Toshiba Satellite 2650 - Manual (Page 192)

2 Glossary User's Manual
Satellite 2610/2650 User's Manual – GLOSSARY.DOC – ENGLISH – Printed on 18/09/99 as GL_261UK
asynchronous: Lacking regular time relationship. As applied to
computer communications, asynchronous refers to the method of
transmitting data that does not require a steady stream of bits to
be transmitted at regular time intervals.
AUTOEXEC.BAT: A batch file that executes a series of MS-DOS
commands and programs each time you start the computer. This is
no longer necessarily used when booting Windows NT 4.0 and
higher.
B
backup: A duplicate copy of files kept as a spare in case the original is
destroyed.
batch file: A file that can be executed from the system prompt
containing a sequence of operating system commands or
executable files.
See also AUTOEXEC.BAT.
billion byte (Bi.B): A unit of data storage equal to 1,000,000,000 bytes.
See also million byte.
binary: The base two number system composed of zeros and ones (off
or on), used by most digital computers. The right most digit of a
binary number has a value of 1, the next a value of 2, then 4, 8,
16, and so on. For example, the binary number 101 has a value of
5.
See also ASCII.
BIOS: Basic Input Output System. The firmware that controls data flow
within the computer.
See also firmware.
bit: Derived from "binary digit," the basic unit of information used by
the computer. It is either zero or one. Eight bits is one byte.
See
also byte.
board: A circuit board. An internal card containing electronic
components, called chips, which perform a specific function or
increase the capabilities of the system.
boot: Short for bootstrap. A program that starts or restarts the computer.
The program reads instructions from a storage device into the
computer’s memory.
bps: Bits per second. Typically used to describe the data transmission
speed of a modem.
buffer: The portion of the computer’s memory where data is
temporarily stored. Buffers often compensate for differences in the
rate of flow from one device to another.
bus: An interface for transmission of signals, data or electric power.
byte: The representation of a single character. A sequence of eight bits
treated as a single unit; also the smallest addressable unit within
the system.