Dell Precision WorkStation 610 User Manual page 126

The metal-contact section on the bottom of an expansion card
that plugs into an expansion-card connector.
CD-ROM
Abbreviation for compact disc read-only memory. CD-ROM
drives use optical technology to read data from CDs. CDs are
read-only storage devices; you cannot write new data to a CD
with standard CD-ROM drives.
cm
Abbreviation for centimeter(s).
CMOS
Acronym for complementary metal-oxide semiconductor. In
computers, CMOS memory chips are often used for NVRAM
storage.
COM n
The device names for the first through fourth serial ports on
your computer are COM1, COM2, COM3, and COM4. The
default interrupt for COM1 and COM3 is IRQ4, and the default
interrupt for COM2 and COM4 is IRQ3. Therefore, you must be
careful when configuring software that runs a serial device so
that you don't create an interrupt conflict.
component
As they relate to DMI, manageable components are operating
systems, computer systems, expansion cards, or peripherals
that are compatible with DMI. Each component is made up of
groups and attributes that are defined as relevant to that
component.
config.sys file
The config.sys file (Windows 95 and MS-DOS only) is
executed when you boot your computer (before running any
commands in the autoexec.bat file). This start-up file contains
commands that specify which devices to install and which
drivers to use. This file also contains commands that determine
how the operating system uses memory and controls files.
controller
A chip that controls the transfer of data between the processor
and memory or between the processor and a peripheral device
such as a disk drive or the keyboard.
control panel
functions. Software written for one processor must usually be
revised to run on another processor. CPU is a synonym for
processor.
Program Diskette Maker
The Program Diskette Maker allows you to create program
diskette sets, or master copies, of software that Dell installed
on your computer system. It is essential that you create these
diskette sets as soon as possible. You may need a set of
master diskettes if you ever experience problems with your
hard-disk drive and need to reinstall your Dell-installed
software. If your system includes Dell-installed software, you
can select this program from the Dell Accessories program
folder.
program diskette set
The set of diskettes from which you can perform a complete
installation of an operating system or application program.
When you reconfigure a program, you often need its program
diskette set.
protected mode
An operating mode supported by 80286 or higher processors,
protected mode allows operating systems to implement:
A memory address space of 16 MB (80286 processor)
to 4 GB (Intel386 or higher processor)
Multitasking
Virtual memory, a method for increasing addressable
memory by using the hard-disk drive
The Windows NT, OS/2, and UNIX(r) 32-bit operating systems
run in protected mode. MS-DOS cannot run in protected
mode; however, some programs that you can start from MS-
DOS, such as the Windows operating system, are able to put
the computer into protected mode.
PS/2
Abbreviation for Personal System/2.
PXE
Abbreviation for Preboot eXecution Environment, which loads
agents remotely onto systems to perform management tasks in
the absence of a running operating system.
RAM
Acronym for random-access memory. The computer's primary
temporary storage area for program instructions and data.
Each location in RAM is identified by a number called a
memory address. Any information stored in RAM is lost when
you turn off your computer.
RAMDAC