemented full support for RSS feeds - from now on, you can subscribe to them without using third-party software. All navigation and control elements are minimized and scattered across the screen, so that the work area is greatly expanded. In general, no special fine-tuning options appeared in Internet Explorer. Yes, it has become more convenient and practical, but Mozilla FireFox and Opera are still far superior to Internet Explorer in terms of functionality. In an attempt to simplify the browser as much as possible, Microsoft has produced far from the best program for a full-fledged work on the Internet.

Microsoft has finalized the Windows Vista protection system - it's still the same firewall, but it is organized a little differently. The new firewall, in addition to activity on the Internet, also controls all local programs. Try to run some EXE file - and you will immediately receive a warning and a request to confirm the launch. This system is more efficient than the previous one, as it allows you to control the installation of all programs. This, in theory, should protect the computer from automatically installing a variety of advertising modules, which are full on the Internet. But the fatal flaw of the new firewall is that it's too intrusive. Half of the users will turn it off at the first opportunity. The second half will get used to "give the go-ahead" to all processes, which will reduce the level of protection to zero.

Windows Backup. Backing up and restoring data has been a part of the system since the release of Windows 2000. But Vista has new backup options and a much improved user interface. It takes advantage of the Volume Shadow Copy Service (VSS) and has the ability to back up data to media such as CDs and flash cards. In general, with the release of Windows Vista, sales of flash memory will creep up, because the new system is very fond of this type of storage media. Microsoft has developed SuperFetch technology. If the amount of RAM is large enough, then SuperFetch uses the unused memory. The files of frequently called programs are placed there, which leads to the acceleration of their launch.

During the operation of Windows Vista, no deviations from the norm of behavior, inhibitions were noticed. The system never hung and did not go to reboot. Of the shortcomings noticed - the blocking of some outdated applications. For example, Nero Burning ROM 6, Outpost Firewall 3 refused to work (here it is worth noting that the seventh version of Nero works perfectly fine in Vista). Almost all programs created for Windows XP work just fine in Windows Vista. Everything that was often used in XP was installed in Vista - GOM Player, all Adobe and Macromedia products, Winamp, various office suites, archivers. No problems were found with them. All the work we did in Windows XP can be done with the same efficiency in Vista. The only exception is programs under DOS, everything is very rough here. There are not many DOS programs left, but it's still worth keeping in mind.

There are still problems with the drivers. NVIDIA and ATI have already submitted working and complete drivers for Windows Vista; Motherboard manufacturers are not far behind. There are claims to the work of Creative programmers. At the moment, only beta versions of drivers for sound cards from this manufacturer are still available. Vista doesn't even include drivers for SB Live! 5.1 - owners of these and older models should consider buying a more modern card.

Needless to say, Vista is very demanding on the computer. To enjoy the beauties of the Aero interface, you will need a graphics card that supports DirectX 9.0. As a minimum configuration for Vista, Microsoft recommends a computer with an 800MHz processor and 512MB of RAM - enough for Vista Home Basic with half the features disabled. The system itself eats up about 500 MB of RAM for its needs. Gigabytes of memory, of course, is not enough. Enough to get the job done, but not enough for Vista to spread its wings. One of the creators said that the system feels best in a system with 4 GB of RAM. But 4 GB is only recognized by the 64-bit version of Vista. Vista Home Premium looks the most optimal for the home.

3.2 Advantages of Windows Vista over Windows XP.

Early adopters of Windows Vista say it's ready to sweep any operating system out of its way. It's hard to argue, but the transition to Windows Vista is only a matter of time. So it's time to find out how you can safely migrate to a new OS. Over the next couple of years, Windows Vista will take the lead in the OS market, gradually replacing Windows XP, which at one time also replaced Windows 98 and Windows Me.

Since the early days of DOS and even Mac OS, there has been a slow shift in the concept of operating systems towards more functionality and more new features that are not at all obvious. This led to a strange situation where the cult of Microsoft Windows made the computing realm stagnant and dangerous. So if computers aren't re-architected from the start, which won't happen in the next hundred years, we'll be on a path of never-ending misfortune, and Windows Vista proves it.

Update your Internet Explorer. Take advantage of Internet Explorer 7 features for a more comfortable and secure Internet experience: tabbed browsing, advanced printing, easy search, support for RSS feeds and high security.

Windows SuperFetch is a new intelligent system memory management technology. Briefly, the principle of its operation is as follows: Windows Vista keeps track of which applications the user uses most often and preloads them into memory to improve system performance. Intelligence is achieved due to the fact that usage is recorded not only for individual users (each of them is optimized in its own way), but also for the time of use - it's no secret that many people use different applications on weekends than during the working week. Another innovation is the priority of user applications over system services that run in the background. Now the service, having completed its work, is unloaded from memory, and the user application takes its place.

Windows Vista - the ability to turn off the PC called Sleep (Sleep). In this mode, all user data, such as open documents and running applications, is saved to both the hard disk and RAM, and the computer is put into a low power state. It really allows you to get back to work in seconds! Moreover, even with a complete shutdown or reboot of the PC (which now can be done very rarely thanks to improved system stability), you can start working faster, since most boot tasks are performed in the background.

Providing compatibility with previously written programs is one of the main tasks that were set before the developers of Windows Vista.

Windows Vista will use the NTFS file system already familiar to us from Windows XP. It was previously planned to release Windows Vista with support for the latest WinFS file system, but due to the huge amount of other improvements in Windows Vista, this idea had to be abandoned. WinFS will be released later as a separate add-on. At the same time, it's not like the file system hasn't changed: the BitLocker Drive Encryption feature is a significant leap forward in security that business and laptop users will especially like.

The main feature of the new Windows Aero user interface is to provide the user with the easiest access to his documents stored on the computer, to make working with information more efficient and simple.

One of the "new" features of Windows Vista is Windows Firewall, which is available in all editions of the new operating system. Windows Firewall is certainly not new; it was already available to Windows XP SP2 users, but it could only block incoming connections. According to Microsoft, in Windows Vista the firewall will work in both directions, providing the ability to block both incoming and outgoing connections ... But upon closer inspection, it turned out that this was nothing more than a marketing ploy. With Windows Vista, you get half a firewall that needs some serious work.

Windows Media Center is a control panel that allows you to watch and record TV shows, listen to music, view photos and videos, and use many other Internet features.

Conclusion.

In this course work "Windows operating systems", taking as a basis the works of scientists, professors, programmers, the concept of operating systems Windows was studied.

In our course work some characteristics of operating systems are given. The main characteristics and features of such systems as Windows XP and Windows Vista are also considered.

In the process of preparing the work, the goal was achieved - to explore the concept of the Windows operating system.

The tasks stipulated by this goal have been fulfilled. The basic concept of the operating system and the history of its creation are considered. The features of Windows XP, its advantages, disadvantages and network capabilities are studied. The features of Windows Vista , its advantages over Windows XP have been studied .

Based on the tasks at hand, the following conclusions can be drawn:

An operating system is a complex of interrelated system programs whose functions are to control the use and distribution of computing system resources and organize user interaction with a computer.

The first version of Windows appeared in 1986. Starting from that time and up to the present day, the operating system does not stop its development. New, more improved versions are created on the basis of obsolete versions. Taking into account the new needs of users, more modern versions windows. The organization of Windows is changing, its reliability and basic capabilities are increasing.

With the advent of Windows XP, the system has become more complex, but it is much less likely to crash. All this is provided by new ideas in the creation of Windows XP. The Windows operating system is the most widely used operating system. The networking capabilities of Windows XP have many advantages, including power and ease of use. Reliability stands out among the advantages of the system. The OS software protects your computer from viruses and unauthorized use of information by others.

In 2007, a new version of Windows was released - Windows Vista. It is notable for its innovations such as: AeroGlass 3D interface, gadgets mini-applications, new Live Search, etc.

In general, the system has become much more responsive than Windows XP. Priority for user applications over services running in the background is also given when accessing devices such as a hard drive. In Windows Vista, it is almost impossible for a user to slow down loading data from a hard drive if, for example, disk defragmentation or anti-virus software is running at the same time.

Thus, having studied the Windows operating systems, we can conclude that the Windows operating system is the most popular and widespread operating system in the world, and for most users it is the most suitable due to its simplicity, good interface, acceptable performance and a huge number of applications for it.

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14. (Advantages and disadvantages

modern Windows)

15. (Network

Windows operating system features computers/ History _ Microsoft _ Windows . htm

(History of Microsoft Windows)

Windows Benefits. Consider the benefits of Windows for users and application developers:

1. Independence of programs from external devices. A Windows program can only access external devices through Windows, which removes all the hassle for developers to ensure compatibility with specific external devices.
2. Tools for building a user interface. Windows contains all the necessary functions for building the user interface of programs: windows, menus, queries, etc. At the same time, the style of Windows is simply inimitable.
3. Availability of all RAM. This facilitates the creation of large programs on its basis.
4. Dynamic connection of libraries. Windows provides automatic linking of subprogram libraries during program execution. The format of libraries (DLL-Files) and the order of calling library subroutines are standardized.
5. Means of data exchange. Means for exchanging data between Windows programs significantly help users in their work and make it easier for them to decide challenging tasks requiring the use of more than one program. To organize the exchange of data between different programs, Windows offers the following methods:
1. The mechanism of communication and implementation of objects (Object Linking and Embedding, OLE) - new way data exchange between applications, in which it is possible to combine image, sound, text, etc.
2. Dynamic Data Exchange (DDE) - one program can use the data created by another program.
3. Data clipboard (Clipboard) - one program can put data into this clipboard, and another program can use the data from the clipboard.
6. Use of scalable True Type fonts. Windows uses the WYSIWYG (What you see is what you get) principle, which means that the information that is on the screen corresponds to what is printed out by the printer. The True Type fonts used in Windows do not contain raster, but outline character descriptions.
7. Single user interface. Windows provides programmers with all the necessary tools to create a user interface. The user interface of Windows programs is largely unified, and users do not need to learn new ways to interact with that program for each program.
8. Multitasking. Windows provides simultaneous execution of a whole list of tasks and switching from one to another.
9. Compatibility with DOS applications. Working in a Windows environment does not force you to abandon the use of DOS programs. Moreover, to run DOS programs, as a rule, there is no need to exit Windows. However, Windows-based DOS programs run slower.
10. Ease of device support. Windows makes it easy to work with external devices.
11. Multimedia support. One of the enhancements to Windows 95 was multimedia support. When connected to the appropriate devices, Windows can receive sounds from a microphone, CD, or MIDI synthesizer, images from a digital video camera, and output sounds and motion pictures. This opens up great opportunities for educational, gaming and other programs, making communication with the computer easier and more enjoyable.

Windows Disadvantages. As you know, any medal has two sides. And Windows has not only advantages, but also disadvantages:

1. The advantages of Windows described above come at the expense of a significant increase in the load on the computer hardware. Often programs with approximately the same capabilities for DOS and Windows differ in their requirements for computer resources by dozens of times. Fortunately, the development of the computer industry soon compensated for this increase in resource requirements. Now computers that are not able to work with Windows 95 are no longer available.
2. Windows programs do not work effectively enough in those applications where time is a critical resource. For example, when creating a heavy-duty database, it can be very questionable if it works in a Windows environment, since a DOS database can run 2 times faster.
3. The most significant drawback of Windows is its very low reliability. Incorrect operation of any Windows program can cause the entire Windows to freeze. In addition, the limitations of these Windows resources make it impossible for more than three or four serious programs to run simultaneously in Windows, no matter how much RAM and disk space the computer has.
4. In Windows, there are practically no means of protection against damage to the operating system (erasing or changing system files, incorrectly changing configuration files, etc.). With the active use of Windows (especially when installing or removing new programs), the system often loses its functionality, and you have to reinstall it or fix damage while working in DOS mode.

Comment. The shortcomings listed in points 3 and 4 are significantly reduced, but not completely eliminated, in the new versions of Windows 95 and Windows 98.

All of the above in no way detracts from the merits of Windows, but only indicates that it is not a universal solution suitable for all users and for all occasions. However, for the majority of users, Windows 95/98 and related programs provide the most convenient and efficient way to use your computer.

» » Overview of the main advantages and disadvantages of Windows 7

Overview of the main advantages and disadvantages of Windows 7

Windows 7 is a productive and feature-packed system that, compared to other versions of operating systems, has an impressive number of new features.

Functional updates of licensed Windows 7

Performance

Desktop design contains the original Windows 7 Ultimate, Professional and Home Premium versions, contains rich graphical features, as well as effective ways management. Aero graphics have nifty animations, translucent glass effect windows, and can be personalized. The Aero interface allows you to express the user's individuality with the help of themes and customizable settings.

Aero Snap

Snap is a new feature that allows you to resize open windows by dragging them to the edge of the screen. The Snap feature improves the comparison and ordering of information in windows, as well as reading.

Aero Shake

This function is useful if it is difficult to find the desired window. You only need to click the window bar and shake your mouse. All windows except the one you need will disappear. Shake the mouse again - the windows will return to their original form.

Aero Peek

This feature has the power of x-ray, as it is possible to see the contents of open windows on the desktop. You need to move the mouse pointer to the right corner of the panel - open windows will instantly become transparent, displaying hidden gadgets and icons.

Device management

Windows 7 makes working with mobile phones, cameras, and other devices easier with Devices and Printers and Device Stage. Device Stage provides a single platform that allows you to check and manage devices.

Desktop

Windows 7 allows you to do a lot more on the desktop.

Getting Started

This element allows you to quickly master a new PC and use it more efficiently. This is the main source of information about backing up and transferring files, personalizing Windows 7, creating user accounts, that is, all the necessary tasks that a user faces when working with a new PC.

Libraries

This feature makes it easy to find, organize, and use files scattered across the network and on your computer. The library allows you to combine content in one place into one whole, regardless of the storage of files.

Jump Lists

This feature allows you to quickly jump to frequently used images, documents, websites, or songs.

Printing based on network location

If you use a laptop to print to different printers, then the need to switch printers manually, Windows 7 does this automatically.

Fragment selector

The scissors tool lets you take a snapshot of any element on your desktop, such as an image on a website.

Notes

This feature is just as necessary as paperclips and pencils. In Windows 7, you can format a note by changing the original text, change the color, size, scroll through and collapse them.

Components of Windows Live

The main components are free software that allows you to expand the capabilities of your PC. They are designed for instant messaging, email, blogging and photo editing.

Tablet PC

Compatible with multi-touch devices allows you to perform actions with your fingers, no need to use a pen. Actions are intuitive.

Windows taskbar

The taskbar in the new OS has been completely redesigned to perform more functions. It has become simpler, the number of settings has increased, it is easier to work in multitasking conditions.

Windows Search

Search has become more efficient and faster. Results are now grouped into categories, include snippets of text and keywords, making it easier to browse search results.

Windows XP Mode

The mode combines the best qualities, allowing you to run older versions of Windows XP applications on the Windows 7 desktop.

Possibilities

Support Center

If you're tired of pop-ups, Action Center can help you determine which Windows 7 notifications should and shouldn't show up. The Action Center includes all messages originating from system service functions and security functions.

Support for 64-bit systems

Whatever computer you have, clean Windows 7 will support both 32 and 43 bit systems. The 64-bit processor allows you to work more quickly and efficiently with many running programs.

Performance improvements

Key performance improvements include standby, search, support for USB devices, faster boot times, and easier booting.

Improvements in System Restore

In Windows 7, recovery works more efficiently. You can create multiple restore points, view files that will be added or removed during system restore.

Power Management

Windows 7 allows the battery to last longer.

windows touch

Using the touch screen and Windows 7, you can view the original newspaper on the Internet, open files and folders, scroll through photo albums with one touch.

OS migration tools

The data transfer tool makes it easy to transfer data. Transferring original documents has become easier, transferring has become more useful and reliable.

Windows Update

This feature allows you to keep your current software and computer secure by downloading original updates from Microsoft. Updates have become much more convenient.

Security and protection

bitlocker

BitLocker protects sensitive data by encrypting original documents as well as all HDD. Any saved file will be automatically encrypted.

Backup and restore

This feature makes it possible to back up important files, ensuring the safety of data in an unforeseen situation.

Parental control

Allows you to secure the work of those for whom you are worried.

Windows Firewall

This feature protects against malware.

Pros:

Clean Windows 7 is installed on most modern computers, netbooks and laptops. As a result, it is much easier to restore the original system after a virus attack and perform other common procedures.
Work stability. However, it depends largely on the Internet connection, the hardware used, installed applications, driver versions, correct setting, availability of updates and so on.
User-friendly interface, which is distinguished by design styles and brightness of colors
The original Windows 7 has a high level of resistance to careless and erroneous user actions, which predetermines the choice of OS.
The list of settings is quite rich - from graphics to security settings and access rights.
The original Windows 7 is compatible with almost all modern common programs.

Even with the number of features available, Windows 7 has a number of drawbacks.

Minuses:

“Explorer” in Windows 7 is quite simple. It's hard to work with him.
Windows 7 includes many settings, some of them are in the "Registry", others are located in the "Control Panel". As a result, setting up is not very inconvenient. After all, the reliability and uninterrupted operation of Windows 7 depends primarily on how correctly the settings are made.
Windows 7, unlike such XP or Vista systems, is slow. That is why, in order to achieve certain results, it needs much more resources than other operating systems.
Relatively low overall protection. For example, if a person wants to install additional applications, then such manipulations can lead to unpleasant consequences, and in order to restore the previous original system, you will have to use a program to change the registry.

Windows 7 isn't perfect, but by using methods that reduce the disadvantages and increase the advantages, you can get a great operating system.

Any modern computer can fully function only thanks to the operating system - software that provides you with a graphical shell and a set of tools to perform a variety of things. Today there are a huge number of operating systems on the market: Linux, Mac OS and, of course, the well-known Windows from Microsoft.

Disputes about which system is better have not subsided for many decades. But to do right choice, for example, the OS from Microsoft, you need to figure out what are the advantages and disadvantages of Windows. It will not be about any particular version, but about products in general.

Advantages of Windows OS

It is worth starting, of course, from the positive sides. If you are a regular user of the system, then they will outweigh the possible negative qualities. So, if we talk about the advantages of this OS, then we need to mention a few points.

prevalence and popularity. There is no denying the fact that the system is the most common on the market. This is due to ease of development and availability of software. Therefore, it will not be difficult for you for your PC, as well as finding software for it.
Convenient graphical interface. The system menu is adapted for users of any level. Even if you do not have the skills to work with the OS, you will quickly get used to its basic functions and be able to use it successfully.
Entertainment. If you like to play computer games, then you will definitely appreciate the features and benefits of Windows, as this OS is the most supported by developers. All the latest games will definitely be available on it.
Availability of modern technologies. The system is being actively developed and supplemented with various functions in accordance with modern technologies. Fresh versions of software, antiviruses, editors - all this is supported here.

Windows Disadvantages

Of course, considering the OS from all sides, you need to touch on the pros and cons. As for the shortcomings of the system, they are as follows:

insufficient level of security for highly specialized work (standard anti-virus software is not able to provide the necessary security);
malfunctions (even the most current versions of the OS may work with errors, but they are eliminated through updates);
decisions in terms of updating functionality and menus are not always successful.

Despite the shortcomings of the Windows operating system, it is a modern and effective software tool for solving various problems.

Advantages and disadvantages of the Windows operating system. Windows operating systems (for students) Windows operating system advantages and disadvantages of the system