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

Page 14 of 26
Question #261
In Windows, the Environment Variables are stored in the Registry under which key?
A. Both A and B
B. HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Environment
C. HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\Environment
D. HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\Session Manager\Environment
Discuss
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Correct Answer: Option A

Explanation:
System-wide environment variables are stored in HKLM\...\Environment, and user-specific ones in HKCU\Environment.
This question belongs to: Computer Operating Systems
Question #262
Which of the following is a popular bootloader for Linux?
A. NTLDR
B. LILO
C. BOOTMGR
D. GRUB
Discuss
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Correct Answer: Option D

Explanation:
GRUB (GRand Unified Bootloader) is the most common bootloader for Linux distributions; LILO is older but less used.
This question belongs to: Computer Operating Systems
Question #263
What is the term for the technique where a process is divided into smaller parts and executed in parallel on multiple processors?
A. Time-sharing
B. Batch processing
C. Parallel processing
D. Multithreading
Discuss
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Correct Answer: Option C

Explanation:
Parallel processing uses multiple processors to simultaneously execute multiple parts of a program, improving performance.
This question belongs to: Computer Operating Systems
Question #264
Which Windows tool is used to schedule tasks to run automatically at specified times?
A. Event Viewer
B. System Configuration
C. Task Scheduler
D. Performance Monitor
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Correct Answer: Option C

Explanation:
Task Scheduler automates script or program execution based on triggers like time, events, or system startup.
This question belongs to: Computer Operating Systems
Question #265
In Linux, the command 'rm -rf' is used to:
A. Rename a file
B. Remove empty directories only
C. Read a file forcefully
D. Forcefully remove directories and their contents recursively
Discuss
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Correct Answer: Option D

Explanation:
rm -rf (remove recursively and forcefully) deletes directories and files without confirmation, so it's dangerous.
This question belongs to: Computer Operating Systems
Question #266
What is the primary purpose of the Android Kernel?
A. To run Java applications
B. To manage hardware resources such as CPU, memory, and drivers
C. To handle network connectivity
D. To provide a user interface
Discuss
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Correct Answer: Option B

Explanation:
Android's kernel (based on Linux) manages hardware, memory, and processes; user interface and app runtime are higher layers.
This question belongs to: Computer Operating Systems
Question #267
Which of the following is NOT a valid process state in a typical operating system?
A. New
B. Running
C. Paused
D. Ready
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Correct Answer: Option C

Explanation:
Standard states are new, ready, running, blocked, terminated; 'paused' is not a standard OS process state.
This question belongs to: Computer Operating Systems
Question #268
In Windows, the Registry is divided into which main hives?
A. HKEY_ROOT, HKEY_USER, HKEY_SYSTEM, HKEY_SOFTWARE
B. HKEY_LOCAL, HKEY_REMOTE, HKEY_DEFAULT
C. HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE, HKEY_CURRENT_USER, HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT, HKEY_USERS, HKEY_CURRENT_CONFIG
D. HKEY_CONFIG, HKEY_DRIVERS, HKEY_SERVICES
Discuss
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Correct Answer: Option C

Explanation:
The five root keys (hives) are HKLM, HKCU, HKCR, HKU, and HKCC.
This question belongs to: Computer Operating Systems
Question #269
Which Linux command is used to find the location of an executable?
A. whereis
B. locate
C. find
D. which
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Correct Answer: Option D

Explanation:
which shows the full path of the command that would be executed, searching in PATH directories.
This question belongs to: Computer Operating Systems
Question #270
What is the main benefit of using threads over processes for multitasking?
A. Threads share memory space, reducing context-switching overhead and communication costs
B. Threads can run on multiple cores simultaneously
C. Threads are more secure
D. Threads are easier to implement
Discuss
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Correct Answer: Option A

Explanation:
Threads within the same process share memory and resources, making context switching and inter-thread communication faster and less resource-intensive.
This question belongs to: Computer Operating Systems
Question #271
In Android, which file system is typically used for the /data partition?
A. F2FS
B. FAT32
C. ext4
D. NTFS
Discuss
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Correct Answer: Option C

Explanation:
Android devices commonly use ext4 or F2FS for internal storage; ext4 is widely adopted due to its journaling and stability.
This question belongs to: Computer Operating Systems
Question #272
Which Windows feature provides a centralized location for system settings and control?
A. Both Control Panel and Settings
B. System Configuration
C. Settings app
D. Control Panel
Discuss
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Correct Answer: Option A

Explanation:
Windows offers both Control Panel (legacy) and Settings (modern) for system configuration; many settings overlap.
This question belongs to: Computer Operating Systems
Question #273
What is the function of the Linux 'cron' utility?
A. Compresses files
B. Manages network connections
C. Schedules jobs to run at specified times or intervals
D. Monitors system logs
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Correct Answer: Option C

Explanation:
cron is a time-based job scheduler that executes scripts or commands automatically according to a schedule.
This question belongs to: Computer Operating Systems
Question #274
Which of the following is a characteristic of a monolithic kernel?
A. It is more stable than microkernel
B. It is easier to extend
C. Only the core services run in kernel mode, others in user mode
D. All OS services run in kernel mode with high performance
Discuss
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Correct Answer: Option D

Explanation:
Monolithic kernel includes all system services (file system, drivers, memory management) in kernel space, which can improve performance but reduce stability.
This question belongs to: Computer Operating Systems
Question #275
In Windows, the command 'diskpart' is used for:
A. Disk partition management
B. Disk formatting
C. Disk defragmentation
D. Disk cleanup
Discuss
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Correct Answer: Option A

Explanation:
diskpart is a command-line utility for managing disk partitions, volumes, and dynamic disks.
This question belongs to: Computer Operating Systems
Question #276
Which Linux command shows the list of mounted file systems?
A. fstab
B. lsblk
C. mount
D. df
Discuss
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Correct Answer: Option C

Explanation:
mount without arguments displays all currently mounted file systems; df also shows mounts but with usage.
This question belongs to: Computer Operating Systems
Question #277
What is the primary advantage of using a 64-bit processor with a 64-bit OS?
A. Better compatibility with older software
B. Faster clock speed
C. Ability to use more than 4 GB of RAM and handle larger integers
D. Lower power consumption
Discuss
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Correct Answer: Option C

Explanation:
64-bit processors and OS support larger memory addressing and can perform 64-bit operations more efficiently.
This question belongs to: Computer Operating Systems
Question #278
In Android, the 'Dalvik Cache' is used for:
A. Temporary internet files
B. Caching downloaded files
C. Storing user preferences
D. Storing optimized bytecode for faster app execution
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Correct Answer: Option D

Explanation:
Dalvik Cache stores the optimized Dalvik executable (.dex) files for apps to speed up loading; replaced by ART in newer Android.
This question belongs to: Computer Operating Systems
Question #279
Which of the following is a process scheduling algorithm that allocates CPU to the process with the shortest remaining time?
A. Round Robin
B. Shortest Job First (SJF)
C. Multilevel Queue
D. Priority Scheduling
Discuss
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Correct Answer: Option B

Explanation:
SJF selects the process with the shortest total execution time; the preemptive version is Shortest Remaining Time First (SRTF).
This question belongs to: Computer Operating Systems
Question #280
What does the term 'spooling' refer to in operating systems?
A. Allocating memory dynamically
B. Saving the state of a process
C. Copying files between drives
D. Buffering data to be sent to a device (like a printer) to improve efficiency
Discuss
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Correct Answer: Option D

Explanation:
Spooling (Simultaneous Peripheral Operation On-Line) uses a buffer to hold jobs for slow peripherals, allowing overlapping of I/O with processing.
This question belongs to: Computer Operating Systems

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