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Fundamentals of Computer Systems > Glossary > Flashcards

Glossary Flashcards

1
Q

basic input/output system

A

the program that controls how the motherboard communicates with hardware components; abbreviated BIOS

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2
Q

binary numbers

A

base 2 numerical system; a system of numbers using only 0s and 1s

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3
Q

BIOS setup

A

utility program that enables you to change BIOS settings

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4
Q

bit

A

binary digit with a value of either 1 or 0

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5
Q

Bluetooth

A

a wireless technology that uses radio waves to transmit data across short distances

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6
Q

boot

A

the process of starting the computer

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7
Q

boot disk

A

the disk or storage device which houses the boot loader and BIOS

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8
Q

boot loader

A

program that finds and launches the operating system

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9
Q

boot partition

A

section of the hard drive where the operating system program is stored

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10
Q

bus

A

network of circuitry on a motherboard or chip

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11
Q

byte

A

series of 8 bits

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12
Q

cache

A

small amount of memory stored on the central processor for easy access

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13
Q

central processing unit

A

the chip than runs the basic operations of the computer; abbreviated CPU

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14
Q

chip

A

an integrated circuit etched onto semiconductive material

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15
Q

chipset

A

group of chips built into the motherboard

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16
Q

data

A

in computer technology, binary digits that represent individual pieces of information

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17
Q

defragment

A

reduction of fragmented segments of a file by moving their location on a disk

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18
Q

device driver

A

program that controls a piece of hardware; sometimes shortened to “driver”

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19
Q

dual in-line package switch

A

physical on/off switch on a computer component; also called DIP

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20
Q

EIDE

A

extended integrated drive electronics; see integrated drive electronics

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21
Q

electrostatic discharge

A

the instantaneous flow of electricity between two objects when they touch, usually caused by a build-up of static electricity; abbreviated ESD

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22
Q

file

A

collection of data such as a program or document

23
Q

file allocation table

A

method of storing files used by many different types of computers; abbreviated FAT

24
Q

flashing

A

rewriting data to a memory chip, as in flashing BIOS

25
Q

form factor

A

the term used to describe the shape and layout of a computer component such as a motherboard or hard drive

26
Q

gigahertz

A

one billion cycles per second; abbreviated GHz

27
Q

graphical user interface

A

images displayed on the screen that enables the user to interact with the computer; abbreviated GUI

28
Q

hard boot

A

the process of starting the computer from a power-off position

29
Q

hardware

A

physical parts of a computer, such as the motherboard or hard disk

30
Q

input

A

devices that take information from the computer user and deliver it to the processor

31
Q

installation

A

the process putting software on the computer for use

32
Q

integrated drive electronics

A

interface for computer devices that has its own control function

33
Q

interrupt

A

a break in the action of a program using the operating system

34
Q

kernel

A

core program of a computer operating system

35
Q

kilobyte

A

series of one thousand bytes

36
Q

megabyte

A

series of one million bytes

37
Q

memory

A

format for storage of digital data

38
Q

motherboard

A

primary circuit board of a computer, that houses the power supply and central processing unit

39
Q

NT file system

A

method of storing files used by Microsoft; abbreviated NTFS

40
Q

output

A

devices that take information from the processor and deliver it to the computer user

41
Q

partition

A

section of a hard drive used for file storage

42
Q

partitioning

A

the process of dividing a hard drive into separate sections to use for file storage

43
Q

peripheral

A

in computer technology, a device that is not central to the operations of a computer

44
Q

pixel

A

smallest element of a picture on a computer display

45
Q

power up

A

turning on the electrical power to the computer and starting it

46
Q

processor

A

a chip whose purpose is to handle data input and output

47
Q

random-access memory

A

chip that stores data that can be accessed from anywhere in approximately the same amount of time; abbreviated RAM

48
Q

read-only memory

A

chip on the motherboard that holds instructions for the computer to start up; abbreviated ROM

49
Q

small computer system interface

A

standard that addresses the physical connection and transfer speed between a computer and a peripheral device; abbreviated SCSI

50
Q

soft boot

A

the process of starting a computer from a power-on position

51
Q

storage

A

devices like hard drives or floppy drives that house data

52
Q

system partition

A

section of the hard drive where the boot loader program is stored

53
Q

transmission control protocol/internet protocol

A

two separate standards used together that define how data is sent and received across a network; abbreviated TCP/IP

54
Q

upgrade

A

the process of installing a new version of software to improve performance

Fundamentals of Computer Systems (7 decks)

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