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Term
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Description
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RAM
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Random
Access Memory is the workspace of your computer. It's the area
that stores the information and data for processing by the computer's
CPU. Retrieving data from the hard drive is much slower, but once
the data is loaded into RAM, it can be accessed instantly and
randomly. RAM is volatile, which means that once you turn off
the power, all data in memory disappears. RAM is stored in chips
on small circuit boards called SIMMs or DIMMs, that attach to
the motherboard. |
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Read/Write
Head
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A
small electro-magnet in a drive that skims above the surface of
a disk or platter and reads information from, or writes data to,
the disk. |
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Real Mode
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Real
Mode is an operating mode that allows the execution of only one
program at a time. Programs can only access 1024K of memory and
use a 16-bit data path. The improvement over this is Protected
Mode which allows support for virtual memory and multitasking
(running more than one program at a time). Protected Mode programs
can access addresses above 1024K and can use a 32-bit data path. |
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Reduced
Write Current
|
In
older hard drives, there were the same number of sectors near
the center of the platter or disk as there was in the outer tracks.
To get the same number of bits in each sector, the bits had to
be placed closer together in the center tracks. Using the same
magnetic current to write information to the center tracks sometimes
affected adjacent data. To solve this problem, a method was devised
that reduced the current as the heads got closer to the center. |
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Refresh
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The
process of rewriting, recharging or updating the data sent to
a specific device, such as a monitor or RAM. |
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Registry
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The
Registry is a database used by Windows95, 98 and NT to store user
preferences, setup, device, and system configuration. The Registry
files are vital to the proper execution of the Operating Systems. |
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Resolution
|
The
image on your computer's monitor is made up of tiny dots called
pixels (picture elements). The total number of pixels used to
draw the image on the screen determines the Resolution and is
defined by the number of pixels across and the number of pixels
down. i.e. 640x480. |
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ROM
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Read-Only
Memory. Data or code written to chips (or CDs) that is burned
on at the factory and can't be erased or changed. |
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ROM BIOS
|
See
BIOS. |
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Root Directory
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The
main or first directory created on a drive or disk when it's formatted
by the Operating System. |
