Glossary 2
User's Manual
Satellite Pro 4200/4300 User's Manual – 4200_UK.doc – ENGLISH – Printed on 27/01/00 as
IM_420UK
asynchronous:
Lacking regular time relationship. As applied to computer
communications, asynchronous refers to the method of transmitting
data that does not require a steady stream of bits to be transmitted
at regular time intervals.
AUTOEXEC.BAT:
A batch file that executes a series of MS-DOS commands
and programs each time you start the computer. This is no longer
necessarily used when booting Windows NT 4.0 and higher.
B
backup:
A duplicate copy of files kept as a spare in case the original is
destroyed.
batch file:
A file that can be executed from the system prompt containing
a sequence of operating system commands or executable files.
See also
AUTOEXEC.BAT.
billion byte (Bi.B):
A unit of data storage equal to 1,000,000,000 bytes.
See also
million byte.
binary:
The base two number system composed of zeros and ones (off or
on), used by most digital computers. The right most digit of a binary
number has a value of 1, the next a value of 2, then 4, 8, 16, and
so on. For example, the binary number 101 has a value of 5.
See
also
ASCII.
BIOS:
Basic Input Output System. The firmware that controls data flow
within the computer.
See also
firmware.
bit:
Derived from "binary digit," the basic unit of information used by the
computer. It is either zero or one. Eight bits is one byte.
See also
byte.
board:
A circuit board. An internal card containing electronic components,
called chips, which perform a specific function or increase the
capabilities of the system.
boot:
Short for bootstrap. A program that starts or restarts the computer.
The program reads instructions from a storage device into the
computer’s memory.
bps:
Bits per second. Typically used to describe the data transmission
speed of a modem.
buffer:
The portion of the computer’s memory where data is temporarily
stored. Buffers often compensate for differences in the rate of flow
from one device to another.
bus:
An interface for transmission of signals, data or electric power.
byte:
The representation of a single character. A sequence of eight bits
treated as a single unit; also the smallest addressable unit within
the system.
