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DIP Switches
- Small switches on a piece of
hardware such as a CPU, a printer, or an
option card. DIP switch settings control
various functions and provide a system with
information about itself. DIP stands for Dual
In-Line Package.
Directory
- A list of the files stored on a disk
or a part of a disk. Sometimes called a Folder.
Disk Drive
- The physical device which
allows the computer to read from and write
to a disk. A floppy disk drive has a disk slot
into which you insert floppy disks. A hard
disk drive is permanently fixed inside the
system unit.
DOS
- Disk Operating System. A computer
program which continuously runs and
mediates between the computer user and the
Application Program, and allows access to
disk data by disk file names. The Disk
Operating System controls the computer’s
input and output functions. See Operating
System.
DSTN
- Dual Scan Twisted Nematic. By
dividing the screen in two, then refreshing
both sides simultaneously, this technique
offers a sharper picture than conventional
passive matrix screens.
ECP
- Extended Capabilities Port. Parallel
port with an asynchronous, byte-wide,
bidirectional data flow. It can also
distinguish between commands and data.
EPP
- Enhanced Parallel Port. Parallel port
with an asynchronous, byte-wide,
bidirectional channel, plus separate address
and data cycles over the eight data lines of
the interface.
File
- A group of related pieces of information
called records, or entries, stored together on
disk. Text files consist of words and
sentences. Program files consist of codes and
are used by computers to interpret and carry
out instructions.
Floppy Disk
- A flat piece of flexible plastic
coated with magnetic material and used to
store data permanently.
Folder
- See Directory.
Format
- To prepare a new disk (or erase an
old one) so it can receive information.
Formatting a disk divides it into tracks and
sectors which create addressable locations
on it.
Hard Disk Drive
- Sometimes called rigid
disk drives, or fixed disk drives. Unlike
floppy disks, hard disks are fixed in place
inside the system unit. They can process data
faster and store many more files than floppy
disks.
IDE
- Integrated Drive Electronics. An IDE
drive has the controller electronics built into
the drive itself and is connected directly to
the mainboard or to an adapter card.
Insertion Point
- A blinking vertical marker
which shows where you can type words or
numbers. Also called Text Cursor. See Cursor.
Jumper
- A small electrical connector that
alters some of the computer’s functions. Short
(makes a connection) or Non-Short (no
connection).
Kilobyte (KB)
- A unit used to measure
storage space (in a computer’s memory or on
a disk). One kilobyte equals 1024 bytes.
LED
- Light Emitting Diode. A diode that
illuminates when electricity passes through
it, like the indicator lights on the front panel
of the computer.
Local Bus
- A set of addresses, data, and
control signals that interface directly with
the host CPU.
Mainboard
- A printed circuit board into
which other circuit boards can be plugged.
Usually, it contains the CPU, connectors for
memory (SIMMs), secondary cache, SCSI host
adapter socket and expansion slots for add-
on boards. Also known as a motherboard.
Memory
- The area where your computer
stores data. Memory contents can be
permanent and unalterable (ROM) or
temporary (RAM).
MHz
- This stands for Megahertz, or cycles
per second.
NTSC
- National Television Standards
Committee. Its TV transmission standard for
North America is 525 horizontal lines
(interlaced), 30 frames per second.
Operating System
- A collection of programs
that allow a computer to control its
operations. The Operating System determines
how programs run on the computer and
supervises all input and output . Example:
MS-DOS.
Parallel
- Interface which transmits data in
groups of bits. Printers usually use Parallel
ports.
PC card
- Formerly PCMCIA card. A
miniature computer expansion card, similar
in length and width to credit cards. They
include modems, network adapters, sound
cards and memory (Type I and II) as well as
hard disk storage(Type III).
PCMCIA
- Personal Computer Memory Card
International Association. See PC card.
Peripheral
- A device (such as a printer or a
modem) connected to a computer that
depends on the computer for its operation.
Port
- A physical input/output socket on a
computer where you can connect a peripheral.
RAM
- Random Access Memory. The part of
memory that a computer can both read and
write to. The programs you use are
temporarily stored in RAM. All data stored
in RAM is erased when you turn off the power.
Read
- To copy data from one area to another.
For example, when you open a text file stored
on disk, the computer reads the data from the
disk and displays it on the screen.
Reset
- To reload a computer’s operating
system so you can retry a task or begin using
a different operating system. Resetting clears
RAM.
ROM
- Read Only Memory. A portion of
memory that can only be read and cannot be
used for temporary storage. ROM retains its
contents even when you turn off the power.
Used to store a system’s BIOS code.
Self Test
- The initial diagnostics procedures
a system performs to check its hardware.
SETUP
- This refers (usually) to the program
that is used to load the CMOS data base with
input from the user. SETUP sets the date, time,
and configuration of disk drives installed on
the system.
SO DIMM
- Small Outline Dual In-line
Memory Module. A small notebook RAM
module.
Software
- The programs that enable your
computer to perform the tasks and functions
you indicate. Application programs are
software.
Subdirectory
- A directory that originates
from another directory (the root directory or
some other directory). Subdirectories branch
out from other directories.
System Disk
- A disk that contains the
operating system. A Boot Disk.
S-Video
- Also Y-C Video. Video
transmission standard that separates color
information for better color fidelity than
NTSC video.
TFT
- Thin-Film Transistor. In notebook
computers, this tiny transistor controls the
brightness of a single red, green or blue dot
(pixel) in an active matrix display.
USB(Universal Serial BUS)
- The Universal
Serial BUS (USB) is a PC peripheral interface
standard developed by computer and
telecom industry leaders that eliminates the
steps of installing cards into dedicated
computer slots and reconfiguring a PC when
adding peripherals. USB allows peripherals
to be automatically detected and configured
as soon as they are physically attached,
without powering down or rebooting.
Write
- To store data on a disk.
Write-Protect
- To prevent a floppy disk from
being overwritten by placing a write-protect
tab over the notch on the side of the floppy
disk (5.25") or setting the write-protect switch
(3.5"). When a floppy disk is write-protected,
you cannot erase, change, or record over its
contents.
ZV(Zoomed Video)
- A PC card that allows
video data to stream directly from the
Cardbus Controller to the video controller,
resulting in almost 30 FPS, full screen video.
Glossary
Active Matrix
- Flat screen technology that
controls each pixel with an individual
transistor. See TFT.
Address
(Physical) - A specific location in
memory where a unit record, or sector, of
data is stored.
Application Program
- Computer program
that performs a useful task. Word processors,
spreadsheets, and desktop publishing
programs are application programs.
AUTOEXEC.BAT
File - An MS-DOS batch file
containing commands that execute
automatically when you turn on your
computer.
Batch File
- A file containing several
commands that execute in sequence as a
group, or batch. MS-DOS batch files must have
a filename extension of .BAT.
BIOS
- Basic Input/Output System. Operating
instructions that let hardware perform
simple data transfer functions.
Boot
- Short for Bootstrap. Transfer of a disk
operating system program from storage on
floppy disk or hard disk drive to computer’s
working memory. Now refers generally to
the system initialization process.
Boot Disk
- A disk with an operating system
installed which loads itself into RAM on
power up.
CardBus
- Next generation 32-bit high
performance PCMCIA cards.
Character
- Anything that can print in a single
space on the page or the screen. Includes
numbers, letters, punctuation marks, and
graphic symbols.
CMOS
- Complimentary Metal-Oxide
Semiconductor. A chip that stores BIOS data
from SETUP program. Information is
sustained by a small internal battery.
Command Processor
- The part of an
operating system that processes commands
entered by you. The command processor in
MS-DOS is contained in the
COMMAND.COM file.
CPU
- Central Processing Unit. The piece of
hardware which interprets instructions,
performs the tasks you indicate, keeps track
of stored data, and controls all input and
output operations.
Crash
- A malfunction in the computer
hardware or software, usually causing loss
of data.
Cursor
- The arrow, vertical I-beam or other
screen object that shows where you may click
to select something on-screen. See Insertion
point.
Diagnostics
- Tests and procedures the
computer performs to check its internal
circuitry and set up its configuration.