Shared Flashcard Set

Details

Chapter 1 & 2 SOFTWARE
At Certification
73
Computer Science
Not Applicable
09/19/2005

Additional Computer Science Flashcards

 


 

Cards

Term
Centeral Processing Unit
Definition
Also called a microprocessor

the microchip the os uses for processing all data and instruction

most important microchip in the system
Term
operating system
Definition
computer program that controls a computer
Term
Dos
Definition
*1st operating system among IBM computers and IBM compatible computers

*Outdated as of today as an option for desktop computers

*Sometimes used in specialized systems-trouble shooting when a windows os fails
Term
Windows 9x/me
Definition
*true os with a dos core that provide a user interface

Windows 95
Windows 98
Windows Me
Term
Windows NT
Definition
Two versions: Nt for workstation and windows NT server to control a Network-

built on NEW TECHNOLOGY
doesn't support plug N Play
Term
Windows 2000
Definition
update for windows NT, comes in four versions:
1)Windows 2000 Professional (popular os for the corporate desktop)

2)Windows 2000 Server
3)Advance Server
4)Data Center Server (network server OS)
Term
Windows XP
Definition
two versions XP HOME & XP Professional

64 bit
Term
unix
Definition
popular os used to control networks and to support applications used on the internet
Term
Linux
Definition
down scale version of Unix provided in basic form, free of charge, includes open access to the programming code of the os, often used for server applications
Term
os/2
Definition
devolped by IBM & Microsoft, less common for home desktop PCS, used in certain types of networks-

Microsoft developed windows NT using some of the core components of os/2=intended to replace os/2
Term
Mac os
Definition
available only for apple macintosh computers and is often used for graphics and educational settings
Term
operating System 4 main functions
Definition
Managing hardware, managing files, providing a user interface,managing applications
Term
Operating Systems two main components
Definition
the Shell & Kernal
Term
Shell
Definition
portioin of the os that relates to the user and applications
Term
Core/Kernal
Definition
responisble for interacting with hardware-has more power to communicate with hardware devices than the shell, so that applications operating under the os cannot get to hardware devices with out the shell passing those request to the kernal
Term
Registry
Definition
database windows uses to store hardware & software configuration information,user preferences, and set up information.
Term
Initialization Files
Definition
an ini.or inf. extension= configuration information files for windows
Term
Command-Driven Interface
Definition
type commands to tell the os to perform operations

Dos and Unix use command driven interfaces
Term
Menu-Driven Interface
Definition
choose from a list of options displayed on screen

(Windows Explorer)

Using Drop down menus you can format disk,rename files, and perform many other operations to manage files and storage devices
Term
Icon-Driven Interfaces
Definition
Also caled a graphical user interface or (GUI)

performs operations by selecting icons on the screen
Term
desktop
Definition
screen that appears when os is first executed
Term
thread
Definition
process that cpu is aware of
Term
Real Mode
Definition
16 bit mode
Term
Protected Mode
Definition
32 bit mode

much faster than 16 bit mode
processes twice as much data at a time
Term
FAT
Definition
File allocation table
Term
file allocation table
Definition
(FAT) a table on a hard drive or floppy disk that tracks the locations of files on disk
Term
Tracks
Definition
concentric circles on a disk surface
Term
sector
Definition
segments that divide a track
Term
cluster
Definition
smallest unit of space on a disk for storing data and is made up of one or more sectors
Term
FAT32
Definition
most recent version of FAT/more efficent method of organization for large hard drives than FAT 16
Term
RAM
Definition
random access memory-memory modules on the motherboard containing microchips used to temporarily hold data and programs while the CPU processes both. Information in RAM is losted when computer is turned off!
Term
types of RAM modules
Definition
240-pin
DDR2 DIMM
184 pin RIMM
184 pin DDR DIMM
168 pin DIM
72 pin SIMM
30 pin SIM
Term
Advantages of Dos

***DOS PRIMARY USE IS FOR TROUBLE SHOOTING**
Definition
*still an option doe some specialized applications using dedicated computer that doesn't invovle heavy user interaction
*Boot & troubleshoot with a more sphisticated os fails
*Runs on a small inexpensive microcomputer with a minimum amount of memory and hard drive space
*text based dos programs are faster and more compact than comparable graphics inensive GUI programs
*Some older Applications are still in use today that were written for DOS & older hardware because of low overhead of Dos com. to more modern os
Term
Dis-advantages to DOS
Definition
*memory management is awkard and sometimes slow
* NO icon-driven interface
*only single tasking
*not designed for use on networks-a separate software program is necessary for a dos machine to access a network
*last stand alone version of dos is dos 6.22 -dosen't take advantage of many new CPU features
*hardly any new software is being written for dos
Term
WINDOWS 9X/ME
Definition
plug and play was introduced by windows 95- was an improved more automated method of installing new hardware devices
***REMEMBER THAT 9X/ME HAVE A DOS CORE***

*backwards compatible -compatible with older software and hardware while taking advantage of New Technology
*is the bridge from dos to windows NT
Term
device driver
Definition
a program stored on the hard drive that tells the computer how to communicate with an input/output devices

such as printer or modem
Term
windows 3.x + DOS
Definition
16 bit core
16 bit device drivers
Term
Windows 9x/me
Definition
16 bit and 32 bit core
16 bit device driver
32 bit device driver
Term
windows NT
Definition
32 bit core
32 bit device drivers
Term
windows 95
recommended minimum hardware requirments for windows
Definition
Processor:486 or higher
RAM: 8 MB
Free hard drive space:50 MB
Term
Windows 98
recommended minimum hardware requirments for windows
Definition
Processor: Pentium
RAM: 24 MB
Free disk drive space: 195 MB
Term
Windows ME
recommended minimum hardware requirments for windows
Definition
Processor:Pentium 150MHZ
RAM: 32MB
Free hard drive space:320 MB
Term
What is faster PCI Slots or ISA slots?
Definition
PCI slots are faster because they are 32 bit ISA are only 1 bit

ISA are less common because because new os do not offer backwards compatablity
Term
What is AGP bus/slot used for?
Definition
Accelerated Graphics Port- a bus or slot on the motheroard used for a single video card
Term
According to microsoft what makes a BIOS a good BIOS?
Definition
ACPI compliant
Term
what os does not support plug n play?
Definition
windows NT-wasn't built in the os- NT was for a server

Plug N Play was first supported in windows 9x/me
Term
what os dosen't require BIOS plug n play to aid in configuration?
Definition
windows 2000 & XP
Term
how do you know if a cmos battery is dead?
Definition
on inital start up there is a note that says system date not set
Term
what are two thingsthat must happen for programs to be stored on a drive?
Definition
1) load into RAM
2) assigned memory address
Term
what is the group of standard that governers how a hard drive should work?
Definition
EIDE-enhanced integrated drive electronics-standard for managing the interface between secondary storage and a computers system

IDE-Integrated Drive Electonics
Term
does NTFS or FAT32 yield more file storage?
Definition
NTFS because the magnetic material on the hard drive is much more magnetic
Term
what is another name for a logical drive?
Definition
volume
Term
what are 4 ways to start application from desktop?
Definition
programs,icon,run, or windows explorer
Term
How are BIOS and DEVICE DRIVERS the same?
Definition
deal with specific hardware devices
Term
what is the only program that can be accessed from RUN?
Definition
regedit

the REGISTRY
Term
what 3 text files does windows 9x support when loading?
Definition
autoexec.bat (or batch files)which loads
config.sys
sys,ini which loads drivers
Term
three names of a directory created under another directory are?
Definition
sub directory
child directory
FOLDERs
Term
Where does windows keep information about installed drivers?
Definition
registry
Term
what is the os that has changed most radically?
Definition
DOS
Term
where can we view bios?
Definition
through cmos setup
Term
what are 4 resources used to manage hardware?
Definition
1)IRQ (interupt that hardware generates)
2)MEMORY ADDRESSES (directs to place in memory)
3)I/O Addresses (hardware addresses)
4)DMA channels (direct memory addressing
Term
why is there less of a need for DMA?
Definition
proccessors are faster
Term
what are 3 ways to control hardware devices?
Definition
ROM BIOS,Device Drivers,directly
Term
how can you determine if BIOS or DEVICE DRIVER is controlling a device?
Definition
if device is configured using CMOS setup BIOS is controlling it, is the devices is configured using the os the driver controls it.
Term
partition
Definition
can be primarly partition or extended partition.A primary partition can have one logical drive and an extended partition can have one or more logical drives
Term
directory table
Definition
list of files and subdirectories
Term
root directory
Definition
main directory created when a hard drive is first formatted
Term
BIOS IS A BASIC______ & ______ system.
Definition
input/output
Term
start up bios
Definition
part of the system BIOS that is responsible for controlling the PC when it is first turned on. start-up bios gives control over to the operating system once it is loaded
Term
ISA SLOTS
Definition
an 8-bit or 16-bit slot first used in the 1980s on motherboards -sometimes still used today-industry standard architecture
Term
PCI
Definition
Peripheral Component Interconnect BUS-invented for devices that are faster than 16 bit ISA bus, can not run as fast as the bus between memory and the CPU
Term
memory address
Definition
numbers addigned to each usable cell of memory, done normally when os is first loaded
Term
what does CMOS stand for?
Definition
complementary metal oxide semiconductor
Supporting users have an ad free experience!