glossary
- also in this section >
One of the downsides of providing PC support is the technical language and terminology. I try wherever possible to write things in layman’s terms but thought I’d have a glossary here of some of the common technical PC terminology. I’ll updated this regularly but if you think there’s anthing missing, get in touch. If you can’t find what you need try the search box (right).
32 Bit
An older type of computer processor capable of processing up to 32 bits of binary data (0 or 1) at a time. They can handle up to 4Gb of installed memory. Note, PCs running 32 bit operating systems could the memory on your graphics card towards the 4Gb maximum memory limit.
64 Bit
Much newer processor designs capable of handling 64 binary bits at a time and memory in excess of 4Gb. They offer significant stability and security benefits over 32 bit processors. All modern processors support 64 bit operating systems.
Administrator
The user mode in which software has full access to change / delete anything on your computer. Windows Vista by default runs in a Standard User mode to improve security.
ADSL
The most common type of broadband internet access. Asynchronous Digital Subscriber Line is the access provided by British Telecom and all other non-cable or satellite internet access providers.
AGP
An interface for graphics cards on a PC, has since been replaced by PCI-Express (PCI-E).
BSOD / Blue Screen of Death
A blue information screen with white writing that Windows will display to give information about a critical system failure. If you get a blue screen of death you will have to restart your PC and may need to repair or reinstall Windows.
Blue Screen of Death
Booting
Starting up your computer to use Windows.
Defragmenting
As you create and delete files on your hard drive they leave small blocks of unused space scattered around. This means that when you want to write another file to the disk there might not be a space big enough to put it in at the beginning of the disk. What Windows will do in this situation is write part of the file to the first available bit of space, and put the rest of the file in the next, and so on so you’re files become fragmented across the disk. Defragmenting takes the pieces of all your files and puts them back together again, removing all the gaps.
DEP
Data Execution Prevention, a feature introduced in Windows XP Service Pack 2 to stop viruses. It can also prevent some games from running.
Drive Letters
Typically C: or A:, these are traditional ways to refer to the hard drives and removable storage in your PC.
Driver
Software that tells Windows how to communicate with installed hardware.
Dual Booting
Running more than one operating on your PC. For instance having both Windows XP and Windows Vista installed and choosing when you switch the computer on, which one to boot into.
DirectX
DirectX is the 3D graphics engine for Windows, it enables 3D effects in PC games.
Gb
Gigabyte, A unit of measure. 1Gb = 1000Mb. 1Gb is typically enough space on a hard disk to store 200 MP3s or enough memory to allow Windows Vista to run properly.
Hard Drive / Hard Disk
A physical disk that sits inside your PC on which you store files and data. If you do not have much memory, Windows creates a virtual memory file, called a swap file, that acts as memory but sits on the hard drive. Reading and writing to a hard disk is slower than reading and writing to memory. Hard disks are measured in Gb units.
Parallel Hard Disk
SATA Hard Disk
ICAL
See WebDav, also the calendar program for Apple computers.
Limited User / Standard User
A non-administrator mode (see Administrator) that stops some changes being made to a computer.
Mb
Megabyte, A unit of measure. 1Mb is approximately the amount of storage you can fit on a floppy disk. To compare, a CD will store approximately 650Mb and a DVD will store 4.5Gb.
Memory
Temporary storage for files and programs while your computer is running. The more memory your computer has, typically between 512Mb and 2Gb, the faster it can run because the less reading of the hard disk is required. Reading and writing to memory is faster than to a hard disk. Memory is measured in either Mb or Gb units.
Memory
Motherboard
The largest circuit board in your PC onto which all your other boards and peripherals are plugged in.
Networking
Connecting your computer to a network of others, either in your home or onwards to the internet.
NAS / Network Attached Storage
A box containing hard drives that is attached to a router, allowing shared access to that storage for computers on a network.
Operating System
Aka: Windows. The software that acts as an interface for your computer and that allows you to run software.
Partition
Your hard drive can be split into separate partitions. Each of these becomes its own hard drive in the available space. For instance a 400Gb hard drive can be split into a 100Gb partition followed by two 250Gb partitions. This is useful for keeping your data and files away from your Windows installation.
PCI-E
PCI Express, the new format for graphics cards on a PC, replacing the older AGP standard.
Adobe’s Portable Document Format is an excellent way to transfer documents between people, being operating system independent.
Phishing
Emails that purport to be from Banks or websites such as Amazon or eBay that try and trick you into logging in to what you think is a genuine site to get your passwords and other details.
Power Supply
The large box inside your PC into which you plug the power lead. This box regulates the power to all the components in your machine.
ReadyBoost
A way of increasing the amount of memory in Windows Vista by plugging in a compatible USB pen drive.
Registry
The part of Windows that stores all the settings for the operating system and your programs. When you change a setting, maybe you change your screensaver or change the scanning options in your anti-virus software, the settings are commonly stored in the registry. This is essentially a big database (think box full of index cards) that, the more software you install.
Remote Assist
A feature in Windows that allows remote control of your PC over the internet when you give permission, so that someone not in front of your PC can solve problems on it.
Remote Desktop
Remote control of other PCs in your home or office.
Removal Storage
Storage that can be taken away from your PC. This includes, floppy disks, USB pen drives, removable (external) hard drives, CDs, DVDs, BDs (Blu-Ray Discs).
Router
A box that connects your computers together acting as a hub. It may also contain hardware that connects your network to the internet.
SATA (Serial ATA)
The most common type of hard disk drive for PCs, replaced the ageing Parallel Disks.
Safe Mode
If Windows detects that something is wrong at start-up it will offer you the choice to boot into safe mode. If you want to get into it another way then stab the F8 key on your keyboard just before the Windows logo appears at start-up. This is a reduced functionality mode where most drivers and software is not loaded. It is used for diagnostic purposes or to help people uninstall drivers and software that may be preventing Windows from starting correctly.
Saved Searched / Virtual Folders
A search that you can save as a folder and that can be treated in the same way, but that holds no actual files and dynamically updates whenever it’s opened.
SFC / System File Checker
The System file checker will check the integrity of all Windows files and restore them from your original install disc if they’re found to be corrupt. To run it from the run prompt of start menu search box type CMD and run it. In the black windows that pops up type SFC /SCANNOW and press enter.
Shadow Copies / Previous Versions
Automatic backup of previous versions of files performed by Windows Vista. These previous copies of files can be restored by right clicking on the file and selecting its properties.
Spam
Unwanted, unsolicited email. Named after a pre-cooked tinned meat commonly eaten in the UK during the Second World War, and usually despised by all who ate it.
Spyware
Unwanted files that collect on your PC as you browse the internet. Many are innocuous but some can have malicious purposes. They are removed by software such as Windows Defender.
System Restore
A feature that takes a snapshot of your PC’s operating system at certain periods so you can restore the system to that point in the event of a problem.
Tags
Key words to describe the contents of your files or photographs.
Taskbar
The bar that typically runs along the bottom of your screen containing the Windows Orb Button, icons and the clock.
UAC
User Account Control (UAC) is the security system in Windows Vista to guard against virus and other attack.
UI
User Interface, a term to describe the look and feel of an application or Operating System.
Users Folder
The location where your Documents and other personal files are stored. This can be moved away from the drive or partition on which you have installed Windows Vista.
Virtual Memory
Additional memory kept as a hidden file on your hard drive for when you run out of physical memory. This is much slower than physical memory.
WEBDAV
A way to store calendars online so that they can be shared with other people.
Wi-Fi
Wireless internet access, also called 802.11. There are four speeds a, b, g and n with a being the slowest, n being the fastest and g currently being the most common.
Windows Key / Windows Orb / Start Button
The key between CTRL and ALT at the bottom left of your keyboard, also known as the Windows Orb (formerly the Start Button) on the taskbar.
Windows Update / Microsoft Update
A utility built into all versions of Windows to help keep the operating system up to date and free from security holes.
XPS
Microsoft’s answer to Adobe’s PDF format, the Cross Platform Support document format offers the same advantages that PDFs.
it with others, or 
