Itn 221 Midterm

Windows disk utilities

Check Disk, Disk Defrangement

Giga

10^9

Task Manager

A Windows utility that shows programs currently running and permits you to exit nonresponsive programs when you click End Task.

The Registry

A database that Windows uses to store hardware and software configuration information, user preferences, and setup information.

Applications

A program or group of programs that are designed for users to accomplish a specific task. Word processors, Web browsers, games, database management programs, presentation programs are a few examples of applications.

Quantum computing

A technology that applies the principles of quantum physics and quantum mechanics to computers to direct atoms or nuclei to work together as quantum bits (qubits), which function simultaneously as the computer's processor and memory.

L2 cache

A type of memory cache that is slightly slower than L1 cache, but has a much larger capacity, ranging from 64 KB to 16 MB.

Secondary memory

A type of memory that allows a user to store data and programs for as long as desired, in, for example, a hard disk drive.

I/O Devices

An input device sends information to a computer system for processing, and an output device reproduces or displays the results of that processing. ... In the lower half of the image, the computer sends, or outputs, data to a printer, which will print the data onto a piece of paper, also considered output.

L1 cache

Cache used by a CPU for short-term storage of data and instructions. It is the fastest and closest to the CPU.

Random Access Memory (RAM)

Computer location where instructions and data are stored on a temporary basis. This memory is volatile.

Windows Device Manager

Device Manager is the tool that shows the devices that are currently connected to your system. It's very helpful when tracking down Plug and Play issues, especially with USB products.

Binary numbering

Find a binary number you want to convert. We'll use this as an example: 101010. Multiply each binary digit by two to the power of its place number. Remember, binary is read from right to left. The rightmost place number being zero. Add all the results together. Let's go from right to left.

Computers rely on .......... to store data permanently. They are storage devices used to save and retrieve digital information that will be required for future reference. Hard drives are non-volatile, meaning that they retain data even when they do not have power.

Hard Disk Technology

Kilos

Kilo is a decimal unit prefix in the metric system denoting multiplication by one thousand (103). 2.2 pounds equals 1 kilo

...creates the physical format that dictates where data is stored on the disk. Also see high-level format. Modern hard drives are low-level formatted at the factory for the life of the drive. A PC can not perform an LLF on a modern IDE/ATA or SCSI hard disk, and doing so would destroy the hard disk.

Low and High Level Formatting

is the observation made by Intel co-founder Gordon Moore that the number of transistors on a chip doubles every two years while the costs are halved.

Moore's Law

is the observation made by Intel that the number of transistors on a chip doubles every two years while the costs are halved.

Moore's Law

read-only memory (ROM)

Permanent storage; instructions are burned onto chips by the manufacturer.

Virtual memory

Space on a hard disk or other storage device that simulates random access memory.

Tera

Tera is a unit prefix in the metric system denoting multiplication by 1012 or 1000000000000

was the world's first personal computer ( PC ) to attract a substantial number of users. When it appeared on the cover of the January 1975 issue of Popular Electronics , ignited the (still accelerating) personal computer boom.

The Altair

The Babbage Machine

The Analytical Engine was a proposed mechanical general-purpose computer designed by English mathematician and computer pioneer Charles Babbage.

CPU clock rate

The clock rate typically refers to the frequency at which a chip like a central processing unit, one core of a multi-core processor, is running and is used as an indicator of the processor's speed. It is measured in clock cycles per second or its equivalent, the SI unit hertz

Memory Address

The computer assigns numbers or addresses to physical memory locations on boot up to keep track of the information that the CPU has access to. This process is referred to as Memory Mapping.

Primary Storage

The computer's main memory, which consists of the random access memory (RAM), cache memory, and the read-only memory (ROM) that is directly accessible to the CPU

power-on self-test (POST)

The first job the basic input/output system (BIOS) performs, ensuring that essential peripheral devices are attached and operational. This process consists of a test on the video card and video memory, a BIOS identification process (during which the BIOS version, manufacturer, and data are displayed on the monitor), and a memory test to ensure memory chips are working properly.

System Bus

The system bus is a pathway composed of cables and connectors used to carry data between a computer microprocessor and the main memory. The bus provides a communication path for the data and control signals moving between the major components of the computer system

Flash Memory

Type of nonvolatile memory that can be erased electronically and rewritten.

Magnetic Storage

Type of secondary storage that users magnets to read and store data. Examples include floppy disks and hard disks.

intel and AMD

Which of the following are the two leading manufacturers of personal computer processor chips?

Performance Monitor

a program that assesses and reports information about various computer resources and devices

Network Hardware

also known as network equipment or computer networking devices, are physical devices which are required for communication and interaction between devices on a computer network. Specifically, they mediate data in a computer network. Such as hub, switch, router, modem

I/O Addresses

are unique locations in memory that are reserved for communications between the CPU and specific physical hardware devices.

Low and High Level Formatting

creates the physical format that dictates where data is stored on the disk. Also see high-level format. Modern hard drives are low-level formatted at the factory for the life of the drive. A PC can not perform an LLF on a modern IDE/ATA or SCSI hard disk, and doing so would destroy the hard disk.

DRAM

dynamic random access memory stores each bit by using a single transistor and capacitor

EPROM

erasable programmable read-only memory

EPROM

erasable programmable read-only memory chips can be rewritten many times. Erasing an EPROM requires a special tool that emits a certain frequency of ultraviolet (UV) light.

hexadecimal numbering

hexadecimal (also base 16, or hex) is a positional numeral system with a radix, or base, of 16. It uses sixteen distinct symbols, most often the symbols "0"-"9" to represent values zero to nine, and "A"-"F" (or alternatively "a"-"f") to represent values ten to fifteen

Interrupt Requests

is a hardware signal sent to the processor that temporarily stops a running program and allows a special program, an interrupt handler, to run instead

Software

is a set of instructions and its associated documentations that tells a computer what to do or how to perform a task. Software includes all different software programs on a computer, such as applications and the operating system.

The Cloud

is a term referring to accessing computer, information technology (IT), and software applications through a network connection, often by accessing data centers using wide area networking (WAN) or Internet connectivity.

Windows Device Manager

is the tool that shows the devices that are currently connected to your system. It's very helpful when tracking down Plug and Play issues, especially with USB products.

DOS

md cd cd...

Hertz

the unit of frequency, equal to one cycle per second

Bytes

used to measure computer memory and storage (8 bits)