As a user, you normally interact with the operating system through a set of commands. For example, the DOS operating system contains commands such as COPY and RENAME for copying files and changing the names of files, respectively.

The commands are accepted and executed by a part of the operating system called the command processor or command line interpreter.

Graphical user interfaces allow you to enter commands by pointing and clicking at objects that appear on the screen.

But that really doesn’t address the various ways that operating systems make your computer work easier and more efficiently.

Their specific capacities are what make them help your computer operate as a user-friendly device.  Let’s look specifically at what an operating system does.

Process Management

Every program running on a computer whether it is a background service or an application is called a process.

As long as von Neumann architecture is used to build a computer, only one process per CPU can be run at one time.

Older computer operating systems such as MS-DOS did not try to bypass this limit with the exception of interrupt processing and only one process could be run under them.

Mainframe operating systems have had multi-tasking capabilities since the early 1960’s.  Modern operating systems enable concurrent execution of many processes at once via multi-tasking even with one CPU.

Process management is an operating system’s way of dealing with running multiple processes at once.

Since most computers contain one processor with one core, multi-tasking is done by simply switching processes quickly.

Depending on the operating system, as more processes run, either each time slice will become smaller or there will be a longer delay before each process given a chance to run.

Process management involves computing and distributing CPU time as well as other resources.  Most operating systems allow a process to be assigned a priority which affects its allocation of CPU time.

Interactive operating systems also employ some level of feedback in which the task with which the user is working receives higher priority.

Interrupt driven processes will normally run at a very high priority.  In many systems, there is a background process such as the System Idle Process in Windows which will run when no other process is waiting for the CPU.

PStart is a useful small utility which works like a secondary start menu for user-defined applications.

Why do we need a secondary start menu?

Firstly, this tray tool is created to run portable applications such as portable Firefox and Thunderbird but essentially you can use it to start anything runnable from any local hard disk, removable disk and even USB key devices.

Besides opening programs, you can also use PStart to open important folders or specific frequently used documents.

The special thing about PStart is that it uses relative paths when installed as a portable application, and this difference sets it apart from Windows shortcuts.

Removable discs do not always get the same driver letter when they are inserted into another computer but with PStart, the portable softwares can still be started properly.

PStart can also be used to start applications that are burned to a CD or DVD optical disc (which will also be assigned unknown drive letter when used on different computers).

That basically explains why PStart is developed, this free utility will definitely reduce the time spent opening portable applications, files and documents on other people’s computers. It is also recommended for people who use a lot of removable devices.

Another use which I think is possible with this secondary tray start menu is to ease programs, files and documents launching without clogging up your start menu.

If you have too many paths defined, the search navigation tab is available to quickly access the paths you need.

Besides, PStart also integrates a feature called Notes, which you can use to keep small notes or reminders set to appear whenever you like in the USB drive.

If you have a U3 complicant devices, chances are that you are frustrated that you cannot start non U3 compatible software from the U3 launcher.

PStart can help you solve this problem, it can be used to launch all programs on those devices, including U3 compatible softwares, so that you don’t have to use the limited U3 launcher ever again.