Glossary 155
DTE
Abbreviation for data terminal equipment. Any device
(such as a computer system) that can send data in digital
form by means of a cable or communications line. The
DTE is connected to the cable or communications line
through a data communications equipment (DCE) device,
such as a modem.
ECC
Abbreviation for error correction code.
ECP
Abbreviation for Extended Capabilities Port.
EDO
Abbreviation for extended-data output. A type of RAM
chip that holds data on the chip’s output data lines for a
longer period of time than fast-page mode RAM chips.
The EDO RAM chips are also faster than fast-page mode
RAM chips.
EEPROM
Acronym for electrically erasable programmable read-
only memory.
EGA
Abbreviation for enhanced graphics adapter.
EISA
Acronym for Extended Industry-Standard Architecture, a
32-bit expansion-bus design. The expansion-card connec-
tors in an EISA computer are also compatible with 8- or
16-bit ISA expansion cards.
To avoid a configuration conflict when installing an EISA
expansion card, you must use the EISA Configuration Util-
ity. This utility allows you to specify which expansion slot
contains the card and obtains information about the card’s
required system resources from a corresponding EISA
configuration file.
embedded diagnostics
Diagnostic tests stored in flash memory on some Dell com-
puters to assist in troubleshooting component failure that
can prevent your computer from booting. Refer to your
Diagnostics and Troubleshooting Guide for a complete dis-
cussion about how to use the embedded diagnostics.
EMC
Abbreviation for Electromagnetic Compatibility.
EMI
Abbreviation for electromagnetic interference.
EMM
Abbreviation for expanded memory manager. A software
utility that uses extended memory to emulate expanded
memory on computers with an Intel386™ or higher micro-
processor. See also conventional memory, expanded
memory, extended memory, memory manager, and
XMM.
EMS
Abbreviation for Expanded Memory Specification. See
also expanded memory, memory manager, and XMS.
EPROM
Acronym for erasable programmable read-only memory.
ESD
Abbreviation for electrostatic discharge. Refer to “Safety
Instructions” at the front of your User’s Guide for a complete
discussion of ESD.
ESDI
Acronym for enhanced small-device interface.
expanded memory
A technique for accessing RAM above 1 MB. To enable
expanded memory on your computer, you must use an
EMM. You should configure your system to support ex-
panded memory only if you run application programs that
can use (or require) expanded memory. See also conven-
tional memory, EMM, extended memory, and memory
manager.
expansion bus
Your computer contains an expansion bus that allows the
microprocessor to communicate with controllers for pe-
ripheral devices, such as a network card or an internal
modem.
expansion-card connector
A connector on the computer’s system board for plugging
in an expansion card.
extended memory
RAM above 1 MB. Most software that can use it, such as
Windows, requires that extended memory be under the
control of an XMM. See also conventional memory, ex-
panded memory, memory manager, and XMM.