| A | B |
|---|
| Basic input/output system | Is the program a personal computer's microprocessor uses to get the computer system started after you turn it on |
| Character-based operating system | Type of OS in use prior to graphical OSs that used only text commands |
| Clusters | Sections of a hard drive that hold small equal-sized pieces of data |
| Command | Instructions given to an operating system indicating actions to be taken by the CPU |
| Command-line user interface | Interface used prior to graphical operating systems where all commands were text |
| Defragmentation | Preventative maintenance procedure that organizes pieces of data on a hard drive so that every piece of a single data file is together, improving performance of the hard drive |
| Device driver | Is a computer program allowing higher-level computer programs to interact with a hardware device |
| Embedded operating system | Specialized operating systems included in things like cars, ATMs, and traffic lights |
| Emulation software | Software that enables an application to run on an OS that it is not designed to run on |
| Executable file | Program file that runs on a computer without the aid of any other application. Also the main file that launches an application |
| File | Collection of bytes of data given a name so that the OS can retrieve it for later use |
| File extension | Group of characters attached to the end of a file name that tells the OS what type of file it is and what program to use to open the file |
| File/folder permissions | Security measures that control what files and folders can be accessed by a given user |
| Folder | Virtual file container used by the OS to help organize files on a hard drive |
| Fragmentation | Process where clusters of data from a single data file become scattered due to repeated saving and deleting of files |
| Graphical user interface | Visual system for interacting with the OS and applications |
| Handheld operating system | Specialized OS used to control handheld devices |
| Linux | Computer operating systems using the Linux kernel |
| Mac OS | Apple Computer’s operating system |
| Mission critical system | Computer systems whose continuous functioning is critical to an organization’s existence |
| Open-source | Model for software development where users collaborate to make additions and improvements; both the software code and final product are available free to anyone |
| Operating system | Program that controls the computer, enabling the hardware and application software to work together |
| Program support | Process where the OS enables applications to use hardware on a computer |
| Prompt | Group of characters displayed by the computer in a text-based OS to indicate it is ready for the user to enter a command |
| Safe mode | Troubleshooting option for Windows that starts the computer in a limited state to minimize problems and enables repairs to be completed |
| Smartphone | Handheld cellular telephone that is also a tiny computer; enables a user to stay organized and access the Internet |
| UNIX | Early OS still in use today that was originally created for mainframes and minicomputers |
| User interface | Collection of on-screen prompts and objects that enable the user to interact with the computer |
| User rights | Security access permissions controlled by network administrators to control what files and folders a user can access |
| Windows | Microsoft’s operating system. Versions released over the last 10 years include; 9x, NT, XP, Vista and Windows 7 |
