Dell Inspiron 3500 - Manual (Page 54)

video card
An expansion card that provides the video capabilities —in combination with the monitor—for your computer system. A video card may support
more or fewer features than a specific monitor offers. Typically, a video card comes with video drivers for displaying popular application programs
and operating systems in a variety of video modes.
Video cards can include memory separate from RAM on the system board. The amount of video memory, along with the card's video drivers, may
affect the number of colors that can be simultaneously displayed. Video cards can also include their own coprocessor for faster graphics
rendering.
video driver
A program that allows graphics-mode application programs and operating systems to be displayed at a chosen resolution with the desired
number of colors. A software package may include some "generic" video drivers. Any additional video drivers may need to match the video card
installed in the computer.
video memory
Most VGA and SVGA video cards include memory chips in addition to the computer's RAM. The amount of video memory installed primarily
influences the number of colors that a program can display (with the appropriate video drivers and monitor capabilities).
video mode
Video cards normally support multiple text and graphics display modes. Character-based software, such as text editors, display in text modes that
can be defined as x columns by y rows of characters. Graphics-based software, such as the Windows 98 operating system, displays in graphics
modes that can be defined as x horizontal pixels by y vertical pixels by z colors.
video resolution
Video resolution —800 x 600, for example—is expressed as the number of pixels across by the number of pixels up and down. To display a
program at a specific graphics resolution, you must install the appropriate video drivers and your monitor must support the resolution.
virus
A program designed to be an inconvenience, either by replicating itself until a computer or network runs out of memory or by corrupting files stored
on a hard-disk drive.
The most common way that virus programs move from one computer to another is via "infected" diskettes and from software downloaded from the
Internet. When an infected program is started, so is the embedded virus.
W
W
Abbreviation for watt(s).
wallpaper
The background appearance of the Windows desktop.
WH
Abbreviation for watt-hour(s).
win.ini file
A start-up file for the Windows operating system. When you start Windows, it consults the win.ini file to determine a variety of options for the
Windows operating environment. Among other things, the win.ini file records what printer(s) and fonts are installed for Windows. The win.ini file
also usually includes sections that contain optional settings for Windows application programs that are installed on the hard-disk drive.
Windows 98
An integrated and complete Microsoft Windows operating system that does not require MS-DOS and provides advanced operating system
performance, improved ease of use, enhanced workgroup functionality, and simplified file management and browsing.
Windows NT
High-performance server and workstation operating system software intended for technical, engineering, and financial applications.
write-protected
Read-only files are said to be write-protected. You can write-protect a 3.5-inch diskette by sliding its write-protect tab to the open position or by