Partition

(1)The area defined on a hard disk for use by an operating system; (2) to divide a hard disk into separate sections or logical drives. You can define a primary partition and one or more extended partitions on a hard disk.

Pathname

The list of directories and subdirectories you specify to locate a file. For example, the pathname for the file SALES which is located in the subdirectory BUSINESS of the root directory (\) is \ BUSINESS \SALES.

Peripheral

An external device (such as a printer or a modem) connected to a computer that depends on the computer for its operation.

Port

A physical input/output socket on a computer where you can connect a peripheral device.

Power-on diagnostics

Tests that the computer runs to check its internal circuitry and configuration each time you turn it on.

Power-on password

The sequence of characters you type after you turn on the computer in order to access and use your system. A power-on password can be up to seven characters long and can include letters, numbers, and blank spaces.

Processor speed

See Operating speed.

1 4 G l o s s a r y