ACPI

Advanced Configuration and Power Interface

adapter card

A small circuit board inserted in an expansion slot and used to communicate between the system bus and a peripheral device. Also called an interface card.

Alternating current (AC)

Oscillatory current driven by an alternating voltage.

AMR Slot (mobo)

Audio/modem riser

APIPA

Automatic Private Internet Protocol Address

Basic disk

A single hard drive that works independently of other hard drives

binary number system

The number system used by computers; it has only two numbers, 0 and 1, called binary digits, or bits.

BIOS (basic input/output system)

Firmware that can control much of a computer's input/output functions, such as communication with the floppy drive and the monitor.

BIOS setup

The program in system BIOS that can change the values in CMOS RAM. Also called CMOS setup.

Block mode

Speeds up access time by allowing blocks of data to be read from the drive at one time

BNC

Round connectors used by coaxial cable

BootMgr

Is for Windows Vista, 7 and 8

botnet

Network of computer, aka zombies or bots, which are under the full control of one or more groups of people.

Broadcast Storm

A state in which a message that has been broadcast across a network results in even more responses, and each response results in still more responses in a snowball effect.

Bus

Is the logical arrangement of what is carried on the traces or wires.

CAS Latency

Column Access Strobe

CHAP

Challenge Handshake Authentication Protocol

CMOS (complementary metaloxide semiconductor)

The technology used to manufacture microchips. CMOS chips require less electricity, hold data longer after the electricity is turned off, and produce less heat than earlier technologies. The configuration or setup chip is a CMOS chip.

CMOS battery

The battery on the motherboard used to power the CMOS chip when the computer is unplugged.

CMOS RAM

Memory contained on the CMOS configuration chip.

CNR Slot (mobo)

Communication and networking riser

CRC

CRC: Cyclical Redundancy Check

Crosstalk

Data in cables crossing EM fields gets corrupted.

DDoS

Distributed Denial of Service

Denial of Service (DoS)

Hacker(s) send a large number of requests to a website to overwhelm the web servers ability to respond which usually results in a crash.

detac corona

eliminates static charge

Differential backup

Is a backup where after a full backup, only the files that have been changed will be backed up, but the system doesn't know it because the archive bit is left off. Additional changes are independent of any other backups except for the most recent backup.

DIMM (dual inline memory module)

A miniature circuit board installed on a motherboard to hold memory. DIMMs can hold up to 4 GB of RAM on a single module.

Direct current (DC)

Single direction current driven by constant voltage.

Distributed Denial of Service

Hackers use multiple PCs that create a DoS.

DOS

Disk Operating System

DoS

Denial of Service Attack

dxdiag.exe

You can use this executable command to display information about hardware and diagnose problems with DirectX.

Encryption protocols for Vista/XP - default

Kerberos

Firewire

same as IEEE 1394 = iLink

Firewire port - What is the maximum number of devices one can connect to this type of port?

63 devices max.

Firewire port (alternate designation)

IEEE1394 or iLink

firmware

Software that is permanently stored in a chip. The BIOS on a motherboard is an example of firmware.

FRU

Field Replaceable Unit

Full Backup

One to one copy of everything intended to be backed up.

GDI

Graphics Device Interface

Has a maximum speed of 1.2 Gbps or 800 Mbps (megabits per second)

1394b (FireWire)

Has a maximum speed of 1.5 Mbps

Parallel

Has a maximum speed of 3.0 Gbps

eSATA-300 (eSATA Version 2)

Has a maximum speed of 5.0 Gbps (gigabits per second)

SuperSpeed USB 3.0

Has a maximum speed of 12 Mbps or 1.5 Mbps

Original USB (USB 1.1)

Has a maximum speed of 115.2 Kbps (kilobits per second

Serial

Has a maximum speed of 400 Mbps

1394a (FireWire)

Has a maximum speed of 480 Mbps

Hi-Speed USB 2.0

Host (nodes)

Is any device that can communicate and manage its communication using TCP/IP protocol suite. Device that has a Network Interface Card.

How does you access the Device Manager in Windows XP?

Click Start, right-click My Computer, select Properties from the shortcut menu, select Hardware tab from the System Properties window, click Device Manager.

How many devices can you connect to a Firewire host controller.

63 devices max.

IEEE 1394.3

Designed for peer-to-peer data transmission

Incremental backup

Is a backup where after a full backup, only the files that have changed will be backed up and the system knows because if the archive bit is turned on. Additional changes to data will be "added" to the make up of the files.

License

Permission for an individual to use a product or service. A manufacturer's method of maintaining ownership, while granting permission for use to others.

LLC

LLC: Logical Link Control

MAC

MAC: Media Access Control

memory address

A number assigned to each byte in memory. The CPU can use memory addresses to track where information is stored in RAM. Memory addresses are usually displayed as hexadecimal numbers in segment/offset form.

motherboard

The main board in the computer. The CPU, ROM chips, SIMMs, DIMMs, RIMMs, and interface cards are plugged into the motherboard. Also called the main board or system board.

Network port

Ethernet or LAN port = RJ-45

Network port (alternate designation)

RJ-45

North Bridge

That portion of the chipset hub that connects faster I/O busses to the system bus. (Because different processors and RAM require different signaling, a given North Bridge will typically work with only one or two classes of CPUs and generally only one type of RAM.)

Ntldr

Is for Windows 2000 and XP

parallel ATA (PATA)

An older IDE cabling method that uses a 40-pin flat or round data cable or an 80-conductor cable and a 40-pin IDE connector. (See also serial ATA.)

Parallel port

same as IEEE 1284

Parallel port (alternate designation)

IEEE 1284

PCL

Printer Control Language

Short for Personal Computer Memory Card International Association. There are now three types of PCMCIA cards. All three have the same rectangular size (85.6 by 54 millimeters), but different widths:

PCMCIA

Type I cards - can be up to 3.3 mm thick, and are used primarily for adding additional ROM or RAM to a computer. Type II cards - can be up to 5.5 mm thick. These cards are often used for modem and fax modem cards. Type III cards - can be up to 10.5 mm thick, which is sufficiently large for portable disk drives.

phone modem port (alternate designation)

RJ-11

Physical Address

= MAC Address (Media Access Control)

power supply

A box inside the computer case that supplies power to the motherboard and other installed devices. Power supplies provide 3.3, 5, and12 volts DC. Also called a power supply unit (PSU).

Power/Line Conditioner

Purifies or regulates the level of electricity (built-in capacitor protects against spikes, but also sags).

PPP

Point-to-Point Protocol for phone (dial-up)

PPP

PPP: Point-to-Point Protocol

PPPoE

Point-to-Point Protocol over Ethernet

PPPoE

Point to Point Protocol over Ethernet

primary corona

charging roller on a laser printer

primary storage

Temporary storage on the motherboard used by the CPU to process data and instructions. Memory is considered primary storage.

PS/2 port

same as a 6-pin DIN

RAM (random access memory)

Memory modules on the motherboard containing microchips used to temporarily hold data and programs while the CPU processes both. Information in RAM is lost when the PC is turned off.

RAS Latency

Row Access Strobe

Rectifier

Converts AC to DC.

Remote Code Execution

Type of vulnerability that allows anyone with the know-how to gain full admin control of any computer.
A type of memory module that takes up less space inside the computer than the older DIMM module and has different pin characteristics. Developed by Rambus, Inc. (A RIMM has a 184-pin connector.)

RIMM

S1 state

The ACPI power saving mode where the hard drive and monitor are turned off and everything else runs normally.

S2 state

The ACPI power saving mode where the hard drive, monitor, and processor are turned off.

S3 state

The ACPI power saving mode where everything is shut down except RAM and enough of the system to respond to a wake-up call such as pressing the keyboard. Also called sleep mode or standby mode.
The ACPI power saving mode where everything in RAM is copied to a file on the hard drive and the system is shut down. When the system is turned on, the file is used to restore the system to its state before shut down. Also called hibernation.

S4 state

secondary storage

Storage that is remote to the CPU and permanently holds data, even when the PC is turned off, such as a hard drive.

serial ATA (SATA)

An ATAPI cabling method that uses a narrower and more reliable cable than the 80-conductor cable. (See also parallel ATA.)

Serial port

same as DB-9 (DB15 Game Port) = RS-232 or RS-232(c)

serial port

A male 9-pin or 25-pin port on a computer system used by slower I/O devices such as a mouse or modem. Data travels serially, one bit at a time, through the port. Serial ports are sometimes configured as COM1, COM2, COM3, or COM4.

Serial port (alternate designation)

RS-232 or RS-232c

SIMD (single instruction, multiple data)

A process that allows the CPU to execute a single instruction simultaneously on multiple pieces of data, rather than by repetitive looping.

SIMM (single inline memory module)

A miniature circuit board used in older computers to hold RAM. SIMMs holds 8, 16, 32, or 64 MB on a single module.

SO-RIMM (small outline RIMM)

A 160-pin memory module used in notebooks that uses Rambus technology.

solid state drive (SSD)

A hard drive that has no moving parts.

That portion of the chipset hub that connects slower I/O busses to the system bus.

South Bridge

The South Bridge handles all of a computer's I/O functions, such as USB, audio, serial, the system BIOS, the ISA bus, the interrupt controller and the IDE channels. (Note: In Intel chipset systems, the South Bridge is named Input/Output Controller Hub (ICH). AMD, beginning with its Fusion APUs, has given it the label FCH, or Fusion Controller Hub.)

SSE (Streaming SIMD Extension)

A CPU technology that allows the CPU to receive a single instruction and then execute it on multiple pieces of data. SSE also improves on 3D graphics.

SSE2

An improved version of SSE that has a larger instruction set.

SSE4

A CPU instruction set that improved 3D imaging for gaming and improved performance with data mining applications over the earlier SSE3 instruction set.

static RAM

RAM chips that retain information without the need for refreshing, as long as the computer's power is on. They are more expensive than traditional DRAM.

Surge Protector / Surge Suppressor

Protects equipment against a surge, which blows a fuse, when the electricity reaches or spikes to a damaging level.

system bus

The bus between the CPU and memory on the motherboard. The bus frequency in documentation is called the system speed, such as 400 MHz. Also called the memory bus, front-side bus, local bus, or host bus.

system clock

A line on a bus that is dedicated to timing the activities of components connected to it. The system clock provides a continuous pulse that other devices use to time themselves.

TCP/IP

Transmission Control Protocol/Internet Protocol

TDR

Time Domain Reflectometer: Identifies where the break in the line occurs.

thermal compound

A creamlike substance that is placed between the bottom of the cooler heatsink and the top of the processor to eliminate air pockets and to help to draw heat off the processor.

Trace

Is the actual copper wire embedded in silicon.

transfer corona

charges paper

Transformer

Changes ratio of current to voltage.

triple core

A processor package that contains three core processors, thus supporting six instructions at once.

UNC

Universal Naming Convention \\hostname, server name, IP address\resource, folder, drive\sub\sub\file

URL

Uniform Resource Locator http://www.google.com

USB port - What is the maximum number of devices one can connect to this type of port?

127 devices max.

VPN

VPN: Virtual Private Network

What are the steps to launch Device Manager in Vista?

Click Start, right-click Computer, select Properties on the shortcut menu, Click Device Manager on the System window and respond to UAC box.

What is at the beginning of a hard drive?

Master Boot Record

What is the command to launch the Device Manager?

devmgmt.msc (which is the primary Windows tool for managing hardware)

What is the process for printing on a laser printer?

electrophotographic printing

What tasks are available in the Device Manager?

*Uninstall a device *Obtain more device information *Run diagnostics to test a device or report problems *Drivers (View details about installed drivers, update drivers, undo a driver update, disable, or enable a device)

What two things does the Master Boot Record contain?

The MBR Program and the Partition Table

white listing

List of "pre-approved" known good software/programs that are allowed to run.

Windows Experience Index (WEI) score

The WEI includes five subscores: processor, memory, 2D graphics, 3D graphics, and disk; the basescore is equal to the lowest of the subscores. (Windows System Assessment Tool (WinSAT) is a module of Microsoft Windows Vista, Windows 7, and Windows 8 that is available in the Control Panel under Performance Information and Tools. It measures various performance characteristics and capabilities of the hardware it is running on and reports them as a Windows Experience Index or WEI score.)

A wireless ad hoc network is a decentralized type of wireless network. The network is ad hoc because it does not rely on a preexisting infrastructure, such as routers in wired networks or access points in managed (infrastructure) wireless networks. Instead, each node participates in routing by forwarding data for other nodes, and so the determination of which nodes forward data is made dynamically based on the network connectivity. In addition to the classic routing, ad hoc networks can use flooding for forwarding the data.

Wireless ad-hoc network