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Toshiba Satellite M40 (PSM40) User Manual

Page 190

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User’s Manual

Glossary-6

Glossary

delete: To remove data from a disk or other data storage device.

Synonymous with erase.

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.

disk storage: Storing data on magnetic disk. Data is arranged on

concentric tracks much like a phonograph record.

diskette: A removable disk that stores magnetically encoded data used on

a microcomputer. Also called floppy disk.

diskette drive: An electromechanical device that reads and writes to

floppy disks. See also diskette.

display: A CRT, plasma screen, LCD, or other image producing device

used to view computer output.

documentation: The set of manual and/or other instructions written for the

users of a computer system or application. Computer system

documentation typically includes procedural and tutorial information

as well as system functions.

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).

E

echo: To send back a reflection of the transmitted data to the sending

device. You can display the information on the screen, or output it to

the printer, or both. When a computer receives back data it

transmitted to a CRT (or other peripheral device) and then

retransmits the data to the printer, the printer is said to echo the

CRT.

EGA: Enhanced Graphics Adapter. A video display protocol defined by the

IBM Enhanced Graphics Adapter and its associated circuitry for

direct drive TTL displays that supports 16-colour/monochrome

640x350 and 16-colour 640x200 and 320x200 graphics, and 16-

colour 640x350 and 320x350 text modes.

erase: See delete.
escape: 1) A code (ASCII code 27), signaling the computer that what

follows are commands; used with peripheral devices such as

printers and modems. 2) A means of aborting the task currently in

progress.