Windows 8, Tutorial 9

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A copy of a file stored in a compressed folder on an external medium such as an external hard drive.

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backup file

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The drive or folder where you store your backup files.

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backup location

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A separate medium, such as an external hard disk, a removable USB flash drive, or a network folder on which backup files are saved. Also called a backup location.

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backup medium

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A program that copies and then automatically compresses files and folders from a hard disk into a single file, called a backup file.

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backup program

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An area of a hard disk that does not record data reliably.

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bad sector

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The partition on a hard disk that contains the Windows operating system files.

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boot partition

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One or more sectors of storage space on a hard disk.

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cluster

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Made up from corresponding tracks on all surfaces on a disk

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cylinder

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To connect up to 127 devices together so you are no longer limited by the number of ports on your computer. For example, you plug one device, such as a scanner, into the USB port, and then plug a second device, such as a microphone, into the scanner.

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daisy-chain

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To reorganize the clusters on a disk so that files are stored most efficiently.

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defragment

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An event that occurs when two devices share an IRQ, DMA channel, I/O address, or memory range, that renders one or both devices unusable.

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device conflict

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The channel for transferring data directly between a device and system memory without using the microprocessor.

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direct memory access (DMA) channel

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A Windows 8 tool that frees disk space by deleting unnecessary files, such as temporary files.

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Disk Cleanup tool

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A software file that enables Windows 7 to communicate with and control the operation of the device.

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driver

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A computer with more than one boot partition, such as a computer that runs both Windows 8 and Windows 7. Also called a multiboot computer.

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dual-boot computer

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A Windows 8 tool that checks a disk to locate and repair errors, such as corrupted files.

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Error-checking tool

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A device that you insert into an expansion slot. Also called an adapter card.

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expansion card

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A socket in the motherboard to which internal devices can be connected.

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expansion slot

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A Windows 8 tool that backs up your personal files on a regular schedule and lets you restore any saved version of the files to a folder on your hard disk.

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File History

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A term describing a disk that contains files whose clusters are not next to each other.

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fragmented

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Any physical piece of computer equipment, including those that are both connected to your computer and controlled by your computer. Also called a device.

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hardware

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The section of the computer’s memory devoted to a particular device on a computer.

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I/O address

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A program that has been set up on your computer so that you can run it.

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installed program

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A number assigned to a device by Windows that signals the microprocessor that the device is requesting an action.

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interrupt request (IRQ) line

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A program designed for earlier versions of Windows that is being phased out of use.

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legacy program

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A disk that is installed in a computer.

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local disk

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A printer connected directly to a computer.

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local printer

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A file system error that occurs if Windows loses track of which clusters contain the data that belongs to a single file.

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lost cluster

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Additional memory required by a device for its own use.

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memory address (or memory range)

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The “brains” of a computer; a silicon chip that contains a central processing unit.

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microprocessor

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A circuit board inside a computer that contains the microprocessor, the computer memory, and other internal hardware devices.

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motherboard

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The file system Windows 8 uses to organize data on a hard disk.

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NTFS file system

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The area of a hard disk where File History stores backup files when it cannot access the specified backup location.

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offline cache

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A part of a hard disk that works like a separate disk. Also called a volume.

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partition

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A physical connection that is visible on the outside of the computer to which external devices are connected.

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port

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A database of information about a computer’s configuration.

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registry

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To use Windows to recover a saved version of a file from File History and copy it to a location you specify.

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restore

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A snapshot of a computer’s system files and registry settings.

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restore point

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A copy of a file that has been modified since the most recent backup.

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saved version

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The frequency, measured in hertz, at which a monitor redraws the images on the screen.

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screen refresh rate

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An individual block of data; a segment of a track.

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sector

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A device driver that includes a digital signature.

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signed driver

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The partition on a hard disk that contains the hardware-related files telling a computer where to look to start Windows.

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system partition

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Removable media that contains system recovery tools to help restore a computer if a serious system error occurs.

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system recovery drive

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An optical disc, such as a DVD, that contains system recovery tools to help restore a computer if a serious system error occurs.

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system repair disc

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A Windows tool that restores a computer’s system files to an earlier point when the system was working reliably.

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System Restore

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Equivalent to 1,000 gigabytes.

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terabyte (TB)

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One of the series of concentric circles on one of the surfaces of a hard disk platter.

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track

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To completely remove a program from a computer.

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uninstall

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A thin, rectangular slot that accommodates a high-speed connection to a variety of external devices, such as removable disks, scanners, keyboards, video conferencing cameras, and printers.

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USB port

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A box that contains many USB ports.

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USB hub

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An accessible area with a file system on a computer storage medium. See partition

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volume

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A feature businesses use to install Windows 8 and corporate settings and applications on a USB flash drive that employees can use on their personal computers to replicate the computing environment on their work computers.

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Windows To Go