|
Term
|
Description
|
|
Safe Mode
|
A
diagnostic mode that Windows95 or 98 can start in, with minimal
configuration and generic drivers so that system errors can possibly
be corrected. You can access this mode by pressing F5 or F8 when
you see the words "Starting Windows" on the screen at
startup. |
|
SCSI
|
Small
Computer System Interface. A high-speed parallel interface used
to connect a computer to several devices through one controller.
Devices can be connected together (daisy-chained) and accessed
through the controller by an individual ID number. |
|
SDRAM
|
Synchronous
Dynamic RAM. A type of RAM that is stored on DIMMS and synchronized
with the system clock. SDRAM runs at the same speed as the system
bus. |
|
Secondary
Storage
|
Secondary
Storage is the non-volatile or semi-permanent storage in your
computer for holding files and information until it is needed.
Secondary Storage includes devices like hard drives, floppies,
CD-ROMS and tape drives. As opposed to Primary Storage which is
the volatile or temporary storage (RAM) that the CPU uses for
processing data and instructions. When the computer is shut off
or loses power, all data in Primary Storage is lost but anything
in Secondary Storage is retained. |
|
Sector
|
When
a disk is low-level formatted, it's divided into tracks, and each
track is divided into 512-byte segments. Each segment is called
a Sector. |
|
Serial
Port
|
A
computer input/output port that transmits data sequentially, one
bit at a time. The serial ports on the back of your computer are
the DB-9 and DB-25 Male connections. (DB connectors are the 'D-shaped'
ports). |
|
Server
|
A
computer that allows access to it's resources and files by other
computers over a network. |
|
SIMM
|
Single
In-line Memory Module. A small circuit board with integrated circuit
chips used to hold RAM (Random Access Memory). SIMMS clip into
the memory bank sockets on the motherboard. |
|
Sleep
Mode
|
"Green"
computers have a mode that allows them to shut down and reduce
power to (suspend) the monitor or hard drive (or the whole computer)
when the keyboard, mouse or hard drive have been inactive for
a set period of time. Settings are in CMOS setup and sometimes
Desktop/Properties. |
|
Software
|
A
set of instructions or programming code that is written to instruct
a computer to do a certain task or function. |
|
Software
Interrupt
|
A
request sent to the CPU by a program asking for access to a specific
device. |
|
Spam
|
Unwanted
or junk e-mail. Internet advertisers and marketers sometimes send
unrequested e-mail to a large number of recipients. Spamming is
becoming a huge problem on the internet and has always been considered
poor form. Spammers have sometimes even lost their ISP privileges. |
|
SPGA
|
Staggered
Pin Grid Array. See PGA. |
|
Static
RAM
|
Used
mostly for Cache Memory, Static RAM holds information in memory
as long as the power is on. It doesn't have to be constantly refreshed,
like standard Dynamic RAM (DRAM). Static RAM is faster than DRAM
but it's more expensive and takes up more space. |
|
Subdirectory
|
A
directory within another directory. Also called a 'child directory'.
The directory that the subdirectory is in, is called the parent
directory. |
|
Surge
Protector
|
A
power bar designed to protect computers from power spikes and
surges. |
|
Swap File
|
A
section of the hard drive that is reserved to temporarily store
parts of running programs or information that is swapped out of
memory to make room for other running programs. A Swap File is
sometimes called Virtual Memory. |
|
System
Board
|
See
Motherboard. |
