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CompTIA A+ Certification Study Guide: Key Terms and Concepts, Exams of Information Technology

This document serves as a valuable study guide for the comptia a+ certification exam, covering essential terms and concepts in computer hardware and software. it provides concise definitions and explanations of various components, technologies, and processes relevant to pc systems and networking. The guide is useful for students preparing for the exam and those seeking to enhance their understanding of computer fundamentals.

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CompTIA A+® Certification Study Guide
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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
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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

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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 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.

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backup media - ansAny writable mass storage device, removable or fixed in place. Balanced Technology eXtended - ansA motherboard form factor introduced in 2003 by Intel as the successor to ATX. bandwidth - ansThe amount of data that can travel over a network at a given time. bar code reader - ansA specialized type of scanner that reads bar codes, which are patterns of bars of varying widths printed on labels or directly on items. The bar pattern is converted into a numeric code that is transmitted to a computer as data. basic disk - ansA disk that uses basic storage, which means that it uses the partition table in the master boot record (MBR) to define disk partitions. 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.

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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. 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.

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Control Panel - ansA Windows folder that contains numerous applets you can use to adjust the configuration of many different aspects of the OS. (8) control unit - ansIn a CPU, the component that is primarily responsible for directing all the activities of the computer and the interactions of its components. cookies - ansSmall text files a Web browser saves on the local hard drive at the request of a Website. copy - ansA file operation in which the file or folder remains in the source location, and a duplicate is created in the target (destination) location CPU fan - ansA cooling fan located on a CPU. CrossFire - ansA multi-GPU solution developed by ATI. customer premises equipment - ansA T-1 multiplexer or a special LAN bridge that connects to the telephone company's channel service unit (CSU), which encodes data for transmission over a T-carrier circuit. data migration - ansThe moving of data from one storage device to another. datagram - ansThe chunks into which the TCP protocol packages data. In addition to the data, each datagram contains information, stored in a header, which is used by the TCP protocol on the receiving end to reassemble the chunks of data into the original message. 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.

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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 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.

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computers participating in the domain, and it is used to authenticate a user for access to any resource in the domain. DNS - ansThe Internet service that manages access to Internet domain names and the naming system it uses for computers and resources connected to the Internet or in a private network. dot matrix printer - ansA type of printer that uses a matrix of pins striking paper through an ink ribbon to create dots on the paper, forming alphanumeric characters and graphic images. dotted decimal notation - ansThe format in which IP addresses are usually shown, with decimal numbers separated by "dots" as in 192.168.100.2. double-data rate SDRAM - ansRAM that doubles the rate of speed at which a standard SDRAM can process data double-sided DVD - ansA DVD of any type that can store data on both sides of the disc. drive image - ansAn exact duplicate of an entire hard drive's contents, including the OS and all installed software. drive lock password - ansA password that locks your hard drive and is often stored in a TPM chip drive path - ansWhen a mount point exists between a partition or volume to a folder on another volume, the drive path is the path (including a drive letter) to that partition or volume. drive-by download - ansA program downloaded to a computer without the user's consent. The user unwittingly initiates the download by some simple act, such as browsing to a Website or opening an e-mail message written in HTML. Or a user may initiate a drive-by download by installing an application. driver signing - ansThe practice of applying a digital signature to device driver code. DIMM - ansA memory module (stick) that installs into matching DIMM sockets found on many motherboards. The word "dual" refers to the separate pins or connections on both sides of the module and socket. dual layer - ansPertaining to a DVD drive and disc that can store data in two pitted layers on each data side, with each layer having a different reflectivity index. 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.

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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 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.

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expansion bus - ansA grouping of wires built into a PC that, based on certain protocols, transfers data, control signals, and power to printed circuit boards (adapter cards) that are plugged into connectors in it. ExpressCard - ansA PCMCIA card standard that comes in two interfaces: PCIe and USB 2. extended partition - ansA partition type that can exist on a basic disk and have one or more logical drive letters assigned to it. A Windows operating system cannot boot from this type of partition EVGA - ansA VESA standard for graphics adapters with a maximum graphics resolution of 1024 × 768 pixels extension magnet - ansA long-handled tool with a magnet on one end, used to pick up small objects containing iron. external cache - ansIn a CPU, special memory that resides outside the CPU's core and is used to temporarily store instructions and data in order to increase the processing speed. Also called Level 2 (L2) cache and Level 3 (L3) cache, depending on the design of the CPU and motherboard. External Serial ATA (eSATA) - ansAn extension of the SATA standard for external SATA devices, with speeds triple that of USB 2.0. Fast Ethernet - ansUsing the same cabling as 10BaseT or 100Base-T, operates at 100 Mbps and uses different network interface cards. fast page mode (FPM) - ansAn early technology for increasing the performance of DRAM. FAT file system - ansA file system in which one of the basic structures is a table used for allocating space. FAT12 - ansA version of the FAT file system for very small drives—mainly for floppy drives, using a 12-bit file allocation table. FAT16 - ansA version of the FAT file system used by MS-DOS for hard drives, using a 16- bit file allocation table. FAT32 - ansA version of the FAT file system used by hard drives and some flash drives (thumb drives, etc.), using a 32-bit file allocation table. fiber-optic cable - ansA cable medium that transmits light pulses rather than electrical signals, so it is not susceptible to electromagnetic interference (EMI). FRU - ansA component that you can install into a system onsite, such as memory modules, heat sinks, and CMOS batteries file - ansInformation organized as a unit into a container. The author (creator) of a file controls how much information the file contains. FAT - ansThe file system component in the ___file system in which the OS creates a table that serves as a map of where files reside on disk 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.

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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. 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.

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Ethernet __ have been largely replaced by Ethernet switches. [2] A multiport connecting device for USB devices. hyper threading - ansA CPU technology that allows two threads to execute at the same time within a single execution core. This technology is considered to be partially parallel execution. Intel introduced it in the Pentium 4 Xeon CPU. Also known as simultaneous multithreading (SMT). HTML - ansThe language of Web pages. Web designers use this language to create Web page code, which your Web browser converts into the pages you view on your screen. HTTP - ansThe information transfer protocol of the World Wide Web (WWW). Included in HTTP are the commands Web browsers use to request Web pages from Web servers and then display them on the screen of the local computer. I/O address - ansAn assigned address or range of addresses on a system's address bus that, together with an interrupt request line (IRQ), allows a device to be recognized by the processor. icon - ansIn an operating system GUI, a tiny graphic representing an application, folder, disk, menu item, or other entity. identity theft - ansThis occurs when someone collects personal information belonging to another person and uses that information to fraudulently make purchases, open new credit accounts, and even obtain new driver's licenses and other forms of identification in the victim's name. IEC-320 connector - ansA slide switch on the exterior of a PC power supply used to switch between two input voltages. IEEE - ansThe Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers, an international nonprofit organization that sets standards as part of its charter. IEEE 1284 - ansA parallel interface standard that supports bidirectional communication and transfer rates of up to 2 MBps. IEEE 1394 - ansAn external serial bus standardized by the IEEE. Apple first developed it as FireWire. Other manufacturers call it i.link or Lynx. It can support up to 63 daisy-chained devices. Since the introduction of the faster update, IEEE 1394b, the original standard is called IEEE 1394a. IEEE 1394a - ansThe original version of the IEEE 1394 standard that supports speeds up to 400 Mbps. IEEE 1394b - ansThe second version of the IEEE 1394 standard; it supports speeds up to 3. Gbps and distances of up to 100 meters. IEEE 1394c- 2006 - ansThe third version of the IEEE 1394 standard; it is a departure from the old standards in that it uses Category 5e twisted pair cable with RJ-45 connectors, combining Ethernet and FireWire. impact printer - ansA type of printer that transfers ink to paper by causing a print head to strike a printer ribbon containing ink against the paper. inactive KVM switch - ansA type of KVM switch that is controlled through a mechanical switch on the box Independent Basic Service Set (IBSS) - ansA small group of computers communicating wirelessly with one another without the use of a centralized wireless access point (WAP). industry standard architecture (ISA) - ansA very old expansion bus standard, seen in the early IBM PC.

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Infrared (IR) - ansLight waves in the infrared spectrum. Infrared Data Association (IrDA) - ansAn organization that creates specifications for infrared wireless communication. 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.

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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. logical block address (LBA) - ansA method for supporting up to 8.3 GB capacity hard drives. Both the BIOS and hard drive system must use this long filename (LFN) - ansA file or folder name that breaks the 8.3 file-naming convention used in the FAT file system. This term continues to be used on newer file systems. loopback plug - ansA plug designed for testing a specific port type (e.g., serial, parallel, or USB). The plug does not connect to a cable but reroutes the sending pins to the receiving pins. Using special software on the computer, a loopback test is performed in which signals are both sent and received. low-voltage differential (LVD) - ansA technology for transferring serial data at high speeds LPT - ansA name used by the Windows operating systems to identify any parallel port. LPT1 - ansThe name used by the Windows operating systems to identify the first parallel port. LPT2 - ansThe name used by the Windows operating systems to identify the second parallel port. Lucent connector (LC) - ansA fiber-optic connector that has a snap coupling and, at 1.25 mm, is half the size of the SC connector. luminance - ansThe signal in a television transmission that contains the brightness of the image. magnetic mass storage - ansDevice that stores digital data on magnetized media, such as floppy disks, the metal platters in hard disk drives, and magnetic tape media used in tape drives. malware - ansSoftware created to perform malicious acts. Also called malicious software. mass storage device - ansA device that stores a large amount of information, even when it is powered off. MBR - ansThe first physical sector on a hard disk, which contains the initial boot program that the BIOS loads into memory during bootup. It also contains the partition table. master drive - ansThe role of the first EIDE drive on a PATA channel. master file table (MFT) - ansA part of the NTFS file system used to store a transaction-based database, with all file accesses treated as transactions, and if a transaction is not complete, NTFS will roll back to the last successful transaction. MSDS - ansA standardized document that contains general information, ingredients, and fire and explosion warnings as well as health, disposal, and safe transportation information about a particular product Mechanical Transfer Registered Jack (MT-RJ) connector - ansA fiber-optic connector that resembles an RJ-45 network connector and is less expensive and easier to work with than ST or SC connectors.

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Media Access Control (MAC) address - ansThe hardware address of a network device, also called the Ethernet address (on Ethernet devices) or NIC address. media bay - ansA compartment in a portable computer's case that holds a single media device that can be swapped with another. For instance, you may swap an optical drive, a secondary hard drive, or a floppy drive into and out of a single bay. memory - ansA computer's temporary working space, usually in DRAM chips. memory address - ansA logical memory address defined in a processor's address bus that allows the system to access physical RAM or ROM memory locations. memory bank - ansIn reference to a memory module, the number of memory modules required to match the data bus width of the processor. MCC - ansThe portion of the chipset that controls communications between the CPU and system RAM. 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.