QUARTER 2

LO 2: CONFIGURE NETWORK
SERVICES

SELF- LEARNING MODULE 18

System Utilities and
functions
Writer: Ms. Virgie Alfaras Baylon
Reviewer: Mr. Cyrus N. Caruz
Introductory Message

For the facilitator:

Welcome to the (Computer System Servicing(CSS) Grade-12) Self Learning Module

on (System Utilities and Functions) !
This Self Learning Module was collaboratively designed, developed and reviewed by
educators from Schools Division Office of Pasig City headed by its Officer-In-Charge
Schools Division Superintendent, Ma. Evalou Concepcion A. Agustin in partnership
with the Local Government of Pasig through its mayor, Honorable Victor Ma. Regis
N. Sotto. The writers utilized the standards set by the K to 12 Curriculum using the
Most Essential Learning Competencies (MELC) while overcoming their personal,
social, and economic constraints in schooling.

This learning material hopes to engage the learners into guided and independent
learning activities at their own pace and time. Further, this also aims to help
learners acquire the needed 21st century skills especially the 5 Cs namely:
Communication, Collaboration, Creativity, Critical Thinking and Character while
taking into consideration their needs and circumstances.

In addition to the material in the main text, you will also see this box in the body of
the module:

Notes to the Teacher

This contains helpful tips or strategies
that will help you in guiding the learners.

As a facilitator you are expected to orient the learners on how to use this module.
You also need to keep track of the learners' progress while allowing them to
manage their own learning. Moreover, you are expected to encourage and assist the
learners as they do the tasks included in the module.
 EXPECT AT ION

After completing the lesson the learners should be able to:

A. define system utilities and it’s function;

B. know system utility programs and how they affect your computer; and
C. perform some system utilities program

PRET EST

TRUE or FALSE

Directions: Read each statement below carefully. Write T if the statement is

correct and F if wrong in the space provided before each number.

______1. Utility program is designed to help analyse, configure, optimize or

maintain a computer.

______2. System utilities are the core hardware functions that allow you to manage
your computer.

______3. Utility program usually focuses on how the computer infrastructure

operates.

______4. System utilities may be already included in your computer or downloaded

from the Internet.

______5. Utility program is application software.

 RECAP

Directions: Steps to restore a backup file using the Backup and Restore utility.
Choose the letter inside the box from 1 to 10 in ascending order. Write the letter of
the correct answer after the number.

a. Step 1 b. Step 6
c. Step 2 d. Step 7
e. Step 3 f. Step 8
g. Step 4 h. Step 9
i. Step 5 j. Step 10

1. _______Go to System and Security

2. _______Go to Control Panel
3. _______Click Start
4. _______Click Backup and Restore
5. _______At the Back up or restore your files screen, click Restore my files.
6. _______Browse to locate the backup file
7. _______Click Next
8. _______Select a location where you want to restore the backup file
9. _______Click Restore
10. _______When the process is complete, click Finish
 LESSON

WHAT IS SYSTEM UTILITIES

System utilities are the core software functions that allow you to manage your
computer in ways that you would find it inconceivable to be without. System
utilities may be already included in your computer or downloaded from the
Internet.
Utility program is system software. It is designed to help analyse, configure,
optimize or maintain a computer. Utility program usually focuses on how the
computer infrastructure operates.
1. Disk Cleanup
Disk Cleanup is a function that comes with all versions of Windows Operating
Systems. Disk Cleanup allows for you to scan your entire hard drive to search for
extra room by deleting any unneccessary files such as temporary files from the
Internet and cookies that are downloaded when you visit webpages. Not only does
Disk Cleanup allow you to delete simple files from the Internet, but it also allows
for you to delete Restore Points, uninstall programs, remove Windows components,
and compress old files all in the click of a mouse. You can find Disk Cleanup in
Windows XP by going to the Start menu –> All Programs –> Accessories –> System
Tools –> Disk Cleanup.
2. Disk Defragmenter
The Disk Defragmenter is another tool that comes with Windows and is used for
many different solutions. The main function of the Disk Defragmenter is to
reassemble fragmented files. Whenever a file is modified in any way, the computer
stores the file in broken pieces across the hard drive rather than putting the whole
file in one spot. This can lead to system malfunction and poor performance because
your computer must search for all the pieces of a specific file before it can display
it. The Disk Defragmenter searches for all pieces of every file on your hard drive
and reassembles the files into a specific location. This increases the speed at which
files are displayed and results in less delays when opening files or programs.
3. System Restore
System Restore is a function that comes with Windows that allows you to return
your computer to an earlier time in which you had not encountered an error.
System Restore is great for fixing problems that a virus has caused after you use
antivirus software to rid your computer of the malware. System Restore allows you
to manually set Restore Points on a calendar and also automatically creates
Restore Points on a regular basis as well as right before your computer goes
through any major change such as installing a new program. System Restore can
be found by going to Start –> All Programs –> Accessories –> System Tools –>
System Restore.
4. Disk Compression and Archivers
Disk compression is a type of function that allows for a program to search your
hard drive and compress files, particularly old or unused files. This greatly
improves your computer’s functionality and performance because it does not have
to keep track of so many files at once. It also serves to free up space, which is the
main function of disk compression software. Archivers, another form of file
compression software, allows for you to compress a file or folder and then
decompress the file whenever you decide to. The most popular archiver to date is
Winrar, which is named after Winzip but has no affiliation. Both Winrar and a
plethora of disk compression programs are available on the Internet at no charge.
5. Registry Cleaners
Registry cleaners are programs that allow for you to scan your computer for any
errors in the registry, which is a collection of the core computer files that are
essential to performance and functionality, and repairs them if needed. Registry
cleaners are widely available on the Internet and give you a significant upperhand
when cleaning up the mess that a virus or other malware has left on your
computer. Likewise, some otherwise safe programs can cause errors in the registry
without intending to. Registry files can also be corrupted if the user unknowingly
deletes or modifies a file in the registry. This usually occurs when an inexperienced
user tries to fix their computer and inevitably causes more damage than before.
6. File Splitters
File splitters are programs that allow you to break a file into smaller pieces in order
to store or send files. File splitters often come in handy because many online
storage services, including email attachments, limit you to a specific file size that
can be transferred at one time even though files often exceed these limits. File
splitters allow you to break the file into two or more pieces, send them
simultaneously, and then piece them back together when you are ready to use the
file again. A good file splitter is File Splitz. It allows for you to break a file of any
size into multiple pieces and then rejoin the files together just as easily.

TYPES OF UTILITY SOFTWARE

1. Anti-virus utilities scan for computer viruses.
2. Archivers output a stream or a single file when provided with a directory or
a set of files. Archive utilities, unlike archive suites, usually do not include
compression or encryption capabilities. Some archive utilities may even have
a separate un-archive utility for the reverse operation.
3. Backup software can make copies of all information stored on a disk and
restore either the entire disk (e.g. in an event of disk failure) or selected files
(e.g. in an event of accidental deletion).
4. Clipboard managers expand the clipboard functionality of an operating
system.
5. Cryptographic utilities encrypt and decrypt streams and files.
6. Data compression utilities output a shorter stream or a smaller file when
provided with a stream or file.
7. Data synchronization utilities establish consistency among data from a
source to a target data storage and vice versa. There are several branches of
this type of utility:
o File synchronization utilities maintain consistency between two
sources. They may be used to create redundancy or backup copies but
 are also used to help users carry their digital music, photos and video in
their mobile devices.
o Revision control utilities are intended to deal with situations where
more than one user attempts to simultaneously modify the same file.
8. Debuggers are used to test and “debug” other programs, mainly to solve
programming errors. Also utilized for reverse engineering of software or
systems.
9. Disk checkers can scan operating hard drive.
10. Disk cleaners can find files that are unnecessary to computer operation, or
take up considerable amounts of space. Disk cleaner helps the user to decide
what to delete when their hard disk is full.
11. Disk compression utilities can transparently compress/uncompress the
contents of a disk, increasing the capacity of the disk.
12. Disk defragmenters can detect computer files whose contents are scattered
across several locations on the hard disk, and move the fragments to one
location to increase efficiency.
13. Disk partitions can divide an individual drive into multiple logical drives,
each with its own file system which can be mounted by the operating system
and treated as an individual drive.
14. Disk space analyzers for the visualization of disk space usage by getting the
size for each folder (including sub folders) & files in folder or drive. showing
the distribution of the used space.
15. Disk storage utilities
16. File managers provide a convenient method of performing routine data
management tasks, such as deleting, renaming, cataloging, uncataloging,
moving, copying, merging, generating and modifying data sets.
17. Hex editors directly modify the text or data of a file. These files could be data
or an actual program.
18. Memory testers check for memory failures.
19. Network utilities analyze the computer’s network connectivity, configure
network settings, check data transfer or log events.
20. Package managers are used to configure, install or keep up to date other
software on a computer.
21. Registry cleaners clean and optimize the Windows Registry by removing old
registry keys that are no longer in use.
22. Screensavers were desired to prevent phosphor burn-in on CRT and plasma
computer monitors by blanking the screen or filling it with moving images or
patterns when the computer is not in use. Contemporary screensavers are
used primarily for entertainment or security.
23. System monitors for monitoring resources and performance in a computer
system.
24. System profilers provide detailed information about the software installed
and hardware attached to the computer.
 ACT IVIT IES

IDENTIFICATION:

Directions: Identify the following statement. Write the correct answer on the space
provided.
1. _____________ It allows for you to scan your entire hard drive to search for extra
room by deleting any unneccessary files such as temporary files from the
Internet and cookies that are downloaded when you visit webpages.
2. _____________ It searches for all pieces of every file on your hard drive and
reassembles the files into a specific location.
3. _____________ Programs that allow you to break a file into smaller pieces in
order to store or send files.
4. _____________ Programs that allow for you to scan your computer for any errors
in the registry, which is a collection of the core computer files that are essential
to performance and functionality, and repairs them if needed.
5. _____________ It is a type of function that allows for a program to search your
hard drive and compress files, particularly old or unused files.
6. _____________ Used for fixing problems that a virus has caused after you use
antivirus software to rid your computer of the malware.
7. _____________ This utilities scan for computer viruses.
8. _____________ It expand the clipboard functionality of an operating system.
9. _____________ It can scan operating hard drive.
10. _____________ Used to test and “debug” other programs, mainly to solve
programming errors. Also utilized for reverse engineering of software or
systems.

WR AP UP
UTILITY SOFTWARE

Utility software is software designed to help to analyze, configure, optimize or

maintain a computer. It is used to support the computer infrastructure - in
contrast to application software, which is aimed at directly performing tasks that
benefit ordinary users. However, utilities often form part of the application systems.
Although a basic set of utility programs is usually distributed with an operating
system (OS), and this first party utility software is often considered part of the
operating system, users often install replacements or additional utilities. Those
utilities may provide additional facilities to carry out tasks that are beyond the
capabilities of the operating system. Many utilities that might affect the entire
computer system require the user to have elevated privileges, while others that
operate only on the user's data do not.
 VALUI NG
We have learned about system utilities software program, briefly discuss the
importance of system utilities and utility software.
__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________

POST T EST

Multiple choice

Directions: Encircle the letter of the correct answer.

1. It provides detailed information about the software installed and hardware

attached to the computer.
A. System profilers . C. System monitors
B. Screensavers D. Registry cleaners
2. It clean and optimize the Windows Registry by removing old registry keys
that are no longer in use.
A. System monitors C. Registry cleaners .
B. Screensavers D. System profilers
3. It output a stream or a single file when provided with a directory or a set of
files Having a characteristic of being so powerful and expensive machine.
A. Archivers . C. Cryptographic
B. Backup software D. Data compression
4. It can scan operating hard drive.
A. Achivers C. Backup software
B. Disk checkers. D. Cryptographic

5. A utilities encrypt and decrypt streams and files.

A. Achivers C. Backup software
B. Disk checkers. D. Cryptographic .
6. It can make copies of all information stored on a disk and restore either the
entire disk.
A. Achivers C. Backup software.
B. Disk checkers. D. Cryptographic
7. It can expand the clipboard functionality of an operating system.
A. Clipboard managers . C. Backup software
B. Disk checkers D. Cryptographic
 8. A utilities output a shorter stream or a smaller file when provided with a
stream or file.
A. Clipboard managers . C. Backup software
B. Data compression D. Cryptographic
9. A utilities establish consistency among data from a source to a target data
storage and vice versa. There are several branches of this type of utility:
A. Clipboard managers C. Backup software
B. Data compression D. Data synchronization.
10. Directly modify the text or data of a file. These files could be data or an
actual program.
A. Hex editors . C. Backup software
B. Data compression D. Cryptographic

K EY T O CORRECT ION

A 10. Debuggers 10. j 10.

D 9. Disk Checkers 9. h 9.
A 8. Clipboard Managers 8. f 8.
A 7. Anti-virus 7. d 7.
B 6. System Restore 6. b 6.
B 5. Disk Compression 5. i 5. F 5.
B 4. Registry Cleaners 4. g 4. T 4.
A 3. File Splitters 3. a 3. T 3.
C 2. Disk Defragmenter 2. c 2. F 2.
A 1. Disk Cleanup 1. e 1. T 1.

Post-Test Activity Recap Pre-test

R E F E R E N CE S
Online Sites:
(access August 27, 2020)
http://www.systemutilities.org/#:~:text=System%20utilities%20are%20the%20core,or%20download
ed%20from%20the%20Internet.
https://courses.lumenlearning.com/computerapps/chapter/reading-utility-software/
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Utility_software#System_utilities