Utility programs, also known as service programs, perform maintenance-type tasks related to the managing of a computer, its devices, or its programs.
They enhance existing functions or provide services not supplied by other system software programs. Most computers come with built-in utilities as part of the system software. However they may also be bought separately as external utility programs such as Norton SystemWorks and McAfee Utilities.
FILE MANAGER
File manager is the software used to manage files on a disk. It provides functions to delete, copy, move, rename and view files as well as create and manage folders (directories).
File manager performs tasks of formatting and copying disks, displaying a list of files on a storage medium, checking the amount of used or free space on a storage medium, organising, copying, renaming, deleting, moving and sorting files and also creating shortcuts.
DIAGNOSTIC UTILITY
A diagnostic utility compiles technical information about a computer's hardware and certain system software programs and then prepares a report outlining any identified problems. Information in the report assists technical support staff in remedying any problems.
DISK DEFRAGMENTER
When an operating system stores data on a disk, it places the data in the first available sector on the disk. It attempts to place data in sectors that are contiguous but this is not always possible. When the contents of a file are scattered across two or more non-contiguous sectors, the file is fragmented.
The process of defragmentation is the reorganising of the disk so the files are stored in contiguous sectors. A fragmented disk has many files stored in non-contiguous sectors. Defragmenting reorganises the files so they are located in contiguous sectors, which speeds access time.
SMALL UTILITY PROGRAMS
- An image viewer displays, copies and prints the contents of a graphics file.
- A personal firewall detects and protects computer from unauthorised intrusions.
- An uninstaller removes a program and any associated entries in the system files.
- A screen saver displays a moving image or blank screen if no keyboard or mouse activity occurs for a specified time.
MORE TYPES AND USAGES OF UTILITY PROGRAMS
BACKUP UTILITY
Backup utility allows users to copy or back up, selected files or an entire hard disk to another storage medium.
Why is it important?
The program allows the user to retrieve data if the hard drive fails and there are no more programs or files that can function.
An example of a backup utility program is Norton Ghost from Symantec.
DATA RECOVERY
A data recovery utility is used to restore the data that has been physically damage or corrupted. Data can be damaged by viruses, bad software, hardware failure and power fluctuations that occur while data is being written or recorded.
VIRUS PROTECTION
It is essential that you install antivirus software. Antivirus software is a utility program that scans the hard disks, floppy disks and memory to detect viruses.
Some utilities destroy the virus on the spot. Others notify you of a possible viral behaviour. Examples of antivirus software are Norton Antivirus and McAfee’s VirusScan.
Antivirus utilities normally look for virus signatures to identify a virus. Users of antivirus utilities must update the virus definition files as often as possible to ensure that such files contain patterns for newly discovered viruses.
If an antivirus utility cannot remove the virus, it often quarantines the infected file in a separate area of a hard disk until the virus can be removed. Most antivirus utilities can create a recovery disk to remove or repair infected programs and files. In extreme cases, a hardisk may need to be reformatted to remove a virus.
Virus Signature
A virus signature or virus definition is known as a specific pattern of a virus code.
Quarantines
Keeping a virus away because it is dangerous.
DATA COMPRESSION
Data compression utility is a utility that removes redundant elements, gaps and unnecessary data from a computer’s storage space so that less space is required to store or transmit data. With the increasing use of large graphics, sound, and video files, data compression is necessary both to reduce the time required and to reduce the time required to transmit such large files over a network.
Compressed files are sometimes called zipped files because they usually have a .ZIP extension. A compressed file must be unzipped or restored to its original form before being used. Two popular file compression utilities are PKZIP and WinZip.
DISK SCANNER AND DISK CLEANUP
These utilities detect and correct certain types of common problems on hard disks and floppies and search for and remove unnecessary files, such as temporary files or “temp files”.
Both windows and the applications you run create temp files needed only for a small tasks and system restore after certain types of system problems. These files are stores in the Temp folder.
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