Operating Systems MCQs

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Operating Systems MCQs

Practice Operating System MCQs covering Windows, Linux, Android, booting, multitasking and multiprocessing concepts with answers and explanations.

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Total Questions

Practice Questions

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Question #181
Which file allocation table structure uses an index block to store pointers to all distinct file data sectors, allowing efficient random access without fragmentation bottlenecks?
A. Linked Method
B. Indexed Allocation
C. Contiguous Method
D. Linear Block Mapping
Discuss
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Correct Answer: Option B

Explanation:
Indexed allocation consolidates all block pointers into a single dedicated index block, enabling direct access to any block without linear scanning.
This question belongs to: Computer Operating Systems
Question #182
Which administrative utility tool in Windows allows modification of advanced boot flags, startup configurations, and Safe Mode options via a GUI layout?
A. cleanmgr
B. msconfig
C. regedit
D. cmd
Discuss
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Correct Answer: Option B

Explanation:
The 'msconfig' executable opens the System Configuration utility to customize boot parameters, startup services, and debugging constraints.
This question belongs to: Computer Operating Systems
Question #183
Which state does a process enter if it completes its execution loop but its parent process has not yet read its exit status value via system routines?
A. Zombie State
B. Ready State
C. Orphan State
D. Blocked State
Discuss
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Correct Answer: Option A

Explanation:
A process that has finished execution but still has an entry in the process table is a 'Zombie' process, waiting for its parent to read its exit code.
This question belongs to: Computer Operating Systems
Question #184
Which Linux terminal utility command is used to modify the password string associated with a user account profile?
A. passwd
B. chmod
C. useradd
D. chown
Discuss
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Correct Answer: Option A

Explanation:
The 'passwd' command allows users or administrative accounts to update or reset access passwords across Unix-like user groups.
This question belongs to: Computer Operating Systems
Question #185
What type of operating system design runs a single application loop directly on hardware without processing delays, frequently used in automotive anti-lock brakes?
A. Time-Sharing Framework
B. Real-Time Operating System (RTOS)
C. Network OS Shell
D. Batch Processing OS
Discuss
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Correct Answer: Option B

Explanation:
An RTOS provides deterministic response timing guarantees necessary for critical automation tasks like braking loops or medical telemetry.
This question belongs to: Computer Operating Systems
Question #186
Which Windows component acts as an intermediary database layer storing hardware settings, enabling 'Plug and Play' peripheral identification?
A. Control Panel INI
B. Shadow Copy Vault
C. Windows Registry
D. Task Scheduler
Discuss
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Correct Answer: Option C

Explanation:
The Windows Registry dynamically updates hardware configurations, enabling the OS to identify, allocate resources, and load drivers for Plug-and-Play devices.
This question belongs to: Computer Operating Systems
Question #187
Which Linux pseudo-filesystem acts as an interface to internal kernel data structures, allowing users to query live CPU parameters or memory statistics via text files?
A. /bin
B. /etc
C. /lib
D. /proc
Discuss
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Correct Answer: Option D

Explanation:
The '/proc' directory is a virtual, process information pseudo-filesystem that exposes live kernel statistics and active process metadata as text files.
This question belongs to: Computer Operating Systems
Question #188
What memory allocation issue occurs when there is sufficient total free memory space across the system, but it is split into tiny non-contiguous blocks that cannot accommodate a new request?
A. Virtual Thrashing Loop
B. External Fragmentation
C. Page Table Mismatch
D. Internal Fragmentation
Discuss
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Correct Answer: Option B

Explanation:
External fragmentation leaves memory broken into tiny segments scattered between active processes, preventing continuous allocations for larger tasks.
This question belongs to: Computer Operating Systems
Question #189
Which component of an Android application represents a single visible screen with a user interface layer that the user interacts with?
A. Content Provider
B. Activity
C. Broadcast Receiver
D. Service
Discuss
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Correct Answer: Option B

Explanation:
An 'Activity' is the fundamental component that handles a single focused screen interface layout for user interaction.
This question belongs to: Computer Operating Systems
Question #190
Which Windows tool allows a technician to view and modify low-level entries in the system configuration database using a tree layout?
A. Device Manager Panel
B. Task Manager Console
C. Registry Editor (regedit)
D. Disk Management Wizard
Discuss
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Correct Answer: Option C

Explanation:
The Registry Editor ('regedit') provides an administrative interface to browse and alter keys inside the core Windows configuration database.
This question belongs to: Computer Operating Systems
Question #191
What type of process scheduling algorithm moves tasks between multiple queues based on their execution history and remaining runtime characteristics?
A. Static Priority Array
B. First-Come, First-Served
C. Multilevel Feedback Queue
D. Round Robin Loop
Discuss
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Correct Answer: Option C

Explanation:
Multilevel Feedback Queues allow tasks to move between queues dynamically based on their CPU usage history, optimizing system response times.
This question belongs to: Computer Operating Systems
Question #192
Which Linux terminal command outputs the total number of lines, words, and characters contained inside a specified text file?
A. grep
B. wc
C. count
D. ls -s
Discuss
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Correct Answer: Option B

Explanation:
The 'wc' (word count) command calculates and prints line counts, word totals, and byte metrics for a targeted text file.
This question belongs to: Computer Operating Systems
Question #193
What is the primary function of the 'Spooler' service in modern desktop operating systems?
A. To optimize database queries.
B. To intercept and hold document workloads intended for a slow peripheral printer, scheduling their sequential delivery.
C. To clean up invalid browser caches.
D. To coordinate multi-processor network scaling.
Discuss
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Correct Answer: Option B

Explanation:
The print spooler intercepts print jobs from applications, writes them to disk buffers, and streams them sequentially to the slower target printer hardware.
This question belongs to: Computer Operating Systems
Question #194
Which Windows keyboard shortcut instantly locks the active user account profile, requiring a password entry to log back in?
A. Ctrl + Alt + Delete
B. Windows Key + D
C. Windows Key + L
D. Alt + F4
Discuss
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Correct Answer: Option C

Explanation:
Pressing Windows Key + L signals the desktop shell interface to lock the active session, securing user documents behind the login screen.
This question belongs to: Computer Operating Systems
Question #195
What is the name of the memory region allocated to a process that dynamically expands at runtime to store objects created via allocation statements?
A. Stack
B. Heap
C. Code Segment
D. Data Segment
Discuss
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Correct Answer: Option B

Explanation:
The heap is a dynamic memory region used for runtime allocations where application code explicitly creates and manages objects.
This question belongs to: Computer Operating Systems
Question #196
Which terminal utility in Linux is used to display or change the networking routing, interface parameters, and wireless configuration settings?
A. uname
B. chmod
C. ip (or ifconfig)
D. ping
Discuss
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Correct Answer: Option C

Explanation:
The modern 'ip' utility framework handles device configuration, link management, and addressing schemas in Linux environments.
This question belongs to: Computer Operating Systems
Question #197
Which Android subsystem handles layout asset rendering and combines diverse display surfaces onto the final hardware screen output?
A. SurfaceFlinger Engine
B. Zygote Prototype
C. Activity Coordinator
D. Package Manager
Discuss
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Correct Answer: Option A

Explanation:
SurfaceFlinger functions as the system graphics compositor, merging various application display buffers into a single image to be rendered.
This question belongs to: Computer Operating Systems
Question #198
What structural condition refers to a situation where a child process continues running after its parent process has terminated?
A. Orphan Process
B. Zombie Process
C. Blocked Thread
D. Deadlocked Task
Discuss
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Correct Answer: Option A

Explanation:
An orphan process is a running process whose parent has terminated; it is typically adopted by the 'init' or 'systemd' process (PID 1).
This question belongs to: Computer Operating Systems
Question #199
Which storage system formatting layout is required to handle file sizes larger than 4 GB on modern storage media without using NTFS permissions?
A. exFAT
B. FAT16
C. HPFS
D. FAT32
Discuss
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Correct Answer: Option A

Explanation:
exFAT supports large file sizes (beyond 4 GB) and volume caps, making it an ideal choice for portable flash drives and external storage media.
This question belongs to: Computer Operating Systems
Question #200
Which scheduling algorithm assigns the CPU to the process with the shortest execution time, requiring advance knowledge of task durations?
A. Shortest Job First (SJF)
B. First-Come, First-Served (FCFS)
C. Priority Queue Allocation
D. Round Robin (RR)
Discuss
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Correct Answer: Option A

Explanation:
The Shortest Job First (SJF) scheduling policy chooses the process with the smallest CPU burst requirement next, minimizing average wait times.
This question belongs to: Computer Operating Systems

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