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Glossary-6
GLOSSARY
device driver: A program that controls
communication between a specific
peripheral device and the computer.
The CONFIG.SYS file contains device
drivers that MS-DOS loads when you
turn the computer on.
dialog box: A window that accepts
user input to make system settings or
record other information.
disk drive: The device that randomly
accesses information on a disk and
copies it to the computer’s memory. It
also writes data from memory to the
disk. To accomplish these tasks, the
unit physically rotates the disk at high
speed past a read-write head.
disk storage: Storing data on mag-
netic disk. Data is arranged on
concentric tracks much like a phono-
graph record.
diskette: A removable disk that stores
magnetically encoded data. Also
called a floppy disk.
display: A CRT, LCD, or other image
producing device used to view
computer output.
documentation: The set of manuals
and/or other instructions written for the
users of a computer system or applica-
tion. Computer system documentation
typically includes procedural and
tutorial information as well as system
functions.
DOS: Disk Operating System. See
operating system.
driver: A software program, generally
part of the operating system, that
controls a specific piece of hardware
(frequently a peripheral device such as
a printer or mouse).
DVD-RAM: A Digital Versatile Disc
Random Access Memory is a high-
capacity, high performance disc that
lets you store large volumes of data.
The DVD-ROM drive uses a laser to
read data from the disc.
DVD-ROM: A Digital Versatile Disc
Read Only Memory is a high capacity,
high performance disc suitable for
play back of video and other high-
density files. The DVD-ROM drive
uses a laser to read data from the disc.
E
echo: To send back a reflection of the
transmitted data to the sending
device. You can display the informa-
tion on the screen, or output it to the
printer, or both. When a computer
receives back data it transmitted to a
CRT (or other peripheral device) and
then retransmits the data to printer,
the printer is said to echo the CRT.
erase: See delete.
escape: 1) A code ( ASCII code 27),
signaling the computer that what
follows are commands; used with
peripheral devices such as printers
and modems. 2) A means of aborting
the task currently in progress.
device driver