KS4 – Computer systems Learner worksheet

Lesson 1 – Computer systems and system software

The start-up sequence

To start this unit on computer systems, you are going to explore what
happens inside your computer when you hit the power button.

Task 1 . The hardware and software

Match the definition to the component as your teacher talks through them on the board.

Contains all the basic code for

The CPU controlling your computer hardware
(such as keyboards, mice, monitors,
and hard drives).

RAM Read-only memory

A large chip inside the computer. The

ROM brains of the computer: it controls
everything.

Hard drive Random access memory

The main storage device in your

BIOS computer.

Task 2 . The start-up sequence

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KS4 – Computer systems Learner worksheet
Lesson 1 – Computer systems and system software

1 The boot sequence begins

2 CPU starts up and fetches the BIOS from ROM

3 Instructions from BIOS are loaded into RAM

4 BIOS starts up the monitor and keyboard

5 BIOS checks the computer is working

6
Operating system is fetched from secondary storage

7 Operating system is loaded into RAM

The BIOS hands control over to the operating system

8

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