Dell Inspiron 3500 User Manual
Page 41
config.sys
The config.sys file is executed when you boot your computer (before running any commands in the autoexec.bat file). This start-up file contains
commands that specify which devices to install and which device drivers to use. This file also contains commands that determine how the
operating system uses memory and controls files.
control panel
The part of the computer that contains indicators and controls such as the power button, hard-disk drive access indicator, and reset button.
controller
A chip that controls the transfer of data between the microprocessor and memory or between the microprocessor and a device such as a disk
drive or the keyboard.
conventional memory
The first 640 KB of RAM. Conventional memory is found in all computers.
coprocessor
A chip that relieves the computer's microprocessor of specific processing tasks. A math coprocessor, for example, handles numeric processing. A
graphics coprocessor handles video rendering. The Intel
® Pentium® microprocessor includes a built-in math coprocessor.
cpi
Abbreviation for characters per inch.
CPU
Abbreviation for central processing unit. See also
.
cursor
A marker, such as a block, underscore, or pointer (possibly blinking), that represents the position at which the next keyboard or mouse action will
occur.
D
DAT
Acronym for digital audio tape.
dB
Abbreviation for decibel(s).
DC
Abbreviation for direct current.
Dell Diagnostics
A comprehensive set of diagnostic tests for your Dell computer. To use the diagnostics, you must boot your computer from your Dell Diagnostics
Diskette.
device driver
A program that allows the operating system or some other program to interface correctly with a device such as a printer. Some device drivers,
such as network drivers
—must be loaded from the config.sys file (with a device= statement) or as memory-resident programs (usually from the
autoexec.bat file). Others
—such as video drivers—must load when you start the program for which they were designed.
DIN
Acronym for Deutsche Industrie Norm.
directory
Directories help keep related files organized on a disk in an ordered, "inverted tree" structure. Each disk has a "root" directory. Additional
directories that branch off of the root directory are called subdirectories. Subdirectories may contain additional directories branching off of them.