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Operating system
A collection of programs that allows 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, an operating system by
Microsoft.
Option card
A circuit board that you install in a slot in your main unit or
expansion chassis. Option cards provide additional capabilities,
such as more memory or an internal modem.
Parallel
A type of interface that transmits data in groups of bits.
Distinguished from serial, a type of interface in which bits are
transmitted one at a time.
Parameter
A term added to a command that tells the computer how to
perform the command (for example, what data file to use or what
particular conditions to look for).
Parity
Data signals sent during communications to detect transmission
errors.
Partition
To divide a hard disk into logical sections for use by one or more
operating systems. A hard disk must be partitioned before it can
be formatted, even if only one operating system is going to be
used on the disk.
Pathname
The list of directories the operating system must search
through to locate a file. For example, the pathname for a file
named CONTRACT.TXT that is located in the BUSINESS
subdirectory is \ BUSINESS \ CONTRACT.TXT.
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Glossary