System software is primarily used to manage which aspect of a computer?

System software is designed to manage the hardware components of a computer. It serves as an intermediary between the user applications and the physical hardware, enabling the hardware to function correctly and efficiently. The operating system, for example, is a critical piece of system software that facilitates communication between the computer's hardware components (like the CPU, memory, and storage devices) and the user-level applications, ensuring that they can utilize the hardware resources effectively.

While user applications, network settings, and file organization are important aspects of computer operation, they are typically managed by application software or system utilities that rely on system software (like the operating system) to interact with the underlying hardware. System software handles the core functions of the computer, ensuring that all other processes can operate smoothly.