In operating systems, which components typically make up the process image kept by the system for each executing process?

Introduction / Context:
A process image represents everything the operating system needs to manage and resume a process. Understanding what is included in this image is essential for learning about process management, context switching and memory organisation. This question asks you to identify the typical elements that make up a process image in a modern operating system.

Given Data / Assumptions:

• We are discussing a general purpose operating system with virtual memory.
• Each process has code, data, stack and associated control information.
• The process image resides partly in memory and partly in operating system data structures.
• No calculations are required.

Concept / Approach:
A standard model of a process image includes the executable code segment, data and heap segments that store global and dynamically allocated variables, and the stack segment used for function calls and local variables. Alongside these memory segments, the operating system maintains a process control block that stores the program counter, registers, scheduling information, memory management info and accounting data. Together, these components define the complete state of the process so that it can be paused, swapped out and later resumed exactly where it left off.

Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: Recall the common memory layout diagram that shows code, data, heap and stack for a process. Step 2: Remember that the process control block stores register values and process management information for the operating system. Step 3: Combine these concepts to form the idea of a process image that includes both memory segments and control structures. Step 4: Compare this combined description with the options and pick the one that lists code, data and heap, stack and the process control block. Step 5: Reject options that mention only hardware devices or user interface settings, as they are not part of the process image.

Verification / Alternative check:
If you examine operating system literature or diagrams of process management, they consistently mention that saving a process state involves storing registers, program counter and certain memory mappings. When a process is loaded, its code, data, heap and stack are mapped into memory, and the process control block is created. This matches the description of the correct option and contradicts the irrelevant items listed in the wrong options.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:
Option B is incorrect because keyboard and mouse drivers are shared kernel components, not specific parts of a single process image. Option C refers to disk geometry, again not specific to one process. Option D describes system level or user preference settings, which may be stored elsewhere but are not the core of the process image required to run a program.

Common Pitfalls:
A common misunderstanding is to think of a process only as code, ignoring the important role of the process control block and stack in capturing the execution state. Another pitfall is to confuse operating system wide resources, such as device drivers, with per process images. Remember that the process image is what must be restored to resume execution after a context switch.

Final Answer:
The process image typically includes executable code, data and heap segments, a stack and the process control block with registers and management information.