GLOSSARY.

ACCESS METHODS

Also known as network access,these are the methods

which a device com-

municates on a network. Network access provides a standard that all devices that wish to commu-

nicate on a network must abide by in order to eliminate communication conflicts.

ACTIVE MATRIX DISPLAY

Active matrix diplay are based on Thin Film Transistor technology.

Instead of having two rows of transistors, active matrix display have a transistor at every pixel, which

enables much quicker display changes than passive matrix display and produces display quality

comparable to a CRT.

ANSI.SYS

ANSI.SYS is a DOS system file that is loaded by CONFIG.SYS if required.

This file loads an extended character set for use by DOS and DOS applications that includes basic

drawing and color capabilities. Normally used for drawing and filling different boxes foe menu

systems, it is seldom in use today. By default, it carries no attributes, and is not required for OS

startup.

ARCHIVE ATTRIBUTE

The ARCHIVE attribute is set automatically when a file is created

or modified, and is automatically removed by back-up software when the file is backed up.

ATTRIB.EXE

ATTRIB.EXE is a utility that can be used to change the attributes of a file or

group of files.

AUTOEXEC.BAT

A user-editable system file, AUTOEXEC.BAT contains commands to modify

the PC environment (PATH, COMSPEC, other SET commands), and to execute applications. It can

be used to create a menu system, prompt for user input, or call other batch files to maintain a

modular structure. By default, it carries no attributes, and is not required for OS startup.

BASIC INPUT OUTPUT SYSTEM

See BIOS

BI-DIRECTIONAL PRINT MODE

Most common in some of the newer and more

advanced printers, bi-directional print mode means that the printer is able to talk back to the compu-

ter, enabling, for example, the printer to send the user exact error messages that are displayed on

the workstation. It also helps the spooler to avoid print spooler stalls.

BIOS

Most commonly known as BIOS, Basis Input Output System is a standard set of

instructions or programs that handle boot operations. When an application needs to proform am I/O

operation on a computer, the operating system makes the request to the system BIOS, which in

turn translates the request into the appropriate instruction set used by the hardware device.

BROWNOUT

Momemtary lapses in power supply. Brownouts can cause problems with

computer components that are nor designed to withstand these events.

BUS

A bus is the actual pathway used to transmit electronic sinals from one

computer device to another.

BUS TOPOLOGY

In a local network, a bus topology has each device on the network connected

to a central cable, or bus. Most common with coaxial cabling.

CACHE MEMORY

Cache memory is used to store frequently used instructions and data so that

they can be accessed quickly by the computer.

CARRIER SENSE MULTIPLE ACCESS/COLLOSION DETECTION

See CSMA/CD.

CENTRAL PROCESSING UNIT

See CPU

CHIP CREEP

A phenomenon wherby a computer chip becomes loose witthin its socket.

CLEANING BLADE

This rubber blade inside a laser printer extends the length of the

photosensitive drum. It removes excess toner after the print process has completed and deposits

it into a reservoir for re-use.

CMOS

The Complementary Metal-Oxide Semeicondustor (or CMOS) is an integrated

circuit composed of a metal oxide that is located directly on the systemboard. The CMOS which is

similar to RAM in that data can be written to the chip, enables a computer to store essential opera-

ting parameters after the computer has been turned off, enabling a faster system boot.

COAXIAL CABLE

A high-bandwidth network cacle that consists of a central wire

surrounded by a screen of fine wires.

COMMAND.COM

COMMAND.COM is a DOS system file that is automatically

executed in the ROOT directory at startup. This file contains the internal command set and error

messages. By default, it carries no attributes, but is required for OS startup.

COMPLEMENTARY METAL-OXIDE SEMICONDUCTOR

See CMOS

CONFIG.SYS

A user-editable system file that provides the ability to install device drivers.

Windows 95 does not require any specific settings to be made in CONFIG.SYS.

COOPERATIVE MULTITASKING

There are two diffrent types of multitasking: cooperative

and preemptive. Cooperative multitasking means that applications must voluntarily relinquish con-

trol of the CPU. When an application relinquishes control of the CPU, Windows then decides which

application will execute next. The most common way for an application to relinquish control is by

asking Windows if any messages are available.

CPU

The CPU (Central Processing Unit) is the operations center of a computer.

Its job is to provide the devices attached to the computer with directives that retrieve, display,

manipulate, and store information.

CSMA/CD

Most commonly found on Ethernet networks, carrier sence multiple access/

colision detection (CSMA/CD) is a netwotk cummunication protocol and operates in much the same

way as humans communicate. With CSMA/CD, a divice transmits data onto the network. The device

then detects if any other devices have transmitted onto the network at the same time. If it detects

that another device has transmitted data onto the network at the same time, the device then waits

an unspecified random amount of time and retransmit its data.

DEFRAGMENTATION

A process that reorganizes fragmented files back in aproper,

contiguous fashion. This is done by moving several of them to an unused portion of the drive, erasing

the previous locations in contiguous clusters, then rewriting the files back in proper sequence.

Performed periodically, defragmentation is probably the single best operation a user can perform to

maintain a high-performance system.

DEVICE DRIVER

Device drivers are programs that translate necessary information

between the operating system and the specific peripheral device for which they are configured,

such as a printer.

DIAL-UP ACCESS

Dial-up access is defined as access provided to the Internet, a LAN

or even another computer by using a phone-line and a modem. Dial-up access does not have to be

a connection to any network.

DIAL-UP NETWORKING

Refers to the typt of network in wich a modem is used to connect

two or more workstations.

DIMM

A Dull In-Line Memory Module (DIMM) is very similar to a SIMM; it's a small plug-in

circuit board that contains the memory chips that you need to add certain increments of RAM to

your computer. Because the memory chips run along both sides of the chip, DIMM chips can hold

twice as much memory as SIMM chips.

DIP SWITCH

Dual In-Line package (DIP) switches are very tiny boxes with switches em-

bedded in them. Each switch set a value of 0 or 1, depending on how they are set. These switches

are used to provide user-accessible configuration settings for computers and peripheral devices.

DIRECT MEMORY ACCESS

See DMA

DIRTY CURRENT

Noise present on a power line is referred to as dirty current. This

noise is caused by electro-magnetic interference (EMI) and can stray, or leak, from the current into

nearby components. When EMI leaks from power current, it is called a magnetic field and can

easily damage computer components.

DMA

Direct memory access (DMA) is a facility by which a peripheral can commu-

nicate directly with RAM, without intervention by the CPU.

DNS

Domain Name System (DNS) is the Internet-based system that resolves

symbolic names to IP addresses (which are a series of numbers) that the computer is able to

understand

DOCKING STATION

Docking stations allow users to add "desktop-like" capabilities,

such as mouse, monitor, or keyboard, to their portable computer by plugging these components

into a docking station and connecting their portable only to the docking station, rather than to each

individual component.

DOMAIN NAME SYSTEM

See DNS

DOS MODE

DOS Mode, or DOS Compatibility Mode as it is commonly known, allows

execution of some older MS-DOS applications that are not capable of running in Windows 95.

Applications that require use of MS-DOS mode are usually blocked from operation within Windows

95. DOS itself stands for Disk Operating System.

DOWNLOAD

Downloading refers to the process of transferring file or files from one com-

puter to another. Unlike uploading, the tranfer is always initiated by the computer that will be recei-

ving the file(s).

DOWNTIME

Downtim is the time wasted as a result of a malfunctioning computer or net-

work.

DRAM

Dynamic Random Access Memory (DRAM) chips abandoned the idea of

using the unwieldy transistors and switches in favor of using the smaller capacitors that could

reprsent 0s and 1s as an electronic charge. This resulted in the ability to store more information on

a single chip, but also meant that the chip needed a constant refresh and hence more power.

DUAL IN-LINE MEMORY MODULE

See DIMM

DUAL IN-LINE PACKAGE SWITCH

See DIP Switch

DYNAMIC RAM

See DRAM

EBKAC ERROR

A common error that most technicians face, the EBKAC error

stands for Error Between Keyboard and Chair. As that implies,EBKAC errors are not technical

errors, but rather errors on the part of the end user. Common EBKAC errors include power cords

being onplugged, no paper in the printer, and power switches being turned off.

ECP

ECP (Extended Capability Port) is a parallel printer interface designed to

speed up data transfer rates by bypassing the processor and writing tha data directly to memory.

EDO RAM

Extended Data Output RAM (EDO RAM) is a type of DRAM chip designed

for processor access speeds of apprximately 10 to 15 percent above Fast-page mode memory

EISA

Extended Industry Standard Architecture (EISA) is an industry standard bus

architecture that allows for peripherals to utilize the 32-bit data bus that is available with 386 and

486 processors.

ELECTROPHOTOGRAPHIC PRINTING PROCESS

See EP Process

EMM386.EXE

EMM386.EXE is a DOS system file that, along witch HIMEM.SYS, controls

memory management. It is not required for system startup in pre-Windows 95 machines. Basically

this is an expanded memory emulator that performs two major functions. It enables and controls

EMS, if derired, and enables the use of upper memory as system memory.

ENHANCED PARALLEL PORT

See EPP

EP PROCESS

The EP (Electrophotographic Printing) process is the six-step process that a

laser printer goes through to put an image on a page. The process follows these six steps:

Cleaning Charging, Writing, Developing, Tranferring, and Fusing.

EPP

EPP (Enhanced Parallel Port) is an expansion bus that offers an extended

control code set. With EPP mode, data travels both from the computer to the printer and vice versa.

ERROR BETWEEN KEYBOARD AND CHAIR

See EBKAC error.

EXIT ROLLER

One of four different types of rollers found in printers, exit rollers aid in the

tranfer and control of the paper as it leaves the printer. Depending on the printer type, they direct

the paper to a tray where it can be colated, sorted or even stapled.

EXPANDED MEMORY SPECIFICATION

See EMS

EXTENDED CAPABILITY PORT

See ECP

EXTENDED DATA OUTPUT RAM

See EDO RAM

EXTENDED INDUSTRY STANDARD ARCHITECTURE

See EISA

EXTENDED MEMORY SPECIFICATION

See XMS

FDISK

A DOS-based utility program used to partition a hard disk in preparation for

installing an operating system

FEED ROLLER

One of four different types of rollers found in printers. Also known

as paper pickup roller, the feed roller, when activated, rotates against the top page in the paper tray

and rolls it onto the printer. The feed roller works together with a special rubber pad to prevent more

than one sheet from being fed into the printer at a time.

FIBER OPTIC CABLE

Extremely high-speed network cable that consists of glass fibers

that carry light signals instead of electrical signals. Fiber optic cable is best used for transmission

over long distances, and is much less susceptible to environmental difficulties, such as radiation.

FILE TRANSFER PROTOCOL

See FTP

FLAH MEMORY

A faster version of ROM that, while still basically developed as ROM,

can be addressed and loaded thousands of times.

FRAGMENTATION

Because DOS writes files to the hard disk by breaking the file

into cluster-size pieces and then storing each piece in the next available cluster, as files are deleted

and then rewritten, they can be written in noncontiguous clusters scattered all over the disk. This is

known as file fragmentation.

FTP

Much older than the HTTP protocol, the File Transfer Protocol (FTP) is the

protocol used to download files from an FTP server to a client computer. FTP is much faster than

HTTP.

FULLY QUALIFIED PATH

A fully qualified path is the entire path of a file, starting from the

root of the filr system, to the file being referenced.

FUSSING ROLLERS

One of four types of rollers found in laser printers, fusing rollers

comprise the final stage of the Electrophotographic Printing (EP) process, bonding the toner parti-

cles to the page to prevent smearing. The roller on the toner side of the page has a non-stick

surface that heated to a high temperature to permanently bond the toner to the paper.

GHOSTED IMAGE

"GHOSTING" is what occurs when a portion of an image previous-

ly printed to a page is printed again, only not as dark. One cause of this is if the crasur lamp of the l

laser printer sometimes fails to operate correctly, not completely erasing the privious image from

the EP drum. Another cause of ghosting may be a malfunction in the cleaning blade such that it

doesn't adequately scrape away the residual toner.

HANDSHAKING

The process by which two connecting modems agree on the method of

communication to be used.

HIDDEN ATTRIBUTE

The hidden attribute keeps a file from being displayed when a DIR

command is used.

HIMEM.SYS

HIMEM.SYS is a DOS system file that, along with EMM386.EXE, controls

memory management. It is not required for system startup in pre-Windows 95 machines.

HOT DOCK

Hot Docking is the ability of a system to accept new accessories while it is

plugged in.

HTML

Derived from the Standard General Markup Language (SGML), the Hypertext

Markup Language (HTML) is the markup language that dictates the layout and disign of a Web page.

HTTP

Hypertext Transfer Protocol (HTTP) is the TCP/IP-based protocol that is most

commonly used for client/server communications on the World Wide Web.

HUB

Hubs are common connection points for devices in a network. Hubs contain

multiple ports and are commonly used to connect segments of a LAN.

HYPERTEXT MARKUP LANGUAGE

See HTML

HYPERTEXT TRANFER PROTOCOL

See HTTP

IMPACT PRINTER

Impact printers, like the name suggests, require the impact with

an ink ribbon to print characters and images. An example of an impact printer is a daist wheel.

INDUSTRY STANDARD ARCHITECTURE

See ISA

INPUT DEVICE

Input device take data from a user, such as the click of a mouse or the typing

on a keyboard, and convert that data into electrical signals used by your computer. Several devices

that provide input are: keyboards, mice, trackball, pointing devices,digitized tablets, and touch screens.

INTERNET SERVICE PROVIDER

See ISP

INTERNETWORK PACKET EXCHANGE/SEQUENCED PACKET EXCHANGE

See IPX/SPX.

INTERRUPT REQUEST LINE

See IRQ

IO.SYS