| A | B |
|---|
| encryption | coding of data |
| operating system | software that controls the operation of the computer and enables communication between components to take place |
| foreground task | the task that received processor time priority, ususally the one with which the user is interacting |
| File Manager | is used in Windows to look at directories and to copy, move and erase files |
| drivers | the term usually used in the PC world to refere to extensions to the operating system |
| background task | the task that the computer works on when the foreground task is not active |
| Finder | a shell or application used by the macintosh to launch programs, show the contents of disks, and move, copy, or delete files |
| multitasking | an operating system that can juggle more than one action at a time |
| virtual memory | referes to the use of disk space to simulate memory |
| accessory | a small "application-ette" |
| extensions | an addition to the macintosh operating system to provide additional functionality |
| restoring | the process of copying data fromt he backup media to a hard disk after a failure has been rectified |
| formatting | prepares the disk surface for storing data |
| backing up | the process of copying data to another medium so that a duplicate is available for use should the origianl copy be destroyed or become unusable |
| Windows | an extension to DOS that provides a graphic user interface |
| time slicing | the process of devoting a portion of processor time to each of several tasks |
| DOS | the operating system originally used on IBM PCs |
| decryption | the decoding of data |
| physical device | each of the actual peripherals attached to a computer |
| configuring | referes to the process of making the desired match between logical and physical computer devices |
