Operating System - Epson Equity Ie Q50188015-1 User Manual

Operating system

A collection of programs that allow a computer to control its operations.
The operating system determines how programs run on the computer
and supervises all input and output. Your computer comes with
MS-DOS, the operating system by Microsoft.
Option card
A circuit board that you install inside your computer's main unit to
provide additional capabilities, such as more memory or an internal
modem.
Parallel
The type of interface that transmits data in groups of bits. See also
Interface
and serial.
Parameter
A qualifier added to a command that tells the computer what particular
conditions to look for.
Parity
Data signals sent during communications to detect errors in transmitting
or receiving data.
Partition
To divide a hard disk drive into separate sections for use by different
operating systems.
Pathname
The list of directories and subdirectories the computer must search
through to locate a file. For example, the pathname for a file named
CONTRACT that is located in the BUSINESS subdirectory of the root
directory (1) is \BUSINESSCONTRACT.
Peripheral
A device (such as a printer or a modem) connected to a computer that
depends on the computer for its operation.
Port
An input/output socket on a computer to which you can connect a
peripheral device.
GL-8
Glossary