Dell 610 technical specifications Cd-Rom, Cmos

The metal-contact section on the bottom of an expansion card that plugs into an expansion-card connector.

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.

cm

Abbreviation for centimeter(s).

CMOS

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

COM n

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, computer systems, expansion 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.

config.sys file

The config.sys file (Windows 95 and MS-DOS only) 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 drivers to use. This file also contains commands that determine how the operating system uses memory and controls files.

controller

A chip that controls the transfer of data between the processor and memory or between the processor and a peripheral device such as a disk drive or the keyboard.

control panel

functions. Software written for one processor must usually be revised to run on another processor. CPU is a synonym for processor.

Program Diskette Maker

The Program Diskette Maker allows you to create program diskette sets, or master copies, of software that Dell installed on your computer system. It is essential that you create these diskette sets as soon as possible. You may need a set of master diskettes if you ever experience problems with your hard-disk drive and need to reinstall your Dell-installed software. If your system includes Dell-installed software, you can select this program from the Dell Accessories program folder.

program diskette set

The set of diskettes from which you can perform a complete installation of an operating system or application program. When you reconfigure a program, you often need its program diskette set.

protected mode

An operating mode supported by 80286 or higher processors, protected mode allows operating systems to implement:

A memory address space of 16 MB (80286 processor) to 4 GB (Intel386 or higher processor)

Multitasking

Virtual memory, a method for increasing addressable memory by using the hard-disk drive

The Windows NT, OS/2, and UNIX(r) 32-bit operating systems run in protected mode. MS-DOS cannot run in protected mode; however, some programs that you can start from MS- DOS, such as the Windows operating system, are able to put the computer into protected mode.

PS/2

Abbreviation for Personal System/2.

PXE

Abbreviation for Preboot eXecution Environment, which loads agents remotely onto systems to perform management tasks in the absence of a running operating system.

RAM

Acronym for random-access memory. The computer's primary temporary storage area for program instructions and data. Each location in RAM is identified by a number called a memory address. Any information stored in RAM is lost when you turn off your computer.

RAMDAC