Dell Inspiron 2000 User Manual

Page 28

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bus

An information pathway between the components of a computer. Your computer contains an expansion bus that allows the microprocessor to communicate with controllers
for all the various devices connected to the computer. Your computer also contains an address bus and a data bus for communications between the microprocessor and
RAM.

 

byte

Eight contiguous bits of information, the basic data unit used by your computer.

 

BZT

Abbreviation for Bundesamt fur Zulassungen in der Telekommunikation.

 

 

C

Abbreviation for Celsius.

 

cache

A fast storage area that keeps a copy of data or instructions for quicker data retrieval. Cache memory enhances the speed of many microprocessor operations by storing the
most-recently accessed contents of system memory.

 

capitals lock mode

The

key toggles between upper- and lowercase type.

 

CardBus

An I/O bus architecture that combines the PCMCIA form factor with 32-bit, 33-MHz PCI bus protocols.

 

carnet

A carnet is an international customs document (also known as a merchandise passport) that facilitates temporary imports into foreign countries and is valid for up to one year.

 

CD-ROM

Abbreviation for compact disc read-only memory. CD-ROM drives use optical technology to read data from CDs. CDs are read-only storage devices; you cannot write new
data to a CD with standard CD-ROM drives.

 

CGA

Abbreviation for color graphics adapter.

 

cm

Abbreviation for centimeter(s).

 

CMOS

Acronym for complementary metal-oxide semiconductor. In computers, CMOS memory chips are often used for NVRAM storage.

 

COMn

The device names for the first through fourth serial ports on your computer are COM1, COM2, COM3, and COM4. The default interrupt for COM1 and COM3 is IRQ4, and the
default interrupt for COM2 and COM4 is IRQ3. Therefore, you must be careful when configuring software that runs a serial device so that you don't create an interrupt conflict.

 

component

As they relate to DMI, manageable components are operating systems, application programs, desktop and server computer systems, adapter cards, or peripherals that are
compatible with DMI. Each component is made up of groups and attributes that are defined as relevant to that component.

 

CON

The MS-DOS

®

device name for the console, which includes your computer's keyboard and text displayed on the screen.

 

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.

 

controller

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