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Glossary 11
Acronym for power-on self-test. Before
the operating system loads when you turn
on your computer, the POST tests various
system components such as RAM, the
disk drives, and the keyboard.
Abbreviation for pages per minute.
Abbreviation for plastic quad flat pack, a
type of microprocessor socket in which
the microprocessor chip is permanently
mounted.
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 re-
install your Dell-installed software. If your
system includes Dell-installed software,
you can select this program from the Dell
Accessories program folder.
The set of diskettes from which you can
perform a complete installation of an op-
erating system or application program.
When you reconfigure a program, you of-
ten need its program diskette set.
An operating mode supported by 80286
or higher microprocessors, protected
mode allows operating systems to
implement:
A memory address space of 16 MB
(80286 microprocessor) to 4 GB
(Intel386 or higher microprocessor)
Multitasking
Virtual memory, a method for
increasing addressable memory by
using the hard-disk drive
The Windows NT, OS/2, and UNIX
®
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 com-
puter into protected mode.
Abbreviation for Personal System/2.
Acronym for redundant array of inexpen-
sive disks.
Acronym for random-access memory.
The computer’s primary temporary stor-
age 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.
Acronym for random-access memory
digital-to-analog converter.
A read-only file is one that you are prohib-
ited from editing or deleting. A file can
have read-only status if:
Its read-only attribute is enabled.
It resides on a physically write-
protected diskette or on a diskette in
a write-protected drive.
It is located on a network in a
directory to which the system
administrator has assigned read-
only rights to you.
A text file included with a software pack-
age or hardware product that contains
information supplementing or updating
the documentation for the software or
hardware. Typically, readme files provide
installation information, describe new
product enhancements or corrections
that have not yet been documented, and
list known problems or other things you
need to be aware of as you use the soft-
ware or hardware.