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Glossary
5.375 x 8.375 ver 2.4.0
direct memory access (DMA) — A dedicated channel, bypassing
the CPU, that enables direct data transfer between memory and a
device.
directory — See folder.
disable — To turn a computer option off. See also enable.
disc — A round, flat piece of metal, designed to be read from and
written to by optical (laser) technology, and used in the
production of optical discs, such as CDs and DVDs. Compare
disk.
disk — A round, flat piece of material that can be magnetically
influenced to hold information in digital form, and used in the
production of magnetic disks, such as diskettes and hard disks.
Compare disc. See also diskette, hard disk.
disk drive — The device that reads and writes information and
programs on a diskette or hard disk. It rotates the disk at high
speed past one or more read/write heads.
diskette — A thin, flexible disk in a protective jacket that stores
magnetically encoded data. Diskettes can be removed from the
computer and come in two sizes: 5.25-inch and 3.5-inch. Your
computer uses 3.5-inch diskettes. See also double-density
diskette, high-density diskette.
document — Any file created with an application and, if saved to
disk, given a name by which it can be retrieved. See also file.
double-click — To press and release the primary control button
adjacent to the TouchPad or the mouse button rapidly twice
without moving the TouchPad or mouse. In the Windows
®
operating system, this refers to the TouchPad left control button
or the left mouse button, unless otherwise stated.
double-density diskette — A 3.5-inch diskette that can hold up to
720 KB of information (half the capacity of a high-density
diskette). See also diskette, high-density diskette.
download — (1) In communications, to receive a file from another
computer through a modem or network. (2) To send font data
from the computer to a printer. See also upload.