Kernel And Shell clarifications??

[Beno]

Hey Gang,

What is the main difference between the Kernel and the Shell in a Windows environment. Is the kernel the main part of my Windows 98SE Op.Sys which would include the MSDOS.SYS, IO.SYS and COMMAND.COM files or is it something else??

What is the shell? Is the shell simply the command prompt I see when I start up DOS, or is it the desktop that I see when I start up Win98SE??

One last question.... what is kernell32.dll?? I know that the 32 part refers to 32 bits but what does that actually mean??

Thanks every1 once again :-)

Beno

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Have a nice day

[Ghost_Hacker]

what is kernell32.dll??

It's a DDL that takes care of memory and resource management on Window's boxes. It's part of the Windows API. (It's not an operating system kernel)


What is the main difference between the Kernel and the Shell in a Windows environment. Is the kernel the main part of my Windows 98SE Op.Sys which would include the MSDOS.SYS, IO.SYS and COMMAND.COM files or is it something else??


MSDOS.sys is the DOS kernel, it isn't a part of the Windows API. Command.com is a command processor it just allows you to type in commands at the "command" prompt, again it's not part of the Windows API. IO.sys on a Windows box isn't the same as the IO.sys in DOS. IO.sys on a Windows computer is used much like config.sys and autoexec.bat. Which is why you don't need them to bootup. The shell in Windows is Explorer.exe as you can see the shell isn't the operating system. (this is true not only for Windows but most OSes). The difference between kernel and shell is that the kernel in Windows doesn't manage the user's interface (more or less http://www.PCGuide.com/ubb/smile.gif ), whereas the shell does. The kernel performs object management (It manages how a program gets it information. IE: how a joystick controls the gun in a first person shooter)and other task. The shell manages how you open a folder for example.


Hope this helps http://www.PCGuide.com/ubb/smile.gif


[This message has been edited by Ghost_Hacker (edited 01-22-2002).]

[pentachris]

I acquired my basic understanding of what a kernel (http://www.linux.org/lessons/page.cgi?PageID=46) is and what a shell (http://www.linux.org/lessons/page.cgi?PageID=73) is from reading this (http://www.linux.org/lessons/index.cgi) Linux tutorial. The writer has a good time with the lessons, throwing in lots of jokes and puns and enjoying being an oddball in general. It's very entertaining. http://www.PCGuide.com/ubb/biggrin.gif

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If my computer were the eighth dwarf, it would be Dumpy.
-Chris

[This message has been edited by pentachris (edited 01-23-2002).]

[Beno]

Thanks for those amusing sites Pentachris.................good to see people have some personality out there!

Cheers

Beno

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Have a nice day