Dial-Up
Networking
A temporary modem connection between your computer and
another computer. |
Dialog
box
A box that pops up in front of a program's main interface
when you click on a button or choose a menu item.
The dialog box prompts you to choose an option or enter
text. |
Directory
A separate folder on a hard disk for storing
files. Storing related files in a directory makes
them easier to find. Windows no longer uses the word
directory and prefers the word folder,
instead. |
DOS
Short for Disk Operating System. It's a very old operating
system for running programs.
|
Double-Click
Pushing and releasing the left mouse button twice in rapid succession. |
Download
To copy files onto your computer through phone lines or cables. |
 |
Drop-down
menu
The menu that appears when you use the left mouse button to click
on a menu bar item at the top of your screen. |
DVD
Digital Video Disc a.k.a. "Digital Versatile Disc" "DVD-ROM" A
high-density CD format used to store music, films, or software. |
E-mail
(1) A method of sending messages from one computer to another over
a network. (2) The messages sent by this method. These messages
are mainly text, but can have word processor documents,
spreadsheets, computer programs, or other files attached. |
Export
To transfer an object or data outside of the program that created
it. |
Folder
An area for storing files to keep them organized (formerly called
a directory). Folders can contain other folders for further
organization. |
Format
The process of preparing a disk to have files written on it.
The disk needs to have "electronic shelves" tacked onto
it so that Windows can store information on it. Formatting a
disk wipes it clean of all previous recorded information. |
General
Protection Fault
An error message produced by the Windows operating system.
This error appears when the processor of your computer has trouble
with the location of certain data. |
|
Hard
disk
A hardware device where your applications and files are
stored. The hard disk drive is usually the C:\ drive of your
computer. |
Highlighted
A selected item. Different colors usually appear (blue or
black) over a highlighted object to show that it's been singled
out for further action. |
HTML
Hypertext Markup Language. Programming language used to
create pages on the Web. |
Header
box
The box near the top of the Read screen where header information
about each message (such as its sender, subject, and date) is
displayed. |
Hyperlink/Link
Text or images on a World Wide Web page that you can click on to
go to another part of the same page or to a different page. |
Icon
A picture intended to represent something (a file, directory, or
application). When you click on an icon, your computer
performs an action such as opening a directory or running a
program. |
Import
(1) To copy an object or data created by one application into
another. (2) To activate the use of an account created
elsewhere on a new computer. |
Inbox
The folder that holds your incoming mail. |
|
Infrared
A special way for computers to communicate through invisible light
beams, infrared ports (IR ports) are found frequently on laptops
and printers. |
Initialization
String
A set of modem commands that your communications software uses to
tell your modem how to communicate with another modem. |
Internet
An international network made up of smaller, local computer
networks. |
ISP
Internet Service Provider - A company that provides users access to
the Internet. Before you can connect to the Net, you must first
establish an account with an ISP. For a monthly fee, the
Internet Service Provider gives you a software package, a username, a
password, and an access phone number. |
Local
Area Network (LAN)
A small network of computers that share the resources of a single
server within a relatively small geographic area, usually in an
office or a university. Often the LAN has a permanent
connection to the Internet. |
|
Mailing
list
A set of e-mail addresses grouped under one name. When you send a
message to the name of the mailing list, everyone on the list
receives the message. |
Maximize
The act of making a window fill the entire screen. You can
maximize a window by double-clicking its title bar or clicking its
maximize button. |
Menu
A list of items that allows you to select and perform various
functions. |
Menu
bar
The horizontal line of words near the top of many Windows screens,
just below the title bar. |
Message
area
The panel on the email screen where the message body is displayed
or written. |
Message
headers
Routing information inserted at the top of an e-mail message, such
as the sender, the recipients, the date when the message was sent,
and the path it followed through the network from the sender’s
computer to the recipient’s computer. |
Minimize
The act of shrinking a window down to a tiny icon to temporarily
get it out of the way. To minimize a window, click the
minimize button. |
|
Modem
A device that allows your computer to communicate with other
computers over phone lines. |
Multitasking
Running several different programs simultaneously. |
Network
Connecting computers with cables so that people can share
information without getting up from their desks. |
Operating
System (O/S)
Software that controls how a computer does its most basic
operations: store files, talks to printers and performs
other operations. |
Outbox
The folder that holds your outgoing mail before it is sent to your
Internet Providers central computers. |
Password
A phrase or word that controls access to your account. |
PDF
The file format for documents viewed and created by Adobe Acrobat
Reader, Acrobat Capture, Adobe Distiller, Adobe Exchange, and the
Adobe Acrobat Amber plugin. |
|
Plug
& Play (PnP)
A phrase used to describe computer parts that Windows is supposed
to be able to recognize and install automatically. |
Pop-up
menu
The menu that appears when you right-click on a program's
interface. |
Protocol
A set of communication rules that specify how two or more
computers "talk" to each other over a particular
network. TCP/IP and HTTP are protocols used
for Internet communications. |
Random
Access Memory (RAM)
Temporary storage that your computer uses while running an
application. This memory is cleared when the computer is
turned off. |
Remote
Access
Allows you to access your online account from more than one
computer. |
Search
Engine
A program for searching the Internet for information that meets
your special needs. It can search for all Web pages with the
words you input. |
|
Service
The entirety of your Internet Providers offerings, including
e-mail, World Wide Web access, and all sales affiliated with them. |
Shortcut
A windows icon that serves as a push button for doing something -
loading a file, starting a program, or playing a sound. |
Shortcut
keys
Keystrokes that allow you to select items and perform functions
using your keyboard rather than your mouse. |
Shut
Down
The process of telling Windows to save all its setting and files
to that you can turn of your computer. |
Start
Button
A button in the corner of your screen where you can begin
working. Clicking the Start button brings up the Start menu. |
|
Start
Menu
A menu of options that appears when the Start button is
clicked. From the Start menu, you can load programs, load
files, change settings, find programs, find help or shut down your
computer. |
Taskbar
The bar in Windows that lists all currently running programs and
open folders. The Start button lives on one end of the
taskbar. |
TCP/IP
Transmission Control Protocol/Internet Protocol. A set of
communications rules that specify how data is transferred between
computers on the Internet. |
Title
bar
A colored bar at the very top of most windows. It often displays
the name and logo of the program you're currently using. |
Upload
To copy a message or a file from your computer to a remote
computer. |
|
Universal
Resource Locator (URL)
The address of a World Wide Web page. |
User
name
The part of the e-mail address that appears before the '@'. |
Virus
A program that has the ability to replicate itself and that
sometimes damages its host. |
Wallpaper
Graphics spread across the background of your computer
screen. The Windows Control Panel lets you choose among
different wallpaper files. |
Web
browser
A program, such as Microsoft Internet Explorer and Netscape
Navigator, that lets you view World Wide Web pages. |
Window
An on-screen box that contains information for you to look at or
work with. Programs run in windows on your screen. |
|
World
Wide Web
A system for providing access to the information on the
Internet. Documents on the World Wide Web are represented in
HTML, which enables them to support links to other documents, as
well as graphics, audio, and video. Users navigate the Web
by clicking on hypertext links.
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