Glossary Flashcards
basic input/output system
the program that controls how the motherboard communicates with hardware components; abbreviated BIOS
binary numbers
base 2 numerical system; a system of numbers using only 0s and 1s
BIOS setup
utility program that enables you to change BIOS settings
bit
binary digit with a value of either 1 or 0
Bluetooth
a wireless technology that uses radio waves to transmit data across short distances
boot
the process of starting the computer
boot disk
the disk or storage device which houses the boot loader and BIOS
boot loader
program that finds and launches the operating system
boot partition
section of the hard drive where the operating system program is stored
bus
network of circuitry on a motherboard or chip
byte
series of 8 bits
cache
small amount of memory stored on the central processor for easy access
central processing unit
the chip than runs the basic operations of the computer; abbreviated CPU
chip
an integrated circuit etched onto semiconductive material
chipset
group of chips built into the motherboard
data
in computer technology, binary digits that represent individual pieces of information
defragment
reduction of fragmented segments of a file by moving their location on a disk
device driver
program that controls a piece of hardware; sometimes shortened to “driver”
dual in-line package switch
physical on/off switch on a computer component; also called DIP
EIDE
extended integrated drive electronics; see integrated drive electronics
electrostatic discharge
the instantaneous flow of electricity between two objects when they touch, usually caused by a build-up of static electricity; abbreviated ESD
file
collection of data such as a program or document
file allocation table
method of storing files used by many different types of computers; abbreviated FAT
flashing
rewriting data to a memory chip, as in flashing BIOS
form factor
the term used to describe the shape and layout of a computer component such as a motherboard or hard drive
gigahertz
one billion cycles per second; abbreviated GHz
graphical user interface
images displayed on the screen that enables the user to interact with the computer; abbreviated GUI
hard boot
the process of starting the computer from a power-off position
hardware
physical parts of a computer, such as the motherboard or hard disk
input
devices that take information from the computer user and deliver it to the processor
installation
the process putting software on the computer for use
integrated drive electronics
interface for computer devices that has its own control function
interrupt
a break in the action of a program using the operating system
kernel
core program of a computer operating system
kilobyte
series of one thousand bytes
megabyte
series of one million bytes
memory
format for storage of digital data
motherboard
primary circuit board of a computer, that houses the power supply and central processing unit
NT file system
method of storing files used by Microsoft; abbreviated NTFS
output
devices that take information from the processor and deliver it to the computer user
partition
section of a hard drive used for file storage
partitioning
the process of dividing a hard drive into separate sections to use for file storage
peripheral
in computer technology, a device that is not central to the operations of a computer
pixel
smallest element of a picture on a computer display
power up
turning on the electrical power to the computer and starting it
processor
a chip whose purpose is to handle data input and output
random-access memory
chip that stores data that can be accessed from anywhere in approximately the same amount of time; abbreviated RAM
read-only memory
chip on the motherboard that holds instructions for the computer to start up; abbreviated ROM
small computer system interface
standard that addresses the physical connection and transfer speed between a computer and a peripheral device; abbreviated SCSI
soft boot
the process of starting a computer from a power-on position
storage
devices like hard drives or floppy drives that house data
system partition
section of the hard drive where the boot loader program is stored
transmission control protocol/internet protocol
two separate standards used together that define how data is sent and received across a network; abbreviated TCP/IP
upgrade
the process of installing a new version of software to improve performance
