Glossary

10/100/1000 Ethernet Ethernet cards, hubs, and switches that support 10Mbps (10BaseT Ethernet), 100Mbps (Fast Ethernet) and 1000Mbps (Gigabit Ethernet) standards.

10BaseT Ethernet A form of 10Mbps Ethernet that uses Category 3 or Category 5 unshielded twisted-pair (UTP) cables connected to a hub or switch.

802.11a A wireless Ethernet standard which uses 5—6 GHz radio signals and provides performance at rates from 6 Mbps up to 54 Mbps. It is not compatible with other 802.11-based wireless networks unless dual-band access points are used. It is also known as Wi-Fi 5 GHz band.

802.11b A wireless Ethernet standard that uses 2.4 GHz radio signaling for performance from 2 Mbps to 11 Mbps. It is compatible with 802.11g-based wireless networks, but not with 802.11a-based networks unless dual-band access points are used. It is also known as Wi-Fi 2.4 GHz band.

802.11g A wireless Ethernet standard that uses 2.4 GHz radio signaling for performance up to 54 Mbps. It is compatible with 802.11b-based wireless networks, but not with 802.11a-based networks unless dual-band access points are used.

802.11n A wireless Ethernet standard that uses 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz radio signaling for performance up to 600 Mbps.

AC Alternating Current. It is lethal at household voltage levels and must be converted to DC for use in computers.

ACPI Advanced Configuration and Power Interface. It controls how peripherals, BIOS, and computers manage power and is supported by Windows 98/Me/2000/XP/Vista and replaces APM.

active-matrix LCD screen using a transistor for every pixel. This type of screen provides a bright, wide viewing angle.

ADSL Asymmetric Digital Subscriber Line. A form of DSL that enables faster downloads than uploads. Can be provided over high-quality existing phone lines and is well-suited for residential and small-business use.

advanced boot options menu Menu that can be accessed by pressing F8 as the operating system first boots. Includes such options as Safe Mode and Last Known Good Configuration.

AGP AGP (Accelerated Graphics Port), a 32-bit I/O bus used for video, provides for a direct connection between the video card and memory.

APM Advanced Power Management. It is supported by most recent BIOS and Windows 3.1/9x/Me/2000/XP. Most recent systems use ACPI power management instead.

biometrics Biometrics fall into the category of “something a person is.” Examples of bodily characteristics that are measured include fingerprints, retinal patterns, iris patterns, even bone structure.

BIOS Basic Input Output System. It controls and tests basic computer hardware at the beginning of the boot procedure.

block mode ATA/IDE disk access method that reads multiple sectors before an IRQ is issued.

bluetooth A short-range wireless networking standard that supports non-PC devices such as mobile phones and PDAs as well as PCs. Bluetooth uses the 2.4 GHz frequency with a range up to about 30 feet. Data transmission runs at 1Mbps or 2Mbps, depending upon the version of the technology supported by the devices.

CD-ROM Compact disc-read-only memory. Standard optical drive. Most can read CD-R media, but they require MultiRead capability and a UDF reader program to read CD-RW media.

centronics A double-sided edge connector originally made popular by the early Centronics parallel printers. Currently used for parallel ports in printers (36-pin version) and for older narrow SCSI external devices (50-pin version).

client Computer that uses shared resources on network.

client/server Network using dedicated servers such as Novell NetWare or Windows Server 2003.

CMOS Complimentary Metal-Oxide Semiconductor. Refers to low-power chip design; it’s also a common term for Real-Time-Clock/non-Volatile RAM chip (RTC/NVRAM).

CMYK Cyan magenta yellow black. Refers to a four-color model for graphics and printing; these are the ink colors used by most inkjet printers; compare to RGB (Red, Green, Blue), a three-color model used for on-screen graphics.

control panel A Windows feature that sets Windows hardware options. It can be accessed from the Start or Start, Settings menu in most versions of Windows.

CPU The CPU (central processing unit) or processor is an electronic circuit that can process data and execute computer programs.

CRT Cathode Ray Tube. A monitor’s picture tube, a large vacuum tube that displays information.

daisy-chaining Connecting multiple devices through a single port; used by EPP and ECP parallel-port modes, SCSI, and USB ports.

DC Direct Current. Low-voltage is used by the motherboard; high-voltage is used in some printers. DC must be converted from AC.

DDR SDRAM Double Data-Rate Synchronous Dynamic Random Access Memory. Double Data-Rate SDRAM. A faster form of SDRAM used by many high-performance video cards and motherboards.

DDR2 SDRAM Double-Double Data-Rate SDRAM (DDR2 SDRAM) is the successor to DDR SDRAM. DDR2 SDRAM runs its external data bus at twice the speed of DDR SDRAM, enabling faster performance.

Degaussing To demagnetize a CRT display. Degaussing removes color fringing and distortions onscreen. Some monitors automatically degauss the CRT when the monitor is turned on, and others offer a degaussing button or menu option to degauss on demand.

Device ID Method of indicating different devices attached to a SCSI host adapter; each device must use a unique device ID#, which is set on each device.

DHCP Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol. Provides IP addresses as required; allows a limited number of IP addresses to service many devices that are not connected at the same time.

DIMM Dual Inline Memory Module. These are available in 168-pin, 184-pin, and 240-pin versions. Dual refers to each side of the module having a different pinout.

DMA DMA or direct memory access is the process of data bypassing the CPU and accessing RAM directly, designed as channels; for example, a floppy drive would use DMA channel 2

DNS Domain name service or domain name server. Translates domain names into IP addresses.

docking station Allows notebook computers to use devices not built-in, such as standard PCI or ISA cards, external CD-ROM drives, and others; requires a proprietary, dedicated external bus connector.

domain name Unique alphanumeric identifier for websites.

DRAM Dynamic Random Access Memory. Dynamic RAM. The slowest type of RAM, which requires frequent electrical refreshes to keep contents valid.

DSL Digital Subscriber Line. A type of broadband Internet service that uses telephone lines to carry Internet traffic at speeds as high as 768Kbps or more while allowing you to use your phone for normal functions at the same time. Two major types of DSL are ADSL and SDSL. See those entries for details.

DUN Dial-Up Networking. Using an analog (phone line) modem to connect to other computers.

DVD-ROM Digital Versatile Disc-read only memory.

DVI Digital Visual Interface. Replaced DFP as the standard for support of LCD displays on desktop computers. DVI-D is for digital displays only; DVI-I supports digital and analog displays. Sometimes this is also referred to as Digital Video Interface.

ECC Error Correction Code. Advanced memory that can correct errors and requires special chipsets. It is used primarily in servers.

EDO Extended Data Out. A faster version of DRAM used on some older Pentium systems and video cards.

EFS Encrypting File System. The encryption subset of NTFS.

Electrophotographic process (EP) The process by which a laser printer creates a page.

electrostatic discharge The discharge of static electricity from one object to another that have different electrical potentials, protect against this with an anti-static strap

executable .exe file; a machine-readable program file that can be run in any area of memory or any type of program file, including .com and .bat files. .exe files are executable, .com files are command, and .bat are batch.

ExpressCard Hardware standard used by laptops that is quickly replacing PC Cards.

extended partition A nonbootable hard disk partition that can contain one or more logical drives.

faraday cage antistatic bags Antistatic equipment bags that have a metal-coated outside surface.

FAT32 32-bit file allocation table. FAT method optionally available with Windows Vista, XO, and 2000. It theoretically allows for drive sizes up to 2 TB (terabytes).

FDD Floppy disk drive. A somewhat deprecated disk drive that accepts low capacity, removable magnetic disks, usually 3.5-inch 1.44 MB. Known as removable media.

file system How files are organized on a drive; FAT32, and NTFS are popular file systems supported by various versions of Windows.

firewall A network device or software that blocks unauthorized access to a network from other users. Software firewalls, such as the Windows Firewall, Zone Alarm, and Norton Internet Security, are sometimes referred to as personal firewalls. Routers can also function as firewalls.

firewire Apple’s name for the IEEE 1394 standard.

firmware A middle ground between hardware and software, it is a software program that has been written for read-only memory (ROM).

flash memory Memory device that uses electricity to change its contents, but does not require power to maintain its contents; widely used for BIOS chips and for digital camera and digital music storage. Sometimes referred to as Flash ROM.

fragmentation Effect on data files within a hard drive. Files and programs that are fragmented are broken up and stored on different areas of the hard drive, causing the hard drive to work harder.

FTP File Transfer Protocol. File transfer to or from a special server site on the World Wide Web.

hardware Objects in a computer that are tangible; can be physically installed or removed.

HDD Hard disk drive. The internal or external, high-capacity, magnetic disk of a computer used for storage of the operating system, applications, and data. If internal, these are known as fixed media.

HDMI High-Definition Multimedia Interface. A compact audio/video interface for transmitting uncompressed digital data.

hotfix A patch or group of patches that address specific problems and can be applied to running systems

HTML Hypertext Markup Language. A standard for markup symbols that allow hyperlinking, fonts, special text attributes, graphics, and other enhancements to be added to text files for display with Web browsers such as Microsoft Internet Explorer and Netscape Navigator. The official source for HTML standards is the World Wide Web Consortium (W3C), but both Microsoft and Netscape have added proprietary features to the HTML dialects they understand.

HTTP Hypertext Transfer Protocol. The basis for hyperlinking and the Internet; it is interpreted by a Web browser program.

HTTPS Hypertext transfer protocol over secure sockets layer. HTTPS connections are often used for payment transactions on the World Wide Web and for sensitive transactions in corporate information systems.

hub Central connecting point for UTP-based forms of Ethernet. A hub broadcasts messages to all computers connected to it, and subdivides the bandwidth of the network among the computers connected to it. See switch. Also refers to a device used to enable multiple USB devices to connect to a single USB port.

I/O bus The input/output bus (also known as peripheral bus) is the data pathway connecting devices to the CPU.

I/O port address Set of wires used to transmit data between a device and the system.

IDE Integrated Drive Electronics. Popular 40- or 80-pin hard disk interface. See ATA or PATA.

IEEE 1284 Standard for parallel printer interfaces.

IEEE 1394 A high speed serial connection. IEEE 1394a runs at 400 Mbps and IEEE 1394b runs at 800 Mbps.

IMAP Internet Message Access Protocol. Second most common protocol used to download email.

impact printer Use force to make a printed image on paper. Examples include dot-matrix and daisy wheel.

inkjet printer Popular non-impact line printer type that uses ink filled cartridges for printing.

integrated circuits The IC is a miniaturized electronic circuit also known as a “chip.”

IrDA Infrared Data Association. Defines physical specifications and communications protocol standards for the short-range exchange of data over infrared, used in personal area networks (PANs).

IRQ IRQs, or interrupt requests, are a set of wires that run between the CPU and devices in the computer; they enable devices to “interrupt” the CPU so that they can transmit data.

LAN Local Area Network. A network in which the components are connected through network cables; if a router is used, the network is a WAN.

laser printer Type of nonimpact page printer that quickly produces quality text and images. Most use the electrophotographic printing process.

last known good configuration One of the Advanced Boot Options that allows the user to revert the computer to when a user was last able to log on without error.

LCD Liquid Crystal Display. Type of screen used on portable computers and on flat-panel desktop displays.

lithium-ion Abbreviated as Li-ion; advanced battery technology used by many notebook computers. These batteries provide long battery life without any memory effect, so that a partly discharged battery can be recharged completely.

log files Files that record what has happened during installations/upgrades, or during system use. Quite often, they are used to view any errors that occurred during installation of an operating system.

logical drive Drive letters that reside within a disk partition, especially within an extended partition; a single physical drive can contain two or more logical drives.

loopback plug A device that attaches to a parallel or serial port for diagnostic testing; routes output lines to input lines. This is a common option for third-party diagnostic programs such as CheckIt and AMIDiag.

LPT Line printer terminal (CompTIA). A parallel port.

malware Malicious software, or malware, is software that is designed to infiltrate a computer system and possibly damage it without the user’s knowledge or consent. Malware is a broad term used by computer guys to include viruses, worms, Trojan horses, spyware, rootkits, adware, and other types of unwanted software.

mast boot record The first sector (also known as the boot sector) of a partitioned hard drive that contains the partition table.

memory addresses Memory addresses are divisions of RAM equal to one byte; they specify where data is stored

modem Short for Modulate-Demodulate, this device converts digital computer information into analog form and transmits it via telephone system to another computer.

motherboard The logical foundation of the computer; all components connect to it.

MSDS Material Safety Data Sheet. Information sheet for consumable products listing safety information.

Near Letter Quality (NLQ) The best print quality available from 24-pin dot-matrix printers.

NetBEUI Networked Basic Input/Output System Extended User Interface. Microsoft’s version of NetBIOS: a simple, nonroutable network protocol used for Windows 3.1x/Windows 9x/Me networking.

NetBIOS Networked Basic Input/Output System.

NiCd Nickel-cadmium battery. Rechargeable battery technology once popular for portable computers.

NiMH Battery Nickel-metal hydride battery. A battery technology used today primarily on low-cost notebook computers; it can be used to replace NiCd batteries for longer battery life per charge.

NTFS New Technology File System. The native file system used by Windows Vista, XP, and 2000. All NTFS versions feature smaller allocation unit sizes and superior security when compared to FAT32.

NTLDR New technology loader. Loader program for Windows XP and 2000.

paging file The file stored on the hard drive used by the paging process, also known as a swap file. In Windows it is a file called pagefile.sys.

parallel port Port that allows for data-transfer method sending eight bits or multiples of eight in a single operation; quite often a DB25F port.

partition Section of a hard disk set aside for use by an operating system.

passive-matrix Now-obsolete early LCD display technology that uses one transistor for each row and each column of the display. Compared to active-matrix, passive-matrix displays have slow screen response, are dimmer, and have a narrow viewing angle.

PATA PATA (parallel ATA or ATA/IDE) is a type of connection for IDE hard drives and optical drives utilizing a 16-bit bus width.

PATA Parallel advanced technology attachment. Term for IDE or ATA/IDE to distinguish it from SATA.

PC Card Newer name for PCMCIA technology; credit card-sized devices inserted into a notebook computer for networking, modem, memory, and I/O expansion.

PCI PCI (Peripheral Component Interconnect) is a common 32-bit I/O bus providing a shared 33 MHz or 66 MHz data path between the CPU and peripheral controllers.

PCI Express A high-speed set of serial bus communication channels used by adapter cards, allowing up to 32 GB/s transmission rates.

Peer-to-Peer Network in which some or all of the client PCs also act as peer servers.

phantom directory A problem with floppy drives in which the drive fails to detect a disk change and keeps the FAT from the original disk in memory, resulting in data loss if the new disk is written to using the old disk’s FAT. Problems with line 34 (changeline support) are the cause of phantom directories.

piezo-electric An inkjet printing technique in which ink is forced through the printhead by the activation of a piezo-electric crystal.

PIO Programmed Input Output. A series of IDE interface transfer standards (modes 0–4) for data flow that runs through the CPU. It has been replaced by faster UDMA modes.

POP3 Post Office Protocol 3. Email protocol used by client computers to download email.

port replicator Provides a single connection for various types of I/O ports for portable computers; the port replicator is connected to the external devices and is then connected to the portable computer through an external proprietary expansion bus or through a USB port.

POST Power-On Self Test. BIOS test of basic hardware performed during cold boot.

power supply The device that supplies power to the computer. It converts AC to DC for system use.

primary partition Hard disk partition that will become the C: drive on a single-drive system. It can start the system when formatted with /S option and must be set as active with FDISK or other disk-partitioning program before it can be used to boot the system.

print spooler Program that stores and manages print jobs on disk and sends them to the printer; an integral part of Windows.

PS/2 Personal system/2 connector. Also known as a 6-pin mini-DIN.

RAM Random Access Memory. Volatile memory whose contents can be changed.

rambus Also known as RDRAM, Rambus Dynamic Random Access Memory. Rambus Dynamic RAM. A high-speed narrow-channel (8-bit) wide memory technology designed to work with 1GHz+ processors better than other memory technologies such as SDRAM or DDR SDRAM. RDRAM is supported by some Intel chipsets for the Pentium III and the first Intel Pentium 4 chipsets, but is two to four times more expensive than DDR SDRAM. Most tests do not show a clear-cut practical advantage to RDRAM over DDR SDRAM.

Rambus RDRAM Module A memory module using Direct Rambus memory (RDRAM) chips. Kingston Technology has copyrighted the name RIMM for its Rambus RDRAM modules, but Rambus RDRAM modules are often referred to as RIMMs, regardless of their actual manufacturer.

recovery console Windows XP/2000 text-based repair environment that allows users to fix operating system issues such as missing files, corrupted boot sectors, and so on.

refresh rate Rate at which electron guns in the monitor’s CRT repaint the picture onscreen; also called vertical refresh rate. It is measured in hertz (Hz).

registry Windows Vista/XP/2000 structure that stores information on programs and hardware installed on the system and user configuration settings. The Windows Vista/XP Registry is stored in the WindowsSystem32Config folder and WinNTSystem32Config folder for Windows 2000.

Remote Installation Services (RIS) Program run by Windows Server 2003/Windows 2000 Server that allows for remote installation of operating systems.

repeater Amplifies a network signal to enable it to run over longer cable than normal; hubs or switches also act as repeaters.

resolution The number of dots per inch (dpi) supported by a scanner or printer, or the number of pixels supported by a display.

RGB Stands for red, green, and blue. These are the three additive primary colors used in electronic systems and monitors.

router Device that routes data from one network to another. Often integrated with wireless access points and switches.

RS-232 Recommended standard 232. Standard for sending data on serial ports in PCs.

SATA Serial advanced technology attachment. See Serial ATA.

SCSI Small Computer System Interface. A flexible interface usable for hard and optical drives, scanners, and other devices. Narrow SCSI interfaces enables daisy-chaining of seven devices to a single port. Wide SCSI enables daisy-chaining of up to fifteen devices to a single port.

SDRAM Synchronous DRAM. Fast RAM that is synchronized to the motherboard’s clock speed; current types include 66MHz, 100MHz, and 133MHz.

SDSL Synchronous DSL. A type of DSL connection in which upload and download speeds are the same. SDSL connections are marketed to business rather than to home users and almost always require a newly installed circuit to the location and professional installation. See also DSL and ADSL.

Serial ATA Also known as SATA, this version of ATA uses thin data and power cables to transmit data serially at rates of 150MBps or 300MBps. SATA uses the same commands as ATA. Most recent motherboards have built-in SATA host adapters, but you can also add an SATA or ATA/SATA host adapter card to existing systems.

serial port A serial communication physical interface through which information transfers in or out one bit at a time. The RS-232 standard is commonly used to transmit data through DB-9 ports.

server Computer that shares drives and other resources over a network. Peer servers can also be used as workstations; dedicated servers provide services to other computers such as file, print, email, and so on.

setup manager utility (Setupmgr.exe) A Windows XP tool that allows you to create answer files for unattended installations.

SID Security Identifier. A unique name assigned to an object such as a user or computer.

SIMM Single Inline Memory Module. Has a single row of 30 or 72 edge connectors on the bottom of the module. Single refers to both sides of the module having the same pinout.

SIPP Single Inline Pin Package. SIMM-like memory module with 30 projecting pins rather than edge contacts. Used on a few 286-based and 386-based systems, it never became popular and is now obsolete.

small outline rambus module A compact version of the standard Rambus module for use in notebook computers.

SMTP Simple mail transport protocol. A common Internet standard for email.

SODIMM Small Outline DIMM. A compact version of the standard DIMM module, available in various pinouts for use in notebook computers and laser/LED printers.

software Anything that can be stored electronically, known as data, instructions, programs, or applications

solid ink printer Use solid sticks of CMYK colored ink, which are melted and fed into the printhead.

SRAM Static Random Access Memory. Static RAM. RAM based on transistors; requires electricity far less often; too expensive and bulky to use as main RAM, but popular for use as Cache RAM.

SSID Service Set Identifier is a user-friendly name that identifies the wireless network. It is usually set on a SOHO router device.

SSL Secure Sockets Layer. Predecessor of TLS. Used for securing online transactions.

star topology Network topology in which a central hub is connected to individual workstations with separate cables. This topology is used by Ethernet networks that use UTP cables. Wireless networks also use this topology but substitute a wireless access point in place of a hub and radio waves in place of cables.

surge protector Device that absorbs high-voltage events to protect equipment from damage. Also known as a surge suppressor

suspend mode Suspend mode powers down devices in order to save electricity while the computer is not being used.

SVGA Super Video Graphics Array or Super VGA. May refer to 800[ts]600 VGA resolution or to any VGA display setting that uses more than 16 colors or a higher resolution than 640×480.

S-Video S-Video (known as Separate Video) is an Analog video standard used in many VCR and DVD products for input and output of video signals. Many recent video cards use S-video for their TV output. Can be downconverted to composite video by using an adapter.

switch Network device that sets a direct path for data to run from one system to another; can be combined with a router or wireless access point; faster than a hub because it supports the full bandwidth of the network at each port, rather than subdividing the bandwidth among active ports as a hub does.

switchbox Device that enables several external components to share a single serial, parallel, or other type of port or might allow several computers to share one printer.

system bus The primary pathway between the CPU and memory, also known as the frontside bus (FSB)

System Image Manager (SIM) A Windows Vista tool that allows you to create answer files for unattended installations. Takes the place of Windows XP’s Setup Manager Utility.

TCP/IP Transmission Control Protocol/Internet Protocol. The Internet’s standard network protocol that is now becoming the standard for all networks.

thermal printer Produces an image by heating coated, thermal paper.

TLS Transport Layer Security. Successor of SSL. A cryptographic protocol that provides security and data integrity for communications over networks such as the Internet.

toner cartridge A one-piece unit containing toner, developer, and an imaging drum. It is used in many laser printer models and is sometimes referred to as an EP cartridge.

UAC User Account Control. A security component of Windows Vista that controls how users gain access to resources.

UDMA Ultra direct memory access. Fast data-transfer methods for IDE drives; bypasses the CPU.

UPS The Uninterruptible Power Supply (CompTIA). Term for battery backup that uses battery at all times to power system; sometimes referred to as true UPS to distinguish them from SPS units (also employer of friendly driver in brown outfit who delivers computer products).

USB Universal Serial Bus. High-speed replacement for older I/O ports; requires Windows 95 OSR 2.1 or later; Windows 98/Me/2000/XP/Vista recommended for best results, since many devices won’t work with Windows 95’s USB support. USB 1.1 has a peak speed of 12Mbps. USB 2.0 has a peak speed of 480Mbps; USB 2.0 ports also support USB 1.1 devices. USB 2.0 devices can be plugged into USB 1.1 devices, but run at only USB 1.1 speeds.

VGA Video Graphics Array. First popular analog video standard; basis for all current video cards.

video card A video card (also known as display adapter or graphics card) is an expansion card that is used to generate video signal and display it on a monitor.

virtual memory Hard disk space used as a supplement to RAM; also known as swapfile or paging file.

Virus Computer program designed to infect a computer and make unwanted modifications to the operating system. If executed, the virus can replicate itself; in this way it resembles a Trojan horse that can also replicate itself to other computers.

VoIP Voice over Internet Protocol. Delivery of voice communications over IP networks such as the Internet.

WAN Wide Area Network. Network that spans multiple cities, countries, or continents. Network sections might be linked by leased line, Internet backbone, or satellite feed; routers connect LANs to WANs and WAN segments to each other.

WAP Wireless Access Point. A device that allows connectivity between computers with wireless network adapters to create a wireless network.

WEP Wired equivalent privacy. An older wireless network security standard, succeeded by WPA.

windows deployment services Program run by Windows Server 2008 that allows for remote installation of operating systems.

Windows Recovery Environment (WinRE) Repair environment in Windows Vista that takes the place of Windows XP’s Recovery Console. Allows the user to attempt automatic repairs, system restores, and to work in the Command Prompt.

WINS Windows Internet Name Service. Method used by server versions of Windows to dynamically match NetBIOS computer names to their IP addresses (NetBIOS name resolution).

WLAN Wireless local area network. Instead of wires, stations on a WLAN connect to each other through radio waves. The IEEE 802.11 family of standards guide the development of WLANs.

WPA Wi-Fi Protected Access. A security protocol developed by the Wi-Fi Alliance to secure wireless networking. Takes the place of WEP; the most secure version is WPA2.

Zoomed Video ZV. Special PC Card slot type equipped to support full-motion video with appropriate MPEG cards.