Power-on diagnostics

A set of testing routines the computer performs automatically each time you turn it on.

Program

A file that contains coded instructions telling the computer what to do and how to do it.

Prompt

A message on the screen that requests information or tells you the action you need to perform next See also Command prompt.

RAM

Random Access Memory. The portion of the computer’s memory that runs programs and temporarily stores data while you work. All data stored in RAM is temporarily maintained while the computer is in Suspend mode, but erased when you turn off the computer. You must save any data you want to keep on a diskette or hard disk. See also

ROM

Read

To copy data from one area to another. For example, when you open a text file stored on disk, the computer reads the data from the disk and displays it on the screen.

Read/write head

The physical device inside a disk drive that reads and records data on the magnetic surface of a disk.

Real-time clock

A battery-powered clock in the computer that keeps track of the current time and date even when the computer’s power is off.

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