TIA Chapters 5-8 Flashcards

1
Q

Mainframe

A

powerful computer responsible for storing, managing and simultaneously processing data from many users

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2
Q

Utility program

A

is a small program in system software that performs many of the general house-keeping tasks, system maintenance and file compression

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3
Q

MS-Dos

A

1st widely used OS that does not use icons

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4
Q

RTOS

A

real-time operating system also referred to as an embedded system that requires little user interaction

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5
Q

Network Operating System

A

multiuser operating system installed on a server to manage all user requests

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6
Q

server

A

the computer on a network that manages network resources

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7
Q

UNIX

A

multiuser, multitask OS used as a network OS primarily with mainframes

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8
Q

Apple OS & Windows

A

allows a user to perform more than one process at a time

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9
Q

application programming interface - API

A

block of code in the OS that software applications need o interact with

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10
Q

application software

A

the software you use to do everyday tasks at home and at work

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11
Q

authentication

A

process of identifying a computer user, based on login or username and password

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12
Q

Backup & Restore utility

A

Windows utility that allows the user to create a duplicate copy of all the data on the hard drive or selected files & copy it to another storage device

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13
Q

BIOS or basic input/output system

A

program that manages the data between a computer’s OS and all the input and output devices attached to the computer and
program responsible for loading the OS from its permanent location on the hard drive to the RAM

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14
Q

boot process

A

process for loading the OS into RAM when the computer is turned on - Steps:

  1. BIOS is activated by powering on CPU
  2. BIOS checks that all attached devices are in place (called POST, powered on self-test)
  3. OS is loaded into RAM
  4. Configuration and customization settings are checked
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15
Q

command-driven interface

A

an interface in which you enter commands to communicate with the computer system

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16
Q

device driver

A

special program that facilitates communication between the hardware device and the OS

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17
Q

Device manager

A

feature in the OS that lets you view and change the properties of all devices attached to your computer

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18
Q

directory

A

an hierarchical structure that includes files, folders, and drives used to create a more organized and efficient computer

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19
Q

Disk Cleanup

A

Windows utility that cleans or removes unnecessary files from your hard drive

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20
Q

Disk Defragmenter

A

regroups related pieces of files on the hard drive so the OS can work more efficiently

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21
Q

Error-checking

A

Windows utility that checks for lost files and fragments as well as physical errors on your hard drive

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22
Q

event

A

result of an action, such as keystroke, mouse click or signal to the printer, in the respective device, (keyboard, mouse or printer) to which the OS responds

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23
Q

extension (file type)

A

the 3 letters that follow the user-supplied file name (after the dot) that ids what kind of family of files the file belongs to or which app should be used to read the file

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24
Q

file

A

collection of related pieces of info stored together for easy reference

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25
Q

file allocation table - FAT

A

an index of all sector numbers in a table

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26
Q

file compression utility

A

a program that that takes out redundancies in a file to reduce it’s size

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27
Q

file management

A

process by which humans or computer software provide organizational structure to a computer’s contents

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28
Q

file name

A

1st part of the label applied to a file; generally applied by the user to a file while saving it

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29
Q

file path

A

the exact location of a file starting with the drive in which the file is located, and including all folders, subfolders, (if any) the file name, and the extension

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30
Q

firmware

A

system programs included in the system software that controls hardware devices

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31
Q

folder

A

collection of files

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32
Q

gadget

A

easy-to-use mini program that gives you info at a glance or quick access to frequently used tools like weather, calculator, games, system tools, etc

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33
Q

GUI

A

graphical user interface - displays graphics and uses point-and-click technology of the mouse and curser

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34
Q

icon

A

pictures that represent an object such as a software application or a file or folder

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35
Q

interrupt

A

unique signal that tells the OS it is in need of immediate attention - every device has it’s own interrupt

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36
Q

interrupt handler

A

special numeric code that prioritizes the request placed in the interrupt table in the RAM

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37
Q

kernel (supervisor program)

A

is the essential component of the OS responsible for managing the processor and all other components of the computer system, stays in RAM when CPU is on so it is memory resident

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38
Q

Last Known Good Configuration

A

Windows feature that starts the computer by using the registry info that was saved during the last shutdown

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39
Q

library

A

a folder that is used to display files from different locations, as if they were all saved in a single folder, regardless of where they are stored

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40
Q

Linux

A

an open source OS designed for use on PCs and as a network operating system based on the central programming code of an OS and the rest of the code is from GNU Project and other sources

41
Q

Mac OS

A

1st commercially available OS to incorporate a GUI w/ user friendly point-and-click technology

42
Q

menu-driven interface

A

one you can choose commands from menus displayed on screens

43
Q

OS

A

a group of programs that control how your computer functions -

44
Q

OS functions

A
  1. manages computer hardware including CPU, memory and storage devices and peripheral devices
  2. provides a consistent means for software applications to work with the CPU
  3. responsible for the management, scheduling and coordination of tasks as well as system maintenance
45
Q

paging

A

process of swapping data or instructions that have been placed in the swap file for later use back into RAM,
the contents of the hard drive’s swap file then become less active data or instructions

46
Q

path separator

A

\ in between drive, primary folder, etc in a file path

47
Q

platform

A

combo of a computer’s OS and processor - most common are the PC and the Apple

48
Q

PNP or Plug and Play

A

technology that enables the OS, once it is booted up, to recognize automatically any new peripherals and configure them to work with the system

49
Q

preemptive multitasking

A

when the OS processes the tasks assigned a higher priority b4 processing a task assigned a lower priority

50
Q

RTOS

A

real time operating system or embedded system that requires little user interaction

51
Q

registry

A

a portion of the hard drive containing all the different configurations (settings) used by Windows OS and other applications

52
Q

ribbon

A

toolbars organized into task specific tabs with relevant commands

53
Q

root directory

A

top level of the filing structure in a computer system - in Windows the root directory of the hard drive is represented as C:\

54
Q

Safe mode

A

special diagnostic mode designed for trouble shooting errors in which only the mouse, monitor and keyboard work

55
Q

sector

A

(2) section of a hard drive platter, wedge-shaped from the center of the platter to the edge

56
Q

platters

A

(1) 3.5’ round thin metal plates covered with a special magnetic coating that records the data and are stacked onto a spindle

57
Q

tracks

A

(3) concentric circles on platters data is recorded into and broken down into sectors

58
Q

clusters

A

(4) smallest segments in sectors

59
Q

index of sector numbers

A

to keep track of which clusters hold which files

60
Q

UNIX

A

multiuser, multitask OS used as a network OS, primarily with mainframes

61
Q

user interface

A

enables you to interact with the computer

62
Q

utility program

A

performs many of the general housekeeping tasks for the computer, such as system maintenance and file compression

63
Q

virtual memory

A

the process of optimizing RAM storage by borrowing hard drive space

64
Q

widget

A

Mac mini-application that enables quick access to frequently used tools and activities

65
Q

Windows Explorer

A

is the main tool for finding, viewing and managing your computer on a Windows PC

66
Q

3D sound card

A

an expansion card that enables a computer to produce sounds that are omnidirectional or 3 dimensional

67
Q

access time

A

the time it takes a storage device to locate its stored data and make it available for processing and measured in milliseconds (ms)

68
Q

benchmarks

A

measurements used to compare CPU performance between processors

69
Q

bit depth

A

number of bits a video card uses to store data about each pixel on the monitor

70
Q

cache memory

A

a form of random access memory that is more accessible to the CPU than regular RAM

71
Q

clock speed

A

how quickly a processor can work

72
Q

core

A

a complete processing section from a CPU, embedded into 1 physical chip

73
Q

CPU usage

A

the percentage of time a CPU is working

74
Q

data transfer rate

A

the speed in which the hard drive can transfer data to other components, such as RAM

75
Q

DVD-RAM

A

one of the 3 competing technologies for rewriting DVDs

76
Q

DVD-ROM

A

DVD format in which data can only be read, not written

77
Q

DVD-R/RW

A

one of the 2 recognized DVD formats that enable you to read, record (R), and rewrite (RW) data on the disc

78
Q

DVD+R/RW

A

one of the 2 recognized DVD formats that enable you to both read, record (R), and rewrite (RW) data on the disc

79
Q

external SATA (eSATA)

A

fast transfer port

80
Q

Express card

A

cards that add functionality to your computer

81
Q

FSB (front side bus)

A

connects the processor (CPU) in your computer to the system memory; the faster the better

82
Q

GPU (graphics processing unit)

A

specialized logic chip that is dedicated to quickly displaying and calculating visual data such as shadows, textures and luminosity

83
Q

hard drive

A

device that holds a permanently stored programs and data, can be internal or external

84
Q

head crash

A

impact of read/write head against magnetic platter of the hard drive, often causes loss of data

85
Q

hyperthreading

A

permits quicker processing of info by enabling a set of instructions to start executing before the previous set has finished

86
Q

kernel memory

A

memory the OS uses

87
Q

latency

A

process that occurs after the read/write head of the hard drive locates the correct track, and then waits for the correct sector to spin to the read/write head

88
Q

Moore’s Law

A

prediction named after Gordon Moore (cofounder of Intel) states that the # of transistors on a CPU chip will double every 2 years

89
Q

memory module

A

small circuit board that holds a series of random access memory (RAM) chips

90
Q

platter

A

thin, round metallic storage plate stacked onto the hard drive spindle

91
Q

RAM

A

computer’s temporary storage space

92
Q

read/write head

A

the mechanism that retrieves (reads) and records (writes) the magnetic data to and from a data disk, they move from the outer edge of the spinning platters to the center, up to 50 times per second

93
Q

SATA (Serial Adv Tech Attachment)

A

type of hard drive that uses much thinner cables, and can transfer data quicker than IDE drives

94
Q

sector

A

section of a hard drive platter, wedge-shaped from the center of the platter to the edge

95
Q

seek time

A

the time it takes for the hard drive’s read/write heads to move over the surface of the disk, between tracks to the correct track

96
Q

SSD (solid state drive)

A

drive that uses the same kind of memory that flash drives use, but can reach data in only a 10th of the time

97
Q

system evaluation

A

process of looking at a computer’s subsystems, what they do, and how they perform to determine whether the computer system has the right hardware components to do what the user ultimately wants it to do

98
Q

track

A

concentric circle that serves as a storage area on a hard drive platter