Toshiba manual Glossary-4 Satellite P200/Satellite Pro P200

Glossary

D

DC: Direct Current. Electric current that flows in one direction. This type of power is usually supplied by batteries.

default: The parameter value automatically selected by the system when you or the program do not provide instructions. Also called a preset value.

device driver: A program that controls communication between a specific peripheral device and the computer. The CONFIG.SYS file contains device drivers that MS-DOS loads when you turn the computer on.

dialog box: A window that accepts user input to make system settings or record other information.

disk drive: The device that randomly accesses information on a disk and copies it to the computer’s memory. It also writes data from memory to the disk. To accomplish these tasks, the unit physically rotates the disk at high speed past a read-write head.

display: A CRT, LCD, or other image producing device used to view computer output.

DOS: Disk Operating System. See operating system.

driver: A software program, generally part of the operating system, that controls a specific piece of hardware (frequently a peripheral device such as a printer or mouse).

DVD-RAM:A Digital Versatile Disc Random Access Memory is a high- capacity, high performance disc that lets you store large volumes of data. The DVD-ROM drive uses a laser to read data from the disc.

DVD-ROM:A Digital Versatile Disc Read Only Memory is a high capacity, high performance disc suitable for play back of video and other high- density files. The DVD-ROM drive uses a laser to read data from the disc.

E

execute: To interpret and execute an instruction.

F

floppy disk: A removable disk that stores magnetically encoded data.

floppy disk drive (FDD): An electromechanical device that reads and writes to floppy disks.

folder: An icon in Windows used to store documents or other folders.

format: The process of readying a blank disk for its first use. Formatting establishes the structure of the disk that the operating system expects before it writes files or programs onto the disk.

function keys: The keys labeled F1 through F12 that tell the computer to perform certain functions.

Glossary-4 Satellite P200/Satellite Pro P200