Institute of Electrical and Electronics
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Engineers (IEEE) | A nonprofit organization
that develops standards for the computer and elec-
tronics industries.
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instruction set | The set of instructions, on the
CPU chip, that the computer can perform directly
(such as ADD and MOVE).
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Integrated Device Electronics or Integrated
Drive Electronics (IDE) | A hard drive whose
disk controller is integrated into the drive, elimi-
nating the need for a controller cable and thus
increasing speed, as well as reducing price.
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intelligent UPS | A UPS connected to a com-
puter by way of a serial cable so that software on
the computer can monitor and control the UPS.
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interlaced | A type of display in which the elec-
tronic beam of a monitor draws every other line
with each pass, which lessens the overall effect of a
lower refresh rate.
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internal bus | The bus inside the CPU that is used
for communication between the CPUs internal
components.
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internal cache | Memory cache that is faster than
external cache, and is contained inside 80486 and
Pentium chips (also referred to as primary, Level 1,
or LI cache).
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internal command | Commands that are embed-
ded in the Command, corn file.
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Internet Connection Firewall (ICF) |
Windows XP software designed to protect a PC
from unauthorized access from the Internet.
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Internet Connection Sharing (ICS) | A
Windows 98 and Windows XP utility that uses
NAT and acts as a proxy server to manage two or
more computers connected to the Internet.
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Internet service provider (ISP) | A commercial
group that provides Internet access for a
monthly fee. AOL, Earthlink, and CompuServe are
large ISPs.
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intranet | A private network that uses the TCP/IP
protocols.
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lo.sys | Along with Msdos.sys and Command.com,
one of the three files that are the core components
of the real mode portion of Windows 9x. It is the
first program file of the OS.
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IP (Internet Protocol) | The rules of communi-
cation in the TCP/IP stack that control segment-
ing data into packets, routing those packets across
networks, and then reassembling the packets once
they reach their destination.
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IP address | A 32-bit address consisting of four
numbers separated by periods, used to uniquely
identify a device on a network that uses TCP/IP
protocols. The first numbers identify the network;
the last numbers identify a host. An example of an
IP address is 206.96.103.114.
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IPX/SPX (Internetwork Packet Exchange/
Sequenced Packet Exchange) | A networking
protocol suite first used by Novell NetWare, and
which corresponds to the TCP/IP protocols.
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IRQ (interrupt request) line | A line on a bus
that is assigned to a device and is used to signal
the CPU for servicing. These lines are assigned a
reference number (for example, the normal IRQ
for a printer is IRQ 7).
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ISA (Industry Standard Architecture) slot | An
older slot on the motherboard used for slower I/O
devices, which can support an 8-bit or a 16-bit data
path. ISA slots are mostly replaced by PCI slots.
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ISDN (Integrated Services Digital Network) |
A digital telephone line that can carry data at
about five times the speed of regular telephone
lines. Two channels (telephone numbers) share a
single pair of wires.
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isochronous data transfer | A method used by
IEEE 1394 to transfer data continuously
without breaks.
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ITU (International Telecommunications
Union) | The international organization respon-
sible for developing international standards of
communication. Formerly CCITT.
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JPEG (Joint Photographic Experts Group) | A
graphical compression scheme that allows the user
to control the amount of data that is averaged and
sacrificed as file size is reduced. It is a common
Internet file format. Most JPEG files have a .jpg
extension.
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jumper | Two wires that stick up side by side
on the motherboard and are used to hold configu-
ration information. The jumper is considered
closed if a cover is over the wires, and open if the
cover is missing.
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kernel | The portion of an OS that is responsible
for interacting with the hardware.
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kernel mode | A Windows NT/2000/XP
"privileged" processing mode that has access
to hardware components.
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key | (1) In encryption, a secret number or code
used to encode and decode data. (2) In Windows,
a section name of the Windows registry.
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keyboard | A common input device through
which data and instructions may be typed into
computer memory.
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LAN (local area network) | A computer net-
work that covers only a small area, usually within
one building.
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lands | Microscopic flat areas on the surface of a
CD or DVD that separate pits. Lands and pits are
used to represent data on the disk.
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laptop computer | See notebook.
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large-capacity drive | A hard drive larger than
504MB.
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large mode | A mode of addressing information
on hard drives that range from 504 MB to 8.4 GB,
addressing information on a hard drive by translat-
ing cylinder, head, and sector information in order
to break the 528-MB hard drive barrier. Another
name for large mode. Also called ECHS mode.
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Last Known Good configuration | In
Windows NT/2000/XP, registry settings and
device drivers that were in effect when the com-
puter last booted successfully. These settings can be
restored during the startup process to recover from
errors during the last boot.
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LBA (logical block addressing) mode | A
mode of addressing information on hard drives
in which the BIOS and operating system view the
drive as one long linear list of LBAs or addressable
sectors, permitting drives to be larger than 8.4 GB
(LBA 0 is cylinder 0, head 0, and sector 1).
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Level 1 (LI) cache | See internal cache.
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Level 2 (L2) cache | See external cache.
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Level 3 (L3) cache | See external cache.
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Limited user | Windows XP user accounts known
as Users in Windows NT/2000, which have read-
write access only on their own folders, read-only
access to most system folders, and no access to
other users' data.
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line conditioner | A device that regulates, or con-
ditions, power, providing continuous voltage dur-
ing brownouts and spikes.
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line protocol | A protocol used to send data pack-
ets destined for a network over telephone lines.
PPP and SLIP are examples of line protocols.
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line speed | See bandwidth.
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line-interactive UPS | A variation of a standby
UPS that shortens switching time by always keep-
ing the inverter that converts AC to DC working,
so that there is no charge-up time for the inverter.
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LMHosts | A text file located in the Windows
folder that contains NetBIOS names and their
associated IP addresses. This file is used for name
resolution for a NetBEUI network.
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local bus | A bus that operates at a speed synchro-
nized with the CPU frequency. The system bus is
a local bus.
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local I/O bus | A local bus that provides I/O
devices with fast access to the CPU.
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local printer | A printer connected to a computer
by way of a port on the computer. Compare to
network printer.
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local profile | User profile that is stored on a local
computer and cannot be accessed from another
computer on the network.
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local user account | A user account that applies
only to a local computer and cannot be used to
access resources from other computers on the
network.
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logic bomb | Dormant code added to software
that is triggered by a predetermined time or event.
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logical drive | A portion or all of a hard drive par-
tition that is treated by the operating system as
though it were a physical drive. Each logical drive
is assigned a drive letter, such as drive C, and con-
tains a file system. Also called a volume.
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logical geometry | The number of heads, tracks,
and sectors that the BIOS on the hard drive con-
troller presents to the system BIOS and the OS.
The logical geometry does not consist of the same
values as the physical geometry, although calcula-
tions of drive capacity yield the same results.
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Logical Unit Number (LUN) | A number
assigned to a logical device (such as a tray in a CD
changer) that is part of a physical SCSI device,
which is assigned a SCSI ID.
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lost allocation units | See lost clusters.
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lost clusters | File fragments that, according to the
file allocation table, contain data that does not
belong to any file. The command CHKDSK/F can
free these fragments. Also called lost allocation units.
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low insertion force (LIF) socket | A socket that
requires the installer to manually apply an even
force over the microchip when inserting the chip
into the socket.
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low-level formatting | A process (usually per-
formed at the factory) that electronically creates
the hard drive tracks and sectors and tests for bad
spots on the disk surface.
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low-profile case | See compact case.
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Low Voltage Differential (LVD) | A type of dif-
ferential signaling that uses lower voltage than does
HVD, is less expensive, and can be compatible
with single-ended signaling on the same SCSI bus.
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LPX | A form factor in which expansion cards
are mounted on a riser card that plugs into a
motherboard. The expansion cards in LPX systems
are mounted parallel to the motherboard, rather
than perpendicular to it as in AT and ATX systems.
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MAC (Media Access Control) address | A
6-byte hexadecimal hardware address unique to
each NIC card and assigned by the manufacturer.
The address is often printed on the adapter. An
example is 00 00 OC 08 2F 35.Also called
a physical address, an adapter address, or a hard-
ware address.
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macro | A small sequence of commands, contained
within a document, that can be automatically exe-
cuted when the document is loaded, or executed
later by using a predetermined keystroke.
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macro virus | A virus that can hide in the macros
of a document file. Typically, viruses do not reside
in data or document files.
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main board | See motherboard.
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mandatory user profile | A roaming user profile
that applies to all users in a user group, and indi-
vidual users cannot change that profile.
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Master Boot Record (MBR) | The first sector
on a hard drive, which contains the partition table
and a program the BIOS uses to boot an OS from
the drive.
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master file table (MFT) | The database used by
the NTFS file system to track the contents of a
logical drive.
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material safety data sheet (MSDS) | A docu-
ment that explains how to properly handle sub-
stances such as chemical solvents; it includes infor-
mation such as physical data, toxicity, health effects,
first aid, storage, disposal, and spill procedures.
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megahertz (MHz) | One million Hz, or one mil-
lion cycles per second. See hertz (Hz).
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memory | Physical microchips that can hold data
and programming, located on the motherboard or
expansion cards.
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memory address | A number assigned to each
byte in memory. The CPU can use memory
addresses to track where information is stored in
RAM. Memory addresses are usually displayed as
hexadecimal numbers in segment/offset form.
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memory bus | See system bus.
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memory cache | A small amount of faster RAM
that stores recently retrieved data, in anticipation
of what the CPU will request next, thus speeding
up access. See also system bus.
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memory dump | The contents of memory saved
to a file at the time an event halted the system.
Support technicians can analyze the dump file to
help understand the source of the problem.
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memory extender | For DOS and Windows 9x,
a device driver named Himem.sys that manages
RAM, giving access to memory addresses above
1 MB.
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memory paging | In Windows, swapping blocks
of RAM memory to an area of the hard drive to
serve as virtual memory when RAM is low.
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memory-resident virus | A virus that can stay
lurking in memory even after its host program is
terminated.
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microATX | A recent version of the ATX
form factor. MicroATX addresses some new tech-
nologies that have been developed since the origi-
nal introduction of ATX.
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microprocessor | See central processing
unit (CPU).
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Microsoft Management Console (MMC) | A
utility to build customized consoles. These consoles
can be saved to a file with an .msc file extension.
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Mini-ATX | A smaller ATX board that can be
used with regular ATX cases and power supplies.
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minicartridge | A tape drive cartridge that is only
3X X 214 X % inches. It is small enough to allow
two drives to fit into a standard 5^-inch drive bay
of a PC case.
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minifile system | In Windows NT/2000/XP, a
simplified file system that is started so that Ntldr
(NT Loader) can read files from any file system
the OS supports.
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Mini-LPX | A smaller version of the LPX
motherboard.
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mixed mode | A Windows 2000 mode for domain
controllers used when there is at least one
Windows NT domain controller on the network.
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MMX (Multimedia Extensions) | Multimedia
instructions built into Intel processors to add func-
tionality such as better processing of multimedia,
SIMD support, and increased cache.
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modem | From MOdulate/DEModulate. A device
that modulates digital data from a computer to an
analog format that can be sent over telephone
lines, then demodulates it back into digital form.
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modem eliminator | See null modem cable.
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modem riser card | A small modem card that uses
an AMR or CNR slot. Part of the modem logic is
contained in a controller on the motherboard.
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modem speed | The speed at which a modem can
transmit data along a phone line, measured in bits
per second (bps).Also called line speed.
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modulation | Converting binary or digital
data into an analog signal that can be sent over
standard telephone lines.
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monitor | The most commonly used output device
for displaying text and graphics on a computer.
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motherboard | The main board in the computer,
also called the system board. The CPU, ROM
chips, SIMMs, DIMMs, RIMMs, and interface
cards are plugged into the motherboard.
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motherboard bus | See system bus.
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motherboard mouse | See PS/2-compatible
mouse.
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mouse | A pointing and input device that allows
the user to move a cursor around a screen and
select programs with the click of a button.
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MP3 | A method to compress audio files that uses
MPEG level 3. It can reduce sound files as low as
a 1:24 ratio without losing much sound quality.
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MPEG (Moving Pictures Experts Group) |
A processing-intensive standard for data compres-
sion for motion pictures that tracks movement
from one frame to the next and only stores the
data that has changed.
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Msdos.sys | In Windows 9x, a text file that con-
tains settings used by lo.sys during booting. In
DOS, the Msdos.sys file was a program file that
contained part of the DOS core.
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multicasting | A process in which a message is
sent by one host to multiple hosts, such as when a
video conference is broadcast to several hosts on
the Internet.
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multimeter | A device used to measure the various
components of an electrical circuit. The most
common measurements are voltage, current, and
resistance.
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multipartite virus | A combination of a boot sec-
tor virus and a file virus. It can hide in either type
of program.
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multiplier | The factor by which the bus speed
or frequency is multiplied to get the CPU
clock speed.
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multiscan monitor | A monitor that can work
within a range of frequencies and thus can work
with different standards and video cards. It offers a
variety of refresh rates.
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multisession | A feature that allows data to be read
from or written to a CD during more than one
session. This is important if the disk was only par-
tially filled during the first write.
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Multistation Access Unit (MSAU or MAU) | A
centralized hub used in token ring networks to
connect stations. Also called CAU.
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multitasking | Doing more than one thing at a
time. A true multitasking system requires two or
more CPUs, each processing a different thread at
the same time. Compare to cooperative multitask-
ing and preemptive multitasking.
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multithreading | The ability to pass more than
one function (thread) to the OS kernel at the
same time, such as when one thread is performing
a print job while another reads a file.
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name resolution | The process of associating a
NetBIOS name or host name to an IP address.
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narrow SCSI | One of the two main SCSI specifi-
cations. Narrow SCSI has an 8-bit data bus. The
word "narrow" is not usually included in the
names of narrow SCSI devices.
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NAT (Network Address Translation) | A process
that converts private IP addresses on a LAN to the
proxy server s IP address before a data packet is sent
over the Internet.
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native mode | A Windows 2000 mode used
by domain controllers when there are no
Windows NT domain controllers present on the
network.
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NetBEUI (NetBIOS Extended User
Interface) | A fast, proprietary Microsoft
networking protocol used only by Windows-based
systems, and limited to LANs because it does not
support routing.
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NetBIOS (Network Basic Input/Output
System) | An API protocol used by some appli-
cations to communicate over a NetBEUI net-
work. NetBIOS has largely been replaced by
Windows Sockets over a TCP/IP network.
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network adapter | See network interface card.
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network drive map | Mounting a drive to a
computer, such as drive E, that is actually hard
drive space on another host computer on the
network.
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network interface card (NIC) | An expansion
card that plugs into a computers motherboard and
provides a port on the back of the card to connect
a PC to a network. Also called a network adapter.
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network operating system (NOS) | An operat-
ing system that resides on the controlling com-
puter in the network. The NOS controls what
software, data, and devices a user on the network
can access. Examples of an NOS are Novell
Netware and Windows 2000 Server.
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network printer | A printer that any user on the
network can access, through its own network card
and connection to the network, through a con-
nection to a standalone print server, or through a
connection to a computer as a local printer, which
is shared on the network.
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NLX | A low-end form factor that is similar to
LPX but provides greater support for current and
emerging processor technologies. NLX was
designed for flexibility and efficiency of space.
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NNTP (Network News Transfer Protocol) |
The protocol used by newsgroup server and client
software.
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node | Any computer, workstation, or device on a
network.
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noise | An extraneous, unwanted signal, often
over an analog phone line, that can cause commu-
nication interference or transmission errors.
Possible sources are fluorescent lighting, radios,
TVs, lightning, or bad wiring.
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noninterlaced | A type of display in which the
electronic beam of a monitor draws every line on
the screen with each pass.
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|
non-memory -resident virus | A virus that is ter-
minated when the host program is closed.
Compare to memory-resident virus.
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nonparity memory | Eight-bit memory without
error checking. A SIMM part number with a
32 in it (4 X 8 bits) is nonparity.
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nonvolatile | Refers to a kind of RAM that is sta-
ble and can hold data as long as electricity is pow-
ering the memory.
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normal mode | See CHS mode.
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North Bridge | That portion of the chip set hub
that connects faster I/O buses (for example, AGP
bus) to the system bus. Compare to South Bridge.
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notebook | A portable computer that is designed
for travel and mobility. Notebooks use the same
technology as desktop PCs, with modifications for
conserving voltage, taking up less space, and oper-
ating while on the move. Also called a laptop
computer.
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NTFS (NT file system) | The file system for the
Windows NT/2000/XP operating systems. NTFS
cannot be accessed by other operating systems
such as DOS. It provides increased reliability and
security in comparison to other methods of orga-
nizing and accessing files. There are several versions
of NTFS that might or might not be compatible.
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Ntldr (NT Loader) | In Windows NT/2000/XP,
the OS loader used on Intel systems.
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NTVDM (NT virtual DOS machine) | An
emulated environment in which a 16-bit DOS
application resides within Windows NT/2000/XP
with its own memory space or WOW (Win 16
on Win32).
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null modem cable | A cable that allows two data
terminal equipment (DTE) devices to communicate
in which the transmit and receive wires are cross-
connected and no modems are necessary.
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octet | Term for each of the four 8-bit numbers
that make up an IP address. For example, the IP
address 206.96.103.114 has four octets.
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ohm (Q) | The standard unit of measurement for
electrical resistance. Resistors are rated in ohms.
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on-board ports | Ports that are directly on the
motherboard, such as a built-in keyboard port or
on-board serial port.
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operating system (OS) | Software that controls a
computer. An OS controls how system resources
are used and provides a user interface, a way of
managing hardware and software, and ways to
work with files.
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operating system formatting | See high-level
formatting.
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PI connector | Power connection on an ATX
motherboard.
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P8 connector | One of two power connectors on
an AT motherboard.
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|
P9 connector | One of two power connectors on
an AT motherboard.
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packet | Segment of network data that also includes
header, destination address, and trailer information
that is sent as a unit. Also called data packet or
datagram.
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page fault | An OS interrupt that occurs when the
OS is forced to access the hard drive to satisfy the
demands for virtual memory.
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page file | See swap file.
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|
Pagefile.sys | The Windows NT/2000/XP
swap file.
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page-in | The process in which the memory man-
ager goes to the hard drive to return the data from
a swap file to RAM.
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|
page-out | The process in which, when RAM is
full, the memory manager takes a page and moves
it to the swap file.
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|
pages | 4K segments in which Windows NT/
2000/XP allocates memory
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parallel port | A female 25-pin port on a com-
puter that can transmit data in parallel, 8 bits at a
dme, and is usually used with a printer. The names
for parallel ports are LPT1 and LPT2.
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parity | An error-checking scheme in which a
ninth, or "parity," bit is added. The value of the
parity bit is set to either 0 or 1 to provide an even
number of ones for even parity and an odd num-
ber of ones for odd parity.
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|
parity error | An error that occurs when the
number of Is in the byte is not in agreement with
the expected number.
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|
parity memory | Nine-bit memory in which the
ninth bit is used for error checking. A SIMM part
number with a 36 in it (4 X 9 bits) is parity.
Older PCs almost always use parity chips.
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|
partition | A division of a hard drive that can be
used to hold logical drives.
|
|
partition table | A table at the beginning of the
hard drive that contains information about each
partition on the drive. The partition table is con-
tained in the Master Boot Record.
|
|
passive backplane | A type of backplane system in
which the backplane contains no circuitry at all.
Passive backplanes locate all circuitry on a mother-
card plugged into a backplane.
|
|
passive terminator | A type of terminator for
single-ended SCSI cables. Simple resistors are used
to provide termination of a signal. Passive termina-
tion is not reliable over long distances and should
only be used with narrow SCSI.
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|
patch | An update to software that corrects an
error, adds a feature, or addresses security issues.
Also called an update or service pack.
|
|
patch cable | A network cable that is used to con-
nect a PC to a hub.
|
|
path | (1) A drive and list of directories pointing to
a file such as C:\Windows\command. (2) The OS
command to provide a list of paths to the system
for finding program files to execute.
|
|
PC Card | A credit-card-sized adapter card
that can be slid into a slot in the side of many
notebook computers and is used for connecting to
modems, networks, and CD-ROM drives. Also
called PCMCIA Card.
|
|
PC Card slot | An expansion slot on a notebook
computer, into which a PC Card is inserted. Also
called a PCMCIA Card slot.
|
|
PCI (Peripheral Component Interconnect)
bus | A bus common on Pentium computers
that runs at speeds of up to 33 MHz or 66 MHz,
with a 32-bit- wide or 64-bit-wide data path.
PCI-X, released in September 1999, enables PCI
to run at 133 MHz. For some chip sets, it serves
as the middle layer between the memory bus and
expansion buses.
|
|
PCMCIA (Personal Computer Memory Card
International Association) Card | See
PC Card.
|
|
PCMCIA Card slot | See PC Card slot.
|
|
PDA (Personal Digital Assistant) | A small,
handheld computer that has its own operating
system and applications.
|
|
peer-to-peer network | A network of computers
that are all equals, or peers. Each computer has the
same amount of authority, and each can act as a
server to the other computers.
|
|
peripheral devices | Devices that communicate
with the CPU but are not located directly on the
motherboard, such as the monitor, floppy drive,
printer, and mouse.
|
|
physical address | See MAC address.
|
|
physical geometry | The actual layout of heads,
tracks, and sectors on a hard drive. Refer also to
logical geometry.
|
|
PIF (program information file) | A file used by
Windows to describe the environment for a DOS
program to use.
|
|
pin grid array (PGA) | A feature of a CPU
socket whereby the pins are aligned in uniform
rows around the socket.
|
|
Ping (Packet Internet Groper) | A Windows
and Unix command used to troubleshoot network
connections. It verifies that the host can commu-
nicate with another host on the network.
|
|
pinout | A description of how each pin on a bus,
connection, plug, slot, or socket is used.
|
|
pipelined burst SRAM | A less expensive SRAM
that uses more clock cycles per transfer than non-
pipelined burst but does not significantly slow
down the process.
|
|
pits | Recessed areas on the surface of a CD or
DVD, separating lands, or flat areas. Lands and pits
are used to represent data on a disc.
|
|
pixel | A small spot on a fine horizontal scan line.
Pixels are illuminated to create an image on the
monitor.
|
|
Plug and Play (PnP) | A standard designed to
make the installation of new hardware devices eas-
ier by automatically configuring devices to elimi-
nate system resource conflicts (such as IRQ or
I/O address conflicts). PnP is supported by
Windows 9x,Windows 2000, and Windows XP.
|
|
polling | A process by which the CPU checks the
status of connected devices to determine if they
are ready to send or receive data.
|
|
polymorphic virus | A type of virus that changes
its distinguishing characteristics as it replicates itself.
Mutating in this way makes it more difficult for AV
software to recognize the presence of the virus.
|
|
POP (Post Office Protocol) | The protocol that
an e-mail server and client use when the client
requests the downloading of e-mail messages. The
most recent version is POP3. POP is slowly being
replaced by IMAP.
|
|
port | (1) As applied to services running on a com-
puter, a number assigned to a process on a com-
puter so that the process can be found by TCP/IP.
Also called a port address or port number. (2)
Another name for an I/O address. See also I/O
address. (3) A physical connector, usually at the
back of a computer, that allows a cable from a
peripheral device, such as a printer, mouse, or
modem, to be attached.
|
|
port address | See I/O address.
|
|
port number | See port.
|
|
port replicator | A device designed to connect to
a notebook computer in order to make it easy to
connect the notebook to peripheral devices.
|
|
port settings | The configuration parameters of
communications devices such as COM1, COM2,
or COM3, including IRQ settings.
|
|
port speed | The communication speed between a
DTE (computer) and a DCE (modem). As a gen-
eral rule, the port speed should be at least four
times as fast as the modem speed.
|
|
POST (power-on self test) | A self-diagnostic
program used to perform a simple test of the
CPU, RAM, and various I/O devices. The POST
is performed by startup BIOS when the computer
is first turned on, and is stored in ROM-BIOS.
|
|
power conditioner | A line conditioner that regu-
lates, or conditions, power, providing continuous
voltage during brownouts.
|
|
power-on password | A password that a computer
uses to control access during the boot process.
|
|
power scheme | A feature of Windows XP sup-
port for notebooks that allows the user to create
groups of power settings for specific sets of condi-
tions.
|
|
power supply | A box inside the computer case
that supplies power to the motherboard and other
installed devices. Power supplies provide 3.3, 5, and
12 volts DC.
|
|
PPP (Point-to-Point Protocol) | A protocol that
governs the methods for communicating via
modems and dial-up telephone lines. The
Windows Dial-up Networking utility uses PPP.
|
|
PPPoE (Point-to-Point Protocol over
Ethernet) | The protocol that describes how a
PC is to interact with a broadband converter box,
such as cable modem, when the two are con-
nected by an Ethernet cable, connected to a NIC
in a PC.
|
|
preemptive multitasking | A type of pseudo-
multitasking whereby the CPU allows an applica-
tion a specified period of time and then preempts
the processing to give time to another application.
|
|
primary cache | See internal cache.
|
|
primary domain controller (PDC) | In a
Windows NT network, the computer that con-
trols the directory database of user accounts, group
accounts, and computer accounts on a domain.
Also see backup domain controller.
|
|
primary partition | A hard disk partition that can
contain only one logical drive.
|
|
primary storage | Temporary storage on the
motherboard used by the CPU to process data
and instructions. Memory is considered primary
storage.
|
|
printer | A peripheral output device that produces
printed output to paper. Different types include
dot matrix, ink-jet, and laser printers.
|
|
printer maintenance kit | A kit purchased from a
printer manufacturer that contains the parts, tools,
and instructions needed to perform routine
printer maintenance.
|
|
private IP address | An IP address that is used on
a private TCP/IP network that is isolated from the
Internet.
|
|
process | An executing instance of a program
together with the program resources. There can be
more than one process running for a program at
the same time. One process for a program happens
each time the program is loaded into memory or
executed.
|
|
processor | See central processing unit (CPU).
|
|
processor speed | The speed, or frequency, at
which the CPU operates. Usually expressed
in GHz.
|
|
product activation | The process that Microsoft
uses to prevent software piracy. For example, once
Windows XP is activated for a particular com-
puter, it cannot be installed on another computer.
|
|
program | A set of step-by-step instructions to a
computer. Some are burned directly into chips,
while others are stored as program files.
Programs are written in languages such as
BASIC and C++.
|
|
program file | A file that contains instructions
designed to be executed by the CPU.
|
|
protected mode | An operating mode that sup-
ports preemptive multitasking, the OS manages
memory and other hardware devices, and programs
can use a 32-bit data path. Also called 32-bit mode.
|
|
protocol | A set of rules and standards that two
entities use for communication.
|
|
Protocol.ini | A Windows initialization file that
contains network configuration information.
|
|
proxy server | A server that acts as an intermedi-
ary between another computer and the Internet.
The proxy server substitutes its own IP address for
the IP address of the computer on the network
making a request, so that all traffic over the
Internet appears to be coming from only the IP
address of the proxy server.
|
|
PS/2-compatible mouse | A mouse that plugs
into a round mouse PS/2 port on the mother-
board. Sometimes called a motherboard mouse.
|
|
public IP address | An IP address available to the
Internet.
|
|
QIC (Quarter-Inch Committee or quarter-inch
cartridge) | A name of a standardized method
used to write data to tape. These backup files have
a .qic extension.
|
|
RAID (redundant array of inexpensive disks or
redundant array of independent disks) |
Several methods of configuring multiple hard
drives to store data to increase logical volume size
and improve performance, and to ensure that if
one hard drive fails, the data is still available from
another hard drive.
|
|
RAM (random access memory) | Memory
modules on the motherboard containing
microchips used to temporarily hold data and pro-
grams while the CPU processes both. Information
in RAM is lost when the PC is turned off.
|
|
RAM drive | An area of memory that is treated as
though it were a hard drive, but works much faster
than a hard drive. The Windows 9x startup disk
uses a RAM drive. Compare to virtual memory.
|
|
RARP (Reverse Address Resolution
Protocol) | A protocol used to translate the
unique hardware NIC addresses (MAC addresses)
into IP addresses (the reverse ofARP).
|
|
RDRAM | See Direct Rambus DRAM.
|
|
read/write head | A sealed, magnetic coil device
that moves across the surface of a disk either read-
ing data from or writing data to the disk.
|
|
real mode | A single-tasking operating mode
whereby a program has 1024K of memory
addresses, has direct access to RAM, and uses a
16-bit data path. Using a memory extender
(Himem.sys) a program in real mode can access
memory above 1024K. Also called 16-bit mode.
|
|
Recovery Console | A Windows 2000/XP com-
mand interface utility and OS that can be used to
solve problems when Windows cannot load from
the hard drive.
|
|
rectifier | An electrical device that converts AC to
DC. A PC power supply contains a rectifier.
|
|
refresh | The process of periodically rewriting data,
such as on dynamic RAM.
|
|
refresh rate | As applied to monitors, the number
of times in one second an electronic beam can fill
the screen with lines from top to bottom. Also
called vertical scan rate.
|
|
registry | A database that Windows uses to store
hardware and software configuration information,
user preferences, and setup information.
|
|
re-marked chips | Chips that have been used and
returned to the factory, marked again, and resold.
The surface of the chips may be dull or scratched.
|
|
Remote Assistance | A Windows XP feature that
allows a support technician at a remote location to
have full access to the Windows XP desktop.
|
|
repeater | A device that amplifies signals on a
network so they can be transmitted further down
the line.
|
|
rescue disk | A floppy disk that can be used to
start up a computer when the hard drive fails to
boot. Also called emergency startup disk (ESD) or
startup disk.
|
|
resistance | The degree to which a device opposes
or resists the flow of electricity. As the electrical
resistance increases, the current decreases. See ohm
and resistor.
|
|
resistor | An electronic device that resists or
opposes the flow of electricity. A resistor can be
used to reduce the amount of electricity being
supplied to an electronic component.
|
|
resolution | The number of pixels on a monitor
screen that are addressable by software (example:
1024 X 768 pixels).
|
|
restore point | A snapshot of the Windows Me/XP
system state, usually made before installation of
new hardware or applications.
|
|
REt (Resolution Enhancement technology) |
The term used by Hewlett-Packard to describe
the way a laser printer varies the size of the dots
used to create an image. This technology partly
accounts for the sharp, clear image created by a
laser printer.
|
|
RIMM | A type of memory module used on
newer motherboards, produced by Rambus, Inc.
|
|
ring topology | A network topology in which the
nodes in a network form a ring. Each node
is connected only to two other nodes, and a cen-
tralized hub is not required.
|
|
RISC (Reduced Instruction Set Computing)
chips | Chips that incorporate only the most
frequently used instructions, so that the computer
operates faster (for example, the PowerPC uses
RISC chips).
|
|
riser card | A card that plugs into a motherboard
and allows for expansion cards to be mounted par-
allel to the motherboard. Expansion cards arc
plugged into slots on the riser card.
|
|
RJ-11 | A phone line connection found on
modems, telephones, and house phone outlets.
|
|
RJ-45 connector | A connector used with
twisted-pair cable that connects the cable to
the NIC.
|
|
roaming user profile | A user profile for a roam-
ing user. Roaming user profiles are stored on a
server so that the user can access the profile from
anywhere on the network.
|
|
ROM (read-only memory) | Chips that contain
programming code and cannot be erased.
|
|
ROM BIOS | See BIOS.
|
|
root directory | The main directory created when
a hard drive or disk is first formatted. In Linux, its
indicated by a forward slash. In DOS and
Windows, it's indicated by a backward slash.
|
|
routable protocol | A protocol that can be routed
to interconnected networks on the basis of a net-
work address. TCP/IP is a routable protocol, but
NetBEUI is not.
|
|
router | A device that connects networks and
makes decisions as to the best routes to use when
forwarding packets.
|
|
sampling rate | The rate of samples taken of an
analog signal over a period of time, usually
expressed as samples per second, or hertz.
|
|
SBAC (SCSI bus adapter chip) | The SCSI chip
within a device housing that controls data transfer
over the SCSI bus.
|
|
SCAM (SCSI Configuration AutoMatically) |
A method of configuring SCSI device settings that
follows the Plug and Play standard. SCAM makes
installation of SCSI devices much easier, provided
that the devices are SCAM-compliant.
|
|
scanning mirror | A component of a laser printer
consisting of an octagonal mirror that can be
directed in a sweeping motion to cover the entire
length of a laser printer drum.
|
|
SCSI (Small Computer System Interface) |
A fast interface between a host adapter and the
CPU that can daisy chain as many as 7 or
15 devices on a single bus.
|
|
SCSI ID | A number from 0 to 15 assigned to
each SCSI device attached to the daisy chain.
|
|
SDRAM II | See Double Data Rate SDRAM
(DDR SDRAM).
|
|
secondary storage | Storage that is remote to the
CPU and permanently holds data, even when the
PC is turned off, such as a hard drive.
|
|
sector | On a disk surface one segment of a track,
which almost always contains 512 bytes of data.
|
|
security accounts manager (SAM) | A portion
of the Windows NT/2000/XP registry that man-
ages the account database that contains accounts,
policies, and other pertinent information about
local accounts.
|
|
sequential access | A method of data access used
by tape drives, whereby data is written or read
sequentially from the beginning to the end of the
tape or until the desired data is found.
|
|
serial mouse | A mouse that uses a serial port and
has a female 9-pin DB-9 connector.
|
|
serial port | A male 9-pin or 25-pin port on a
computer system used by slower I/O devices such
as a mouse or modem. Data travels serially, one
bit at a time, through the port. Serial ports are
sometimes configured as COM1, COM2,
COM3, or COM4.
|
|
service pack | See patch.
|
|
session | An established communication link
between two software programs. On the Internet,
a session is created by TCP.
|
|
SFC (System File Checker) | A Windows tool
that checks to make sure Windows is using the
correct versions of system files.
|
|
SGRAM (synchronous graphics RAM) |
Memory designed especially for video card pro-
cessing that can synchronize itself with the CPU
bus clock.
|
|
shadow RAM or shadowing ROM | ROM pro-
gramming code copied into RAM to speed up
the system operation, because of the faster access
speed of RAM.
|
|
shell | The portion of an OS that relates to the user
and to applications.
|
|
shielded twisted-pair (STP) cable | A cable that
is made of one or more twisted pairs of wires and
is surrounded by a metal shield.
|
|
shortcut | An icon on the desktop that points to a
program that can be executed or to a file or folder.
|
|
signal-regenerating repeater | A repeater that is
able to distinguish between noise and signal. It
reads the signal and retransmits it without the
accompanying noise.
|
|
Sigverif.exe | A Windows 2000/XP utility that
allows you to search for digital signatures.
|
|
SIMD (single instruction, multiple data) | A
process that allows the CPU to execute a single
instruction simultaneously on multiple pieces of
data, rather than by repetitive looping.
|
|
SIMM (single inline memory module) | A
miniature circuit board used in older computers to
hold RAM. SIMMs hold 8,16, 32, or 64 MB on a
single module.
|
|
simple volume | A type of dynamic volume used
on a single hard drive that corresponds to a pri-
mary partition on a basic disk.
|
|
single-ended (SE) cable | A type of SCSI cable
in which two wires are used to carry a signal, one
of which carries the signal itself; the other is a
ground for the signal.
|
|
single-voltage CPU | A CPU that requires one
voltage for both internal and I/O operations.
|
|
slack | Wasted space on a hard drive caused by not
using all available space at the end of clusters.
|
|
sleep mode | A mode used in many "Green" sys-
tems that allows them to be configured through
CMOS to suspend the monitor or even the drive,
if the keyboard and/or CPU have been inactive
for a set number of minutes. See also Green
Standards.
|
|
slimline case | See compact case.
|
|
SLIP (Serial Line Internet Protocol) | A line
protocol used by regular telephone lines that has
largely been replaced by PPP.
|
|
Smart Multistation Access Unit (SMAU) |
See MAU.
|
|
SMARTDrive | A hard drive cache program that
came with Windows 3.x and DOS and can be
executed as a TSR from the Autoexec.bat file (for
example, Device=Smartdrv.sys 2048).
|
|
SMTP (Simple Mail Transfer Protocol) | The
protocol used by e-mail clients and servers to
send e-mail messages over the Internet. See POP
and IMAP.
|
|
snap-ins | Components added to a console using
the Microsoft Management Console.
|
|
SNMP (Simple Network Management
Protocol) | A protocol used to monitor and
manage network traffic on a workstation. SNMP
works with TCP/IP and IPX/SPX networks.
|
|
socket | See session.
|
|
SO-DIMM (small outline DIMM) | A type of
memory module used in notebook computers that
uses DIMM technology and can have either 72 pins
or 144 pins.
|
|
soft boot | To restart a PC without turning off
the power, for example, by pressing three keys at
the same time (Ctrl, Alt, and Del). Also called
warm boot.
|
|
soft power | See soft switch.
|
|
soft switch | A feature on an ATX system that
allows an OS to power down the system and
allows for activity such as a keystroke or
network activity to power up the system. Also
called soft power.
|
|
software | Computer programs, or instructions
to perform a specific task. Software may be
BIOS, OSs, or applications software such as a
word-processing or spreadsheet program.
|
|
software cache | Cache controlled by software
whereby the cache is stored in RAM.
|
|
SO-RIMM (small outline RIMM) | A 160-pin
memory module used in notebooks that uses
Rambus technology.
|
|
South Bridge | That portion of the chip set hub
that connects slower I/O buses (for example, an
ISA bus) to the system bus. Compare to
North Bridge.
|
|
spacers | See standoffs.
|
|
spanned volume | A type of dynamic volume
used on two or more hard drives that fills up the
space allotted on one physical disk before moving
to the next.
|
|
SPI (SCSI Parallel Interface) | The part of the
SCSI-3 standard that specifies how SCSI devices
are connected.
|
|
spikes | Temporary surges in voltage, which can
damage electrical components.
|
|
spooling | Placing print jobs in a print queue so
that an application can be released from the print-
ing process before printing is completed. Spooling
is an acronym for simultaneous peripheral opera-
tions online.
|
|
SSE (Streaming SIMD Extension) | A technol-
ogy used by the Intel Pentium III and later CPUs
and designed to improve performance of multime-
dia software.
|
|
staggered pin grid array (SPGA) | A feature of
a CPU socket whereby the pins are staggered over
the socket in order to squeeze more pins into a
small space.
|
|
standby time | The time before a "Green" system
will reduce 92 percent of its activity. See also Green
Standards.
|
|
standoffs | Round plastic or metal pegs that sepa-
rate the motherboard from the case, so that com-
ponents on the back of the motherboard do not
touch the case.
|
|
star bus topology | A LAN that uses a logical bus
design, but with all devices connected to a central
hub, making a physical star.
|
|
star ring topology | A topology that is physically
arranged in a star formation but is logically a ring
because of the way information travels on it.
Token ring is the primary example.
|
|
star topology | A LAN in which all the devices
are connected to a central hub.
|
|
start bits | Bits that are used to signal the approach
of data.
|
|
startup BIOS | Part of system BIOS that is
responsible for controlling the PC when it is first
turned on. Startup BIOS gives control over to the
OS once it is loaded.
|
|
startup disk | See rescue disk.
|
|
startup password | See power-on password.
|
|
stateless | Term for a device or process that man-
ages data or some activity without regard to all the
details of the data or activity.
|
|
static electricity | See ESD.
|
|
static IP address | An IP address permanently
assigned to a workstation.
|
|
static RAM (SRAM) | RAM chips that retain
information without the need for refreshing, as
long as the computer s power is on. They are more
expensive than traditional DRAM.
|
|
static VxD | A VxD that is loaded into memory at
startup and remains there for the entire OS session.
|
|
stealth virus | A virus that actively conceals itself
by temporarily removing itself from an infected
file that is about to be examined, and then hiding
a copy of itself elsewhere on the drive.
|
|
stop error | An error severe enough to cause the
operating system to stop all processes.
|
|
streaming audio | Downloading audio data
from the Internet in a continuous stream of data
without first downloading an entire audio file.
|
|
striped volume | A type of dynamic volume used
for two or more hard drives that writes to the
disks evenly rather than filling up allotted space on
one and then moving on to the next. Compare to
spanned volume.
|
|
subdirectory | A directory or folder contained in
another directory or folder. Also called a child
directory or folder.
|
|
subnet mask | A subnet mask is a group of four
numbers (dotted decimal numbers) that tell
TCP/IP if a remote computer is on the same or a
different network.
|
|
subsystems | The different modules into which
the Windows NT/2000/XP user mode is divided.
|
|
surge suppressor or surge protector | A device
or power strip designed to protect electronic
equipment from power surges and spikes.
|
|
suspend time | The time before a "Green" system
will reduce 99 percent of its activity. After this
time, the system needs a warm-up time so that
the CPU, monitor, and hard drive can reach
full activity.
|
|
swap file | A file on the hard drive that is used by
the OS for virtual memory. Also called a page file.
|
|
switch | A device used to segment a network. It
can decide which network segment is to receive a
packet, on the basis of the packet s destination
MAC address.
|
|
synchronization | The process by which files and
programs are transferred between PDAs and PCs.
|
|
synchronous DRAM (SDRAM) | A type of
memory stored on DIMMs that runs in sync with
the system clock, running at the same speed as the
motherboard.
|
|
synchronous SRAM | SRAM that is faster and
more expensive than asynchronous SRAM. It
requires a clock signal to validate its control sig-
nals, enabling the cache to run in step with
the CPU.
|
|
SyncLink DRAM (SLDRAM) | A type of
DRJ\M developed by a consortium of 12 DRAM
manufacturers. It improved on regular SDRAM
but is now obsolete.
|
|
Sysedit | The Windows System Configuration
Editor, a text editor generally used to edit
system files.
|
|
system BIOS | BIOS located on the motherboard.
|
|
system board | See motherboard.
|
|
system bus | The bus between the CPU and
memory on the motherboard. The bus frequency
in documentation is called the system speed, such
as 200 MHz. Also called the memory bus, front-
side bus, local bus, or host bus.
|
|
system clock | A line on a bus that is dedicated to
timing the activities of components connected to
it. The system clock provides a continuous pulse
that other devices use to time themselves.
|
|
system disk | Windows terminology for a
bootable disk.
|
|
System.ini | A text configuration file used by
Windows 3.x and supported by Windows 9x for
backward-compatibility
|
|
system partition | The active partition of the hard
drive containing the boot record and the specific
files required to load Windows NT/2000/XP.
|
|
system resource | A channel, line, or address on
the motherboard that can be used by the CPU or
a device for communication. The four system
resources are IRQ, I/O address, DMA channel,
and memory address.
|
|
System Restore | A Windows Me/XP utility, sim-
ilar to the ScanReg tool in earlier versions of
Windows, that is used to restore the system to a
restore point. Unlike ScanReg, System Restore
cannot be executed from a command prompt.
|
|
system state data | In Windows 2000/XP, files
that are necessary for a successful load of the oper-
ating system.
|
|
System Tray | An area to the right of the taskbar
that holds the icons of small applets launched at
startup.
|
|
TAPI (Telephony Application Programming
Interface) | A standard developed by Intel and
Microsoft that can be used by 32-bit Windows 9x
communications programs for communicating
over phone lines.
|
|
TCP (Transmission Control Protocol) | Part of
the TCP/IP protocol suite. TCP guarantees deliv-
ery of data for application protocols and establishes
a session before it begins transmitting data.
|
|
TCP/IP (Transmission Control Protocol/
Internet Protocol) | The suite of protocols that
supports communication on the Internet. TCP is
responsible for error checking, and IP is responsi-
ble for routing.
|
|
telephony | A term describing the technology of
converting sound to signals that can travel over
telephone lines.
|
|
terminating resistor | The resistor added at the
end of a SCSI chain to dampen the voltage at the
end of the chain.
|
|
termination | A process necessary to prevent
an echo effect of power at the end of a SCSI chain,
resulting in interference with the data transmission.
|
|
ThickNet | See 10Base5 Ethernet.
|
|
ThinNet | See 10Base2 Ethernet.
|
|
thread | Each process that the CPU is aware of; a
single task that is part of a longer task or program.
|
|
time to live (TTL) | Number of routers a net-
work packet can pass through on its way to its des-
tination before it is dropped. Also called hop count.
|
|
token ring | An older LAN technology developed
by IBM that transmits data at 4 Mbps or 16 Mbps.
|
|
top-level domain | The highest level of domain
names, indicated by a suffix that tells something
about the host. For example, .corn is for commer-
cial use and .edu is for educational institutions.
|
|
tower case | The largest type of personal computer
case. Tower cases stand vertically and can be as
high as two feet tall. They have more drive bays
and are a good choice for computer users who
anticipate making significant upgrades.
|
|
trace | A wire on a circuit board that connects two
components or devices.
|
|
track | One of many concentric circles on the sur-
face of a hard drive or floppy disk.
|
|
training | See handshaking.
|
|
transceiver | The component on a NIC that is
responsible for signal conversion. Combines the
words transmitter and receiver.
|
|
transformer | A device that changes the ratio of
current to voltage. A computer power supply is
basically a transformer and a rectifier.
|
|
transistor | An electronic device that can regulate
electricity and act as a logical gate or switch for an
electrical signal.
|
|
translation | A technique used by system BIOS
and hard drive controller BIOS to break the
504-MB hard drive barrier, whereby a different set
of drive parameters are communicated to the OS
and other software than that used by the hard
drive controller BIOS.
|
|
Travan standards | A popular and improved group
of standards for tape drives based on the QIC
standards and developed by 3M.
|
|
Trojan horse | A type of infestation that hides or
disguises itself as a useful program, yet is designed
to cause damage at a later time.
|
|
TSR (terminate-and-stay -resident) | A program
that is loaded into memory and remains dormant
until called on, such as a screen saver or a mem-
ory-resident antivirus program.
|
|
UART (universal asynchronous receiver-
transmitter) chip | A chip that controls serial
ports. It sets protocol and converts parallel data bits
received from the system bus into serial bits.
|
|
UDP (User Datagram Protocol) | A connec-
tionless protocol that does not require a connec-
tion to send a packet and does not guarantee that
the packet arrives at its destination. UDP is faster
than TCP because TCP takes the time to make a
connection and guarantee delivery.
|
|
unattended installation | A Windows NT/
2000/XP installation that is done by storing the
answers to installation questions in a text file or
script that Windows NT/2000/XP calls an answer
file so that the answers do not have to be typed in
during the installation.
|
|
Universal Disk Format (UDF) file system | A
file system for optical media used by all DVD discs
and some CD-R and CD-RW discs.
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unshielded twisted-pair (UTP) cable | A cable
that is made of one or more twisted pairs of wires
and is not surrounded by a metal shield.
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upgrade install | The installation of an OS on a
hard drive that already has an OS installed in such
a way that settings kept by the old OS are carried
forward into the upgrade, including information
about hardware, software, and user preferences.
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upper memory | In DOS and Windows 9x, the
memory addresses from 640K up to 1024K, origi-
nally reserved for BIOS, device drivers, and TSRs.
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upper memory block (UMB) | In DOS and
Windows 9x, a group of consecutive memory
addresses in RAM from 640K to 1MB that can be
used by 16-bit device drivers andTSRs.
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UPS (uninterruptible power supply) | A device
designed to provide a backup power supply during
a power failure. Basically, a UPS is a battery
backup system with an ultrafast sensing device.
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URL (Uniform Resource Locator) | An address
for a resource on the Internet. A URL can contain
the protocol used by the resource, the name of the
computer and its network, and the path and name
of a file on the computer.
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USB host controller | Manages the USB bus. For
the 400 series Intel chip set, the USB host con-
troller is included in the PCI controller chip. The
USB uses only a single set of resources for all
devices on the bus.
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USB (universal serial bus) port | A type of port
designed to make installation and configuration of
I/O devices easy, providing room for as many as
127 devices daisy-chained together.
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user account | The information, stored in the
SAM database, that defines a Windows NT/
2000/XP user, including username, password,
memberships, and rights.
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user component | A Windows 9x component that
controls the mouse, keyboard, ports, and desktop.
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user mode | In Windows NT/2000/XP, a mode
that provides an interface between an applica-
tion and the OS, and only has access to hard-
ware resources through the code running in
kernel mode.
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user profile | A personal profile about a user that
enables the users desktop settings and other oper-
ating parameters to be retained from one session
to another.
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User State Migration Tool (USMT) | A
Windows XP utility that helps you migrate user
files and preferences from one computer to
another in order to help a user makes a smooth
transition from one computer to another.
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V.92 | The latest standard for data transmission over
phone lines that can attain a speed of 56 Kbps.
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value data | In Windows, the name and value of a
setting in the registry.
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VCACHE | A built-in Windows 9x 32-bit soft-
ware cache that doesn't take up conventional
memory space or upper memory space as
SMARTDrive did.
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VESA (Video Electronics Standards
Association) VL bus | An outdated local bus
used on 80486 computers for connecting 32-bit
adapters directly to the local processor bus.
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VFAT (virtual file allocation table) | A varia-
tion of the original DOS 16-bit FAT that allows
for long filenames and 32-bit disk access.
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video card | An interface card installed in the
computer to control visual output on a monitor.
Also called display adapter.
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virtual device driver (VxD orVDD) |
A Windows device driver that may or may not
have direct access to a device. It might depend on
a Windows component to communicate with the
device itself.
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virtual machine | One or more logical machines
created within one physical machine by Windows,
allowing applications to make serious errors
within one logical machine without disturbing
other programs and parts of the system.
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virtual memory | A method whereby the OS
uses the hard drive as though it were RAM.
Compare to RAM drive.
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virtual real mode | An operating mode that
works similarly to real mode provided by a 32-bit
OS for a 16-bit program to work.
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virus | A program that often has an incubation
period, is infectious, and is intended to cause dam-
age. A virus program might destroy data and pro-
grams or damage a disk drive s boot sector.
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virus signature | A set of distinguishing character-
istics of a virus used by antivirus software to iden-
tify the virus.
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VMM (Virtual Machine Manager) | A
Windows 9x program that controls virtual
machines and the resources they use including
memory. The VMM manages the page table used
to access memory.
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volatile | Refers to a kind of RAM that is tempo-
rary, cannot hold data very long, and must be fre-
quently refreshed.
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volt (V) | A measure of potential difference in an
electrical circuit. A computer ATX power supply
usually provides five separate voltages: + 12V,-12V,
+5V,-5V,and+3.3V.
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voltage | Electrical differential that causes current
to flow, measured in volts. See volt.
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voltmeter | A device for measuring electrical AC
or DC voltage.
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volume | See logical drive.
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VRAM (video RAM) | RAM on video cards
that holds the data that is being passed from the
computer to the monitor and can be accessed by
two devices simultaneously. Higher resolutions
often require more video memory.
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VxD | See virtual device driver.
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wait state | A clock tick in which nothing hap-
pens, used to ensure that the microprocessor isn't
getting ahead of slower components. A 0-wait state
is preferable to a 1-wait state. Too many wait states
can slow down a system.
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"WAN (wide area network) | A network or group
of networks that span a large geographical area.
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'warm boot | See soft boot.
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watt (W) | The unit used to measure power. A typ-
ical computer may use a power supply that pro-
vides 200W.
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wattage | Electrical power measured in watts.
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WDM (Win32 Driver Model) | The only
Windows 9x Plug and Play component that is
found in Windows 98 but not Windows 95. WDM
is the component responsible for managing device
drivers that work under a driver model new to
Windows 98.
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WFP (Windows File Protection) | A
Windows 2000/XP tool that protects system
files from modification.
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wide SCSI | One of the two main SCSI specifica-
tions. Wide SCSI has a 16-bit data bus.
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Wi-Fi | See IEEE 802. lib.
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wildcard | A * or ? character used in a command
line that represents a character or group of charac-
ters in a filename or extension.
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Winl6 on Win32 (WOW) | A group of programs
provided by Windows NT/2000/XP to create a
virtual DOS environment that emulates a 16-bit
Windows environment, protecting the rest of the
OS from 16-bit applications.
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Win386.swp | The name of the Windows 9x swap
file. Its default location is C:\Windows.
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Win.ini | The Windows initialization file that con-
tains program configuration information needed
for running the Windows operating environment.
Its functions were replaced by the registry begin-
ning with Windows 9x, which still supports it for
backward compatibility with Windows 3.x.
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WINS (Windows Internet Naming Service) |
A Microsoft resolution service with a distributed
database that tracks relationships between NetBIOS
names and IP addresses. Compare to DNS.
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WinSock (Windows Sockets) | A part of the
TCP/IP utility software that manages API calls
from applications to other computers on a
TCP/IP network.
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wireless LAN (WLAN) | A type of LAN that does
not use wires or cables to create connections, but
instead transmits data over radio or infrared waves.
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workgroup | In Windows, a logical group of
computers and users in which administration,
resources, and security are distributed throughout
the network, without centralized management or
security.
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worm | An infestation designed to copy itself
repeatedly to memory, on drive space or on a net-
work, until little memory or disk space remains.
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WRAM (window RAM) | Dual-ported video
RAM that is faster and less expensive than
VRAM. It has its own internal bus on the chip,
with a data path that is 256 bits wide.
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zero insertion force (ZIF) socket | A socket
that uses a small lever to apply even force when
you install the microchip into the socket.
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zone bit recording | A method of storing data on
a hard drive whereby the drive can have more sec-
tors per track near the outside of the platter.
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