Windows 2000 / Xp

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Active Directory

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A Windows 2000 Server and Windows Server 2003 directory database and service that allows for a single point of administration for all shared resources on a network, including files, peripheral devices, databases, Web sites, users, and services.

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active partition

Back 2

The primary partition on the hard drive that boots the OS. Windows NT/2000/XP calls the active partition the system partition.

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administrator account

Back 3

In Windows NT/ 2000/XP, an account that grants to the administrator(s) rights and permissions to all hardware and software resources, such as the right to add, delete, and change accounts and to change hardware configurations.

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Advanced Configuration and Power Interface (ACPI)

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Specification developed by Intel, Compaq, Phoenix, Microsoft, and Toshiba to control power on notebooks and other devices. Windows 98 and Windows 2000/XP support ACPI.

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answer file

Back 5

A text file that contains information that Windows NT/2000/XP requires in order to do an unattended installation.

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backup domain controllers (BDCs)

Back 6

In Windows NT, a computer on a network that holds a read-only copy of the SAM (security accounts manager) database.

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boot loader menu

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A startup menu that gives the user the choice of which operating system to load such as Windows 98 or Windows XP which are both installed on the same system, creating a dual boot.

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boot partition

Back 8

The hard drive partition where the Windows NT/2000/XP OS is stored. The system partition and the boot partition may be different partitions.

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boot sector virus

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An infectious program that can replace the boot program with a modified, infected version, often causing boot and data retrieval problems.

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client/server

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A computer concept whereby one computer (the client) requests information from another computer (the server).

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disk cloning

Back 11

Another term for driver imaging.

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distribution server

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A file server holding Windows setup files used to install Windows on computers networked to the server.

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domain

Back 13

In Windows NT/2000/XP, a logical group of networked computers, such as those on a college campus, that share a centralized directory database of user account information and security for the entire domain.

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domain controller

Back 14

A Windows NT/2000 or Windows Server 2003 computer which holds and controls a database of (1) user accounts, (2) group accounts, and (3) computer accounts used to manage access to the network.

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drive imaging

Back 15

Making an exact image of a hard-drive, including partition information, boot sectors, operating system installation, and application software to replicate the hard drive on another system or recover from a hard drive crash. Also called disk cloning and disk imaging.

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dual boot

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The ability to boot using either of two different OSs, such as Windows 98 and Windows XP.

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executive services

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In Windows NT/2000/XP, a group of components running in kernel mode that interfaces between the subsystems in user mode and the HAL.

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extended partition

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The only partition on a hard drive that can contain more than one logical drive.

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HAL (hardware abstraction layer)

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The low-level part of Windows NT/2000/XP, written specifically for each CPU technology, so that only the HAL must change when platform components change.

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kernel mode

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A Windows NT/2000/XP “privileged” processing mode that has access to hardware components.

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master file table (MFT)

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The database used by the NTFS file system to track the contents of a logical drive.

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mixed mode

Back 22

A Windows 2000 mode for domain controllers used when there is at least one Windows NT domain controller on the network.

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multithreading

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The ability to pass more than one function (thread) to the OS kernel at the same time, such as when one thread is performing a print job while another reads a file.

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native model

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A Windows 2000 mode used by domain controllers when there are no Windows NT domain controllers present on the network.

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NTFS (New Technology file system)

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The file system for the Windows NT/2000/XP operating systems. NTFS cannot be accessed by other operating systems such as DOS. It provides increased reliability and security in comparison to other methods of organizing and accessing files. There are several versions of NTFS that might or might not be compatible.

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NTVDM (NT virtual DOS machine)

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An emulated environment in which a 16-bit DOS application resides within Windows NT/2000/XP with its own memory space or WOW (Win16 on Win32).

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peer-to-peer

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A network of computers that are all equals, or peers. Each computer has the same amount of authority, and each can act as a server to the other computers.

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primary domain controller (PDC)

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In a Windows NT network, the computer that controls the directory database of user accounts, group accounts, and computer accounts on a domain. See also backup domain controller.

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primary partition

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A hard disk partition that can contain only one logical drive.

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product activation

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The process that Microsoft uses to prevent software piracy. For example, once Windows XP is activated for a particular computer, it cannot be legally installed on another computer.

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security accounts manager (SAM)

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A method of data access used by tape drives, whereby data is written or read sequentially from the beginning to the end of the tape or until the desired data is found.

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slack

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Wasted space on a hard drive caused by not using all available space at the end of clusters.

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system partition

Back 33

The active partition of the hard drive containing the boot record and the specific files required to load Windows NT/2000/XP.

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thread

Back 34

Each process that the CPU is aware of; a single task that is part of a longer task or program.

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unattended installation

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A Windows NT/ 2000/XP installation that is done by storing the answers to installation questions in a text file or script that Windows NT/2000/XP calls an answer file so that the answers do not have to be typed in during the installation.

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Win16 on Win3 (WOW)

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A group of programs provided by Windows NT/2000/XP to create a virtual DOS environment that emulates a 16-bit Windows environment, protecting the rest of the OS from 16-bit applications.