Download CompTIA A+ Certification Study Guide: Key Terms and Concepts and more Exams Information Technology in PDF only on Docsity!
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32 - bit - ansIn reference to the Windows operating systems, one that can utilize up to 4 GB of address space. 64 - bit - ansIn reference to the Windows operating systems, one that can utilize more than 4 GB of address space. Depending on the version, 64-bit Windows can address a maximum of from 8 to 192 GB. 802.11a - ansA wireless network standard that uses the 5 GHz band. 802.11b - ansA wireless network standard that uses the 2.4 GHz band at a speed of up to 10 Mbps. 802.11g - ansA wireless network standard that uses the 2.4 GHz band at a speed of up to 54 Mbps. It is downward-compatible with 802.11b. 802.11n - ansA wireless network standard that defines speeds of up to 600 Mbps. It is downward-compatible with 802.11a, 802.11b, and 802.11g. 8 - bit high color - ansDescribes the VGA mode color setting that, although it can produce around 16 million different colors, can only display up to 256 different colors at a time. AC adapter - ansA type of power supply that converts AC power to voltages needed for a device. AC adapters are generally used for portable PC systems and other devices. accelerated graphics port - ansA local bus designed for video only, it provides a direct link between the processor and the video card, giving the video card direct access to main memory. access control - ansManaging access to resources. _______ to computers and network resources involves authentication and authorization. access control entry - ansIn an access control list, a record containing just one user or group account name and the permissions assigned to that account. access control list - ansA table on each file and folder in the NTFS file system that contains one or more access control entries. accessory bay - ansIn a laptop, a compartment that holds a single media device that is switchable with another. ACT - ansThe "activity" status light on a NIC that indicates data is being transmitted. activation - ansA method used by several software manufacturers to combat software piracy. active communication - ansA set of behaviors including active listening and active speaking that shows you are fully engaged in the conversation and encourages the other person to also communicate in a positive manner. active listening - ansA set of skills, behaviors, and attitudes to use when listening to another person. active matrix display - ansAn LCD technology based on thin-film transistor (TFT) technology. It has a transistor at every pixel, which enables much quicker display changes active partition - ansA primary partition that is marked for use by the system during startup. Windows operating systems can only be booted from this active speaking - ansThe appropriate responses that you make during a conversation. ad hoc mode - ansIn a Wi-Fi network, the networking mode that allows peer-to-peer communications without the use of a centralized wireless hub, called a wireless access point (WAP). adapter card - ansA printed circuit card that you add to the motherboard to enhance functionality. Also called an expansion card. Video adapters and network interface cards (NICs) are examples of this address bus - ansA group of wires used to identify addresses in main system memory in a computer. The number of wires in an address bus is called the width of the bus and determines the number of unique memory locations that can be addressed using binary math
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with the two raised to the power of the number of wires in the bus. A 32-bit bus can address up to 4 GB of memory, whereas a 36-bit address bus can address up to 64 GB of memory. Address Resolution Protocol - ansA protocol used to resolve an IP address to a MAC address. Advanced Communications Riser - ansA riser card standard that AMD, 3Com, and others introduced in 2000 to supersede AMR. It uses one PCI slot, provides accelerated audio and modem functions as well as networking, and supports multiple Ethernet NICs. Advanced Configuration and Power Interface - ansA power management standard that includes all the power states of APM, plus two more. It also supports soft power. Advanced Micro Devices - ansAMD manufactures CPUs and other products, and its chief rival is Intel Corporation. Advanced Power Management - ansA power management standard, introduced by Intel in 1992, that defines four power-usage operating levels. Advanced Technology - ansA type of motherboard used in older PC systems; also refers to the 1984 IBM PC AT model. Advanced Technology Attachment - ansThe former name of the Parallel AT Attachment (PATA) interface standard. Advanced Technology eXtended - ansA type of motherboard and its variants most commonly used in recent PC systems. adware - ansSoftware installed on a computer without permission that collects information about a user in order to display targeted advertisements, in the form of either inline banners or pop-ups. Inline banners are advertisements that run within the context of the current page, taking up screen real estate. alternating current - ansThe delivery of electricity (as from a wall outlet) in which the flow of electrons reverses periodically and has alternating positive and negative values. amperes (amps) - ansA measurement of the volume of electrons, also called current. It is calculated with the formula amps = watts / volts. analog LCD display - ansAn LCD display that uses a DB-15 connector, which means that it accepts analog signals that it converts to digital. analog modem - ansA modulator/demodulator device that allows computers to communicate with one another over existing phone lines. answer file - ansA file used during an unattended installation of Windows. It provides a script of responses to the questions Setup asks so the user does not have to answer them manually. antistatic mat - ansA mat that provides a path to ground for a static charge and is designed for the desktop or floor of a workspace. One placed on the workbench reduces the risk of electrostatic discharge for components placed on it, while one placed on the floor provides the same protection for anyone standing on the mat. antistatic wrist strap - ansA strap designed to discharge static electricity from your body. One end attaches to the wrist, whereas the other end attaches to a grounded object. archive attribute - ansA file attribute set by the OS when a file is created or modified. Backup software often removes this attribute when backing up a file in order to mark it as a backed- up file. arithmetic logic unit - ansA component of a CPU that is responsible for all logical and mathematical operations in the system. aspect ratio - ansThe proportion between an image's width and height. Traditional CRT monitors have an aspect ratio of 4:3. Widescreen displays have an aspect ratio of 16:9. asymmetrical digital subscriber line - ansA type of DSL service in which the download speed is higher than the upload speed. asynchronous transfer mode - ansA type of switched network used by phone companies.
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BIOS - ansA type of computer firmware that is responsible for informing the CPU of installed devices and how to communicate with them. Basic Service Set - ansThe wireless nodes (including the WAP) communicating together in infrastructure mode. basic storage - ansA storage type in Windows that uses the partition table in the master boot record (MBR) to define disk partitions. BDD Workbench - ansA tool used to create and manage a distribution share and various installation images. beam-on-blade connector - ansThe type of connector used in the ExpressCard interface. bidirectional mode - ansA parallel port mode in which the signals can be transmitted in both directions between the PC and parallel devices connected to the computer. biometric - ansA measurement of a body part, such as a fingerprint or retina scan. biometric device - ansA device that uses a measurement of a body part, such as a fingerprint or retina scan. biometric logon - ansThe use of a biometric for authentication. BIOS settings - ansThe BIOS configuration settings, also called system settings, accessed via a special BIOS-based menu during system startup. bit width - ansIn reference to a memory module, how much information the processor can access from or write to memory in a single cycle. BitLocker drive encryption - ansAn encryption technology introduced in Windows Vista Enterprise and Ultimate editions, Windows Server 2008, and also in Windows 7 Ultimate and Enterprise editions. It encrypts the entire boot volume. bluesnarfing - ansThe act of covertly obtaining information broadcast from wireless devices using the Bluetooth standard. Bluetooth - ansA wireless standard for using radio waves to communicate between devices Blu-ray disc - ansThe high-definition optical disc formatting standard developed by the __ Association whose members include Sony, 20th Century Fox, Dell, Hewlett-Packard, and many other industry leaders. BNC - ansA connector used to attach coaxial cables to computers and network equipment. boot record - ansThe first physical sector on a floppy disk or the first sector on a hard drive partition. It contains information about the OS. The __ on a primary active partition is used to start the operating system. boot sequence - ansThe order in which the BIOS will search devices for an operating system to start. bridge - ansA network connection device that passes traffic between two networks, using the physical address (MAC address) of the destination device. broadband WAN - ansA wide area network (WAN) connection that allows a large amount of data to be transmitted. Broadband WANs includes cellular, ISDN, DSL, cable, T-carrier, satellite, and fiber. Bubble Jet - ansA popular inkjet printer developed by Canon. bus - ansIn a computer, pathways that power, data, and control signals travel from one component to another within the system. C - ansUsed to represent the chrominance signal in S-Video. cable select - ansAn EIDE drive setting that has the system select the drive's role (master or slave) based on the drive's position on the cable. If the drive is on the end of the cable, it is the master drive, and if it is in the middle of the cable, it is the slave drive. cable tester - ansA tool for testing if a cable can connect properly end-to-end and to determine if a cable has a short. These tools are available for a variety of cable types.
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cache controller - ansA CPU component that manages the CPU cache. capacity - ansIn power supplies, the amount of wattage the power supply can handle. capture card - ansA category of adapter card that accepts and records video signals to a PC's hard drive. card services - ansA service on a laptop that configures a card after socket services has recognized it. CardBus - ansThe PCMCIA standard that succeeds the PC Card. case - ansThe box that houses the main computer system. case fan - ansA cooling fan mounted directly on the case, as opposed to a power supply fan, which is inside the power supply. cathode ray tube (CRT) monitor - ansA display device that contains a cathode ray tube and uses an electron gun to activate phosphors behind the screen at the front of the tub. CD-R (CD-Record) - ansA drive that can write once to a special CD-R disc. CD-ROM drive - ansA drive on a computer that can play music CDs and read data CDs, but cannot write to CDs. CD-RW - ansA drive that can write either to CD-R discs or to specially designed CD-RW discs. In the case of the CD-RW discs, the drive can write more than once to the same portion of disc, overwriting old data. cellular WAN - ansData communications over the cellular telecommunications networks. central processing unit - ansThe primary control device for a computer system. It is simply a chip containing a set of components that manages all the activities. Also called a processor. Centronics - ansA 36-pin connector mounted to a device's parallel interface. channel service unit - ansA device required at both ends of a T-carrier system connection. charging - ansIn the laser printing process, the stage in which the printer's high-voltage power supply (HVPS) conducts electricity to the primary corona wire so it can pass the voltage on to the printer's electro-photosensitive drum. chipset - ansOne or more chips designed to work closely with the CPU. Two parts of this chipset are the Northbridge and the Southbridge. chrominance - ansThe signal in a television transmission that contains the color of the image. cleaning - ansIn the laser printing process, the stage in which the image is removed from the photosensitive drum so it can accept the next image. cleaning blade - ansIn the laser printing process, a blade that removes residual toner from the drum. client/server-based network - ansA network in which dedicated computers called servers store data and provide print services or other capabilities to computers running the appropriate client service or services. clock speed - ansIn a CPU, the speed at which it can potentially execute instructions, measured in millions of cycles per second—megahertz (MHz)—or billions of cycles per second—gigahertz (GHz). cluster - ansThe minimum disk space that a file can use, allocated in the file system. CMOS settings - ansA misnomer, referring to the BIOS settings that are stored in a CMOS chip. coaxial cable - ansCabling that contains a single copper wire surrounded by several layers of insulating plastic and a woven wire sheath that provides protection. Code Division Multiple Access - ansThe cellular network standards used by Verizon and Sprint-Nextel. code signing - ansA practice begun in Windows 2000 in which all of the operating system code is digitally signed to show that it has not been tampered with.
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daughter card - ansA type of riser card that connects directly into a motherboard and adds no additional functionality of its own, but extends the expansion bus and allows expansion cards to be added in a different physical orientation. DB- 25 - ansA 25-pin D-shell connector. DB- 9 - ansA 9-pin D-shell connector. DC Controller - ansA device found in laptops that monitors and regulates power usage. The features vary by manufacturer, but typically, they provide short-circuit protection, give "low battery" warnings, and can be configured to shut down the computer automatically when the power is low. DDR2 SDRAM - ansA RAM standard that replaces the original DDR standard. Using far less power than DDR1, a stick of DDR2 SDRAM has 240 pins. DDR3 SDRAM - ansA RAM standard that replaces the original DDR2 standard and requires far less power, while providing almost twice the bandwidth. A stick of ___ has 240 pins, but is keyed so it will not fit into a socket designed for DDR2. DDR3 SO-DIMMs have 204 pins. dead pixel - ansA dark spot on an LCD screen caused when a transistor is permanently off. Debugging Mode - ansA Windows Advanced Options menu choice used to send debugging information about the Windows startup over a serial cable to another computer running a special program called a debugger. default gateway - ansIn an IP configuration, the address of the local router that acts as a gateway from the local network to other IP networks. degaussing - ansThe process of using an oscillating magnetic field to reduce and randomize the magnetic field that builds up on the shadow mask of a CRT monitor. demilitarized zone - ansIn computer networking, a network located between a private network and the Internet with a firewall on both sides. DoS attack - ansThis attack occurs when someone sends a large number of requests to a server, overwhelming the server so it stops functioning on the network. developing - ansIn the laser printing process, this is the step in which the cover on the printer's toner cartridge is opened and the toner particles are attracted to the relatively less negatively charged areas of the drum. device driver - ansProgram code that allows an operating system to control the use of a physical device. Device Manager - ansA Windows GUI utility that allows an administrator to view the status of devices and install, remove, and update device drivers DHCP Server - ansA server running the Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol (DHCP) service. This server allocates IP addresses to DHCP client computers. dialer - ansA program that causes a modem to dial phone numbers surreptitiously. dial-up - ansA WAN connection that uses an analog modem rather than a network card and uses standard phone cables rather than network cables. digital LCD display - ansAn LCD display that accepts a digital signal. Early LCD displays accepted an analog signal and converted it to digital internally. Digital Light Processing - ansAn optical semiconductor used in small projectors and in rear- projection televisions. digital linear tape - ansA technology developed in the 1980s for storing data. Variations of this format are in use today. digital signature - ansEncrypted data placed in a file to guard against tampering. DSL - ansA WAN connection that uses existing copper telephone wire for the communication circuit. To accomplish this, the modem splits the existing phone line into two
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bands; voice transmission uses the frequencies below 4000 Hz, whereas data transmission uses everything else. digital versatile disc - ansA disc designed to store all types of data usable by a computer. This term also refers to the drives that read and write to these discs. There are various types of DVD drives and media. digital video discs - ansThe original digital discs created in 1995 for storing video. (1) digital video interface - ansIt has several modes, including one that offers downward compatibility with analog displays. It requires a special connector, which comes in several variations to support it digital video recorder - ansA device that records video content to disk. digitizing tablet - ansAn input device that uses a stylus. Available as an external device, it uses touch screen technology and is usually at least the size of a sheet of paper. Also called a digitizer. DIN connector - ansA round connector that gets its name from Deutsche Industrie Norm, a German standards organization. Normally a round connector with a circular or semicircle of pins. DIP switch - ansDual inline package. A very tiny slide that indicates two states. Motherboard and other circuit cards often have one or more groupings of ____ for configuring options. direct current - ansThe type of electrical current delivered by a battery in which the electrons flow in only one direction. direct memory access channel - ansA system resource that certain devices, such as sound cards and hard drives, can use to move data between the device and system RAM without involving the processor. direct thermal printer - ansA type of thermal printer in which a heated print head burns dots into the surface of heat-sensitive paper. Directory Services Restore Mode - ansIn Windows, an Advanced Option that is only available in Windows Servers in the role of domain controllers, although it appears on the menu in non-domain controllers. Disable Automatic Restart - ansAn Advanced Options choice that will temporarily disable the Automatically Restart option on the Advanced page of System Properties. discretion - ansNot revealing information about someone that would be harmful to or embarrass him or her. display - ansA screen device for video output. Also called a monitor. Display Brightness Key - ansA key on a laptop that, when pressed along with the FN key, changes the laptop display brightness at the hardware level. On some laptops, when this key combination is pressed, a small brightness control panel will display on the screen. Use the up (↑) or right (→) arrow key to increase the brightness, and use the left (←) or down (↓) arrow key to decrease the brightness. Display Mode Key - ansA key on a laptop that is pressed along with the FN key to change display modes so the output will be only to the laptop's display, only to an external display, or simultaneously to both displays. The DISPLAY MODE key is normally a function key, such as F7, that displays a display symbol. display power-management signaling - ansA VESA standard for power management in display devices. display resolution - ansThe displayable number of pixels, expressed as x and y numbers, such as 1024 × 768, 1152 × 864, and 1280 × 1024.
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dual-core CPU - ansA CPU containing two CPU cores. DVD+R - ansDigital versatile disc (DVD) discs that can be written to, but data cannot be overwritten. This standard is newer than DVD-R. This term also refers to the drives that can write to these discs. DVD+RW - ansDigital versatile disc (DVD) discs that can be rewritten to, and data can also be overwritten. This standard is newer than DVD-RW. This term also refers to the drives that can write to these discs. DVD- 10 - ansA double-sided, single-layer digital versatile disc (DVD) that stores 9.4 GB of data, or over four hours of video. DVD- 18 - ansA double-sided, double-layer digital versatile disc (DVD) that stores 17.08 GB of data, or over eight hours of video. DVD- 5 - ansA single-sided, single-layer digital versatile disc (DVD) that stores 4.7 GB of data, or over two hours of video. DVD- 9 - ansA single-sided, double-layer digital versatile disc (DVD) that stores 8.54 GB of data, or over four hours of video. DVD-Data discs - ansA blanket term used for DVD discs regardless of the type of data they contain. DVD-R - ansDigital versatile disc (DVD) discs that can be written to once, but data cannot be overwritten. This term also refers to the drives that can write to these discs. DVD-RAM - ansThe digital versatile disc (DVD) encoding format used for data storage. DVD-ROM - ansThe read-only DVD discs sold at retail stores, containing video or software and having a maximum capacity of 15.9 GB of data. This term also applies to the drives that can only read DVDs. DVD-ROM drive - ansA DVD drive that cannot write to but can read DVD discs. DVD-RW - ansDigital versatile disc (DVD) discs that can be written to, and data can also be overwritten. This term also refers to the drives that can write to these discs. DVD-Video - ansThe original digital versatile disc (DVD) encoding format used for movies sold at retail. DVI-A - ansA DVI mode that supports downward compatibility with analog displays. DVI-D - ansA DVI mode that supports digital video signals and is partially compatible with HDMI. See also digital video interface and High-Definition Multimedia Interface. DVI-I - ansA DVI mode that supports both analog and digital video signals. DXDIAG - ansWindows run-line utility for testing the DirectX support. Launch this program when experiencing video problems and/or audio problems when running DirectX applications. dynamic disk - ansA disk type introduced with Windows 2000 that contains space allocated in volumes without the limits imposed on basic disks. On a dynamic disk, the number of volumes are unlimited, and a volume can extend to include available space on any hard disk in the computer. Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol (DHCP) - ansThe protocol used by DHCP servers and clients. A DHCP server allocates IP addresses within the scope of addresses configured on the server by an administrator. DHCP clients request IP addresses and other IP configuration settings from DHCP Servers. DRAM - ansMemory chips that provide much slower access than SRAM chips but that can store several megabytes of data on a single chip (or hundreds of megabytes, or even gigabytes, when they are packaged together on a "stick"). dynamic storage - ansA method for allocating disk space on hard disks in which configuration information for each dynamic disk is located on the disk space beyond the first
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physical sector. This configuration information is stored outside of any volume on the hard disk. edition - ansA subpackaging of a Windows revision that contains the core OS plus a special set of features that is offered as a separate product targeted to a certain type of end user. EEPROM - ansA ROM chip that is erasable using an electrical charge. EMI - ansThe disruption of signal transmission caused by the radiation of electrical and magnetic fields. Electric motors are a common source of EMI. EMP - ansA large burst of electromagnetic energy, as from a nuclear explosion, that has the potential to damage communications and power lines within a large geographic area, depending on the size and location of the pulse electronic KVM switch - ansA KVM switch that uses software and special keyboard commands to switch among controlled computers. Also called anactive KVM switch. electro-photosensitive drum - ansIn a laser printer, a metal drum with an electro- photosensitive coating to which a charge can be applied by a laser beam. ESD - ansThe sudden and uncontrolled movement of electricity from an object with a greater charge to one with a lesser charge. Also called static electricity. embedded systems - ansA special-purpose computer designed for a certain task and installed within a device. ERD - ansA special disk used for recovering an OS failure in Windows 2000. Emergency Repair Process - ansA Windows 2000 recovery tool requiring an up-to-date emergency repair disk (ERD) or recent emergency repair information stored on the local hard disk Enable Boot Logging - ansAn Advanced Options menu choice that creates a log of the Windows startup in a file named NTBTLOG.TXT and saved in thesystemroot folder (normally C:\Windows). Enable Low Resolution Video - ansIn Windows Vista and Windows 7, an Advanced Options menu choice that starts Windows normally, except that the video mode is changed to the lowest resolution, using the currently installed video driver. This option does not switch to the basic Windows video driver. Enable VGA Mode - ansIn Windows 2000 and Windows XP, an Advanced Options menu choice that starts Windows normally, except that video mode is changed to the lowest resolution, using the currently installed video driver. This option does not switch to the basic Windows video driver. encrypted authentication - ansA security service in which authentication credentials are encrypted (user name and password) before transmission over a network. Encrypting File System (EFS) - ansA security feature of many Windows versions that allows it to encrypt files on an NTFS volume encryption - ansThe conversion of data into a special format that cannot be read by anyone unless they have a software key to convert it back into its usable form. ECP mode - ansA mode for parallel ports that allows access to special features in the PC called DMA channels. This mode is approximately ten times faster than regular bidirectional mode and is designed for printers and scanners. EIDE - ansA standard for hard drives that attach to the Parallel AT Attachment (PATA) interface. EPP mode - ansA parallel port mode that has the same performance as ECP but is used with parallel devices other than printers and scanners. EPROM - ansErasable programmable read-only memory. A ROM chip that is erasable and reprogrammable through the use of specialized software.
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file signature verification - ansA process applied to digitally signed code to unencrypt the signature data and use the information to verify the program code was not modified since the signature was added. file system - ansThe logical structure on disk that allows the operating system to save and retrieve files. FTP - ansA protocol for computer-to-computer (host-to-host) transfer of files over a TCP/IP network, regardless of the operating system in use. firewall - ansA computer (or dedicated device) that sits between a private network and an untrusted network and examines all traffic in and out of the network it is protecting. It will block any traffic it recognizes as a potential threat, using a variety of techniques. firmware - ansSoftware instructions stored in ROM chips. It exists on most PC components and on the motherboard. fixed input power supply - ansA power supply that only accepts one input power voltage. flash BIOS - ansBIOS that can be electronically upgraded. flash memory - ansA type of solid-state storage that is commonly used in a variety of devices, such as digital cameras, which often use CompactFlash. flash ROM - ansA technology for ROM that can be reprogrammed using special software. flashing - ansThe act of electronically upgrading BIOS. flat panel display (FPD) - ansA computer display that uses liquid crystal or plasma technology and does not require the bulk of a large picture tube. The screen enclosure can be as thin as one to two inches. floating-point unit (FPU) - ansA type of arithmetic logic unit (ALU) that is used to perform specialized functions, such as division and large decimal number operations. Also called a math coprocessor. floppy disk - ansA magnetic storage device that contains a thin internal plastic disk, capable of receiving magnetic charges contained in the thin magnetic coating on the disk. floppy disk drive - ansA drive used for reading from and writing to removable floppy disks. Fn key - ansA special modifier key on a laptop keyboard that when pressed together with certain alphanumeric keys, changes the output of the pressed key. It is often called the function key. Foreign - ansIn Disk Management, the status given to a dynamic disk that has not had its configuration information (stored on the disk) imported into Windows. This status occurs when a dynamic disk is moved to a different Windows computer or when a dynamic disk fails. form factor - ansOn a motherboard, the type and location of components, as well as the size of the board itself. format - ansA process that places the logical structure of a file system on a partitioned volume. frame relay - ansA type of switched network used by phone companies. fraud - ansThe use of deceit and trickery to persuade someone to hand over money or valuables. FSB - ansAn internal bus in a CPU that connects it to memory and video. full-duplex - ansIn reference to networks, communications in both directions at the same time. fusing - ansIn the laser printing process, the step at which the heat-sensitive toner is fused to the paper by heated fusing rollers. fusing lamp - ansIn a laser printer, the lamp that heats the fusing rollers. fusing rollers - ansIn the laser printer, the heated rollers that fuse the toner to the paper.
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gadget - ansA small program, such as those that can be run from the Windows Sidebar. Gigabit Ethernet - ansAlso called 1000Base-T, this networking standard supports speeds up to 1 Gbps. GSM - ansThe cellular network standards used by AT&T and T-Mobile. graphical processing unit (GPU) - ansA processor on a graphics adapter used to render graphics images for the display, saving the CPU for other functions. GUI - ansA user interface that takes advantage of the video system's graphics capabilities for manipulated graphic elements that represent objects and tasks. grayware - ansThreats that are not truly malicious code, but can have indirect negative effects, such as decreasing performance or using up bandwidth. Grayware includes spyware, adware, spam, and spim. hacker - ansA perpetrator of malicious software attacks against computers and networks. half-duplex - ansIn networks, when data can travel in either direction, but only in one direction at a time hard disk drive - ansA magnetic storage device that stores data on metal platters that have a coating that holds data in the form of changes to small magnetic particles in the coating HAL - ansA component of the Windows operating system that resides in a file and is loaded into memory during the kernel loading phase of the Windows startup. HD-DVD - ansThe high-definition optical disc formatting standard, promoted by Toshiba, that was defeated by the Blu-ray Disc standard as the widely accepted high-definition standard. heat sink - ansA heat dissipation device, usually a passive metal object with a flat surface attached to a component, such as a chip. h-hold - ansA CRT video setting, also known at horizontal hold, that holds the image horizontally on the screen. hibernate - ansA Windows sleep mode that uses hard drive space to save all the programs and data that are in memory at the time you choose this mode. The computer then completely shuts down and requires no power while it is hibernating. hidden attribute - ansA file attribute that is given to a file to indicate it should not be visible in Windows Explorer unless View settings override the attribute and allow the file to be shown. High-Bandwidth Digital Content Protection - ansA feature of HDMI that prevents people from illegally copying HD DVDs. See also High-Definition Multimedia Interface (HDMI). HDMI - ansAn interface standard for use with DVD players, digital television (DTV) players, set-top cable or satellite service boxes, and other devices. It combines audio and video signals into an uncompressed signal and has a bandwidth of up to 5 GB/second. Only one specially designed cable is required where previously several were required. high-voltage power supply (HVPS) - ansAny power supply that provides high voltage, such as those in laser printers and CRTs. horizontal position - ansA setting on an LCD display that adjusts the viewable area of the display horizontally. hot spot - ansA physical area where a Wi-Fi network connects to the Internet. hot swapping - ansThe act of safely installing/uninstalling or attaching/removing a device while a computer is up and running. hot-swappable drive - ansA drive that can be safely installed and removed while a computer is up and running without damaging the data stored on the drive. hub - ans[1] A device that is the central connecting point of a LAN. It is little more than a multiport repeater taking incoming signals on one port and repeating them to all other ports.
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infrastructure mode - ansA wireless mode requiring a wireless access point (WAP). ink cartridge - ansA small cassette containing an ink reservoir used to provide the medium for certain printers. It will only fit a certain model printer. inkjet - ansA type of printer that uses one of several technologies to apply wet ink to paper to create text or graphic printouts I/O - ansIn reference to computers, the pathways or methods for what goes into a computer in the form of data and instructions and similarly what comes out of the computer in many forms, including an onscreen display, a printout sent to a printer, or data sent to another device or computer. Integrated Access Device (IAD) - ansA device that converts digital signals from the broadband connection to voice for the analog phone and the analog voice signals to digital signals for the digital network. IDE - ansAn early PC hard drive interface. Integrated Service Digital Network (ISDN) - ansAn early international standard for sending voice and data over digital telephone wires. ISDN uses existing telephone circuits or higher- speed conditioned lines to get speeds of either 64 Kbps or 128 Kbps. the lines also have the ability to carry voice and data simultaneously over the circuit. Intel Corporation - ansOne of the two prevailing CPU manufacturers. Intel x86 Specification - ansAn Intel specification for the PC 32-bit architecture defining CPUs, motherboards, and other components. internal bus - ansThe bus within a CPU that connects the CPU to external components. internal cache memory - ansIn a CPU, special memory that resides within the CPU's core and is used to temporarily store instructions and data in order to increase the processing speed. Also called L1 cache. InterNational Committee on Information Technology Standards (INCITS) - ansA standards organization, of which the T10 SCSI committee maintains the SCSI standard. Internet - ansThe worldwide interconnection of networks that can be accessed with various Internet-based software. The World Wide Web is one of the many services of the Internet. ICMP - ansA subprotocol of IP that detects and reports problems that can cause errors. Internet Explorer (IE) - ansA Web browser created by Microsoft. Internet Message Access Protocol (IMAP) - ansA protocol used by e-mail clients for communicating with e-mail servers. This protocol is replacing the POP protocol. IMAP allows users to connect to e-mail servers and not only retrieve e-mail, which removes the messages from the server, as they can do with the POP protocol, but also manage their stored messages without removing them from the server. IP - ansOne of the main protocols of the TCP/IP protocol suite, IP manages logical addressing of network packets so routing protocols can route the packets over the network. ISP - ansA company in the business of providing Internet access to users. internetwork - ansAn interconnected network. The Internet is the largest example. IRQ - ansAn assigned channel over which a device can send a signal to the processor to get its attention. intranet - ansA private internetwork. inverter - ansA device that converts DC current to AC. An inverter is required in a laptop to provide the AC current required by the display. IP packet filtering - ansA firewall service that inspects (or filters) each packet that enters or leaves the network, applying a set of security rules defined by a network administrator, and not allowing packets that fail inspection to pass between networks. IP router - ansA network connection device that routes IP packets between networks.
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IPCONFIG - ansA command-line utility installed on a Windows computer with the TCP/IP protocol suite; it's used to view the IP configuration of a network connection and to perform certain administrative tasks. jargon - ansThe use of words, often technical and uncommon, that both parties understand in the same way. jumper - ansOn a circuit board, a small connector that slides down on a pair of pins jutting up from the board. Multiple pins are often side-by-side, and a jumper joins a pair of them. key fob - ansA small device containing a microchip used to generate unique passwords for logging on to a computer or a network. keystroke logger - ansA hardware device or a program that monitors and records a user's every keystroke, usually without the user's knowledge. KVM over IP - ansA remote KVM switch that captures the keyboard, video, and mouse signals, encodes them into IP packets, and sends them over an IP network. KVM switch - ansA device that in its traditional configuration as a local KVM switch connects a single keyboard, video display, and mouse to two or more computer systems, allowing the user to switch control from one computer to another. land - ansA raised area on an optical disc that is alternated with depressed areas to be interpreted as data. LGA - ansA processor packaging that uses pads on the processor that come in contact with pins in the socket on the motherboard, permitting a higher density than possible with PGA. laptop - ansA small, easily transported computer, generally weighing less than 7 pounds and with roughly the same dimensions as a 1- to 2-inch-thick stack of magazines laser beam - ansA coherent and concentrated light beam, also simply called a laser. laser printer - ansA printer that uses a light beam (laser) in the printing process. Last Known Good Configuration - ansA Windows Advanced Options menu choice that restores a group of registry keys containing system settings such as services and drivers. latency - ansThe amount of time it takes a packet to travel from one point to another. LED - ansA tiny bulb light found on many devices, often used to indicate operational status. letterbox - ansThe black box that appears around an image, such as a widescreen video when it is displayed on a screen with a 4:3 aspect ratio. line printer - ansA printer that creates printed output line by line. liquid cooling system - ansA cooling system that uses liquid to transfer heat away from components. LCD - ansA display device that uses liquid crystals to display images. lit pixel - ansA pixel that is permanently turned on, causing the pixel to show constantly as red, green, or blue. Also called a stuck pixel. lithium-ion (Li-ion) battery - ansA type of rechargeable battery used in laptops and other portable devices. local area network (LAN) - ansA network that covers a relatively small area, such as a building, home, office, or campus. The typical distances are measured in hundreds of meters. local group account - ansIn Windows, a security account that contains one or more local user accounts, and when a computer is a member of a Windows domain, may also contain domain user or group accounts. local remote KVM switch - ansA remote KVM switch that uses either Cat 5 or USB cabling. The distance it can be from the computers it controls is a function of the length limits of the cabling; it normally uses a proprietary protocol and special hardware. local user account - ansA security account that exists in a local security accounts database.
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metropolitan area network (MAN) - ansA network that covers a metropolitan area, usually using high-speed fiber-optic cable (operating in the gigabits-per-second range). microcode - ansOne of many low-level instructions built into the control unit of a CPU. Also called a microprogram. MicroDIMM - ansA RAM module designed for subcompact and laptop computers. It is half the size of a SoDIMM module. MMC - ansIntroduced in Windows 2000, a user interface for Windows administration tools that is flexible and configurable. Microsoft Product Activation (MPA) - ansMicrosoft's product activation program. Microsoft Windows Vista Home Premium - ansA version of Windows Vista that includes Windows Media Center, which supports advanced multimedia functions. Microsoft Windows XP Media Center - ansA version of Windows XP that includes Windows Media Center, which supports advanced multimedia functions. MIMO (multiple input/multiple output) - ansA technology that makes 802.11n speeds possible, using multiple antennas to send and receive digital data in simultaneous radio streams that increases performance. Mini PCI - ansA standard used in laptops that is based on PCI mini-audio connector - ansAudio connectors that use a 1/8" single pin plug. miniconnector - ansA common connector used to connect a power supply to floppy drives. mini-DIN- 6 - ansA connector commonly used for PC keyboards. It is much smaller than the original DIN connector. mini-notebook - ansThe smallest laptop type, weighing less than 3 pounds. See also netbook and mini-notebook. mirrored set - ansTwo disk drives used for RAID 1, in which data is written to both drives at the same time, a practice called mirroring. mirroring - ansThe act of writing to two disk drives at the same time, creating identical drives. mobo - ansSlang for motherboard. modding - ansThe practice, mostly among gamers, of modifying a computer case. mode - ansIn fiber-optics, a single light wave passing down a cable. modem - ansTraditionally, this term only applied to the type of device described in the definition for analog modem. Now, it is also used for the digital devices in DSL and cable data communications. molex connector - ansA common connector used to connect a power supply to internal peripherals. motherboard - ansThe circuit board in a computer to which all other components directly or indirectly connect. Also called a mainboard, system board, mobo, or planar board. mount point - ansThe connecting point of a mounted drive to a folder on an NTFS volume. mounted drive - ansA drive that is mapped to an empty folder on an NTFS volume and is assigned a drive path rather than drive letters. MSCONFIG - ansThe filename for the System Configuration Utility, which allows you to test various scenarios for Windows startup for troubleshooting purposes. multifunction device (MFD) - ansA device that combines two or more devices, such as a printer, scanner, and fax machine. multifunction printers (MFDs) - ansA printer that includes one or more other functions, such as a scanner and fax machine. multi-GPU solution - ansThe use of two or more video adapters (hence the term "GPU") to drive a single display for the purpose of increasing performance.
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Multilingual User Interface (MUI) - ansThe code used to provide multiple language support to Windows. Multimedia Terminal Adapter (MTA) - ansOn a cable network, the device used at the customer site for the analog/digital conversion. multimeter - ansA handheld device used to measure electrical resistance, voltage, and/or current. multimode fiber (MMF) - ansFiber-optic cable in which multiple light waves can pass simultaneously. Usually larger in diameter than single-mode fiber; and each wave uses a certain portion of the fiber cable for transmission. multi-monitor - ansThe use of more than one monitor on a single computer. multiplexing - ansIn telecommunications, a technique that combines multiple messages or signals onto a single transmission channel. musical instrument digital interface (MIDI) - ansA standard for interconnecting electronic musical instruments to communicate with computers and among themselves. NetBEUI - ansA non-routable network protocol suite for use only in small networks. NetBIOS - ansA protocol developed in the 1980s by IBM for managing names on a network. Also used by Microsoft in early networking. Replaced by DNS on TCP/IP networks. netbook - ansA scaled-down laptop in the ultra-portable category, designed for Internet access. See also ultra-portable and mini-notebook. NETSTAT - ansA command-line command, installed with the TCP/IP protocol suite, which provides statistical information about the TCP/IP protocols and network connections involving your computer, depending on the switches you use when you enter the command. network address translation (NAT) - ansA TCP/IP protocol developed as a solution to the dwindling number of IP addresses on the Internet and that also serves to hide IP addresses on a private network from the Internet. network client - ansSoftware that runs on the computers in a network and that receives services from servers. network interface card (NIC) - ansAn adapter used to connect a computer or other device to a network medium. network operating system (NOS) - ansAn operating system that runs on a network server and provides file sharing and access to other resources, account management, authentication, and authorization services. New Low-profile eXtended (NLX) - ansAn Intel standard for motherboards targeted to the low-end consumer market that includes built-in components, while saving space and fitting into a smaller case nickel metal hydride (NiMH) batteries - ansA now-obsolete type of rechargeable battery used in laptops and other portable devices, replaced by lithium-ion batteries. nickel-cadmium (NiCD) - ansThe type of battery used in the first portable PCs, which was heavy and inefficient. nonvolatile memory - ansMemory that does not require power to keep stored data intact. Also called flash memory. Northbridge - ansOne or more chips in a computer's chipset that controls communications between the CPU and RAM on the motherboard. NSLOOKUP - ansA command-line utility, installed with the TCP/IP protocol suite, that is used to troubleshoot DNS problems by querying DNS name servers and displaying the results of the queries. NTFS - ansThe default Windows file system that includes many important features, including encryption and permissions.
