Operating instructions

filename A name assigned to a file when the file is first written on a disk. Ev
-
ery file on a disk within the same folder must have a unique name. Filenames
can contain any character (including spaces),except the following: \ / : *?“<>|
firewall A device that restricts traffic between a local network and the Internet.
FireWire (IEEE 1394) An IEEE 1394 interconnection standard to send wide-
band signals over a serialized, physically thin connector system. This serial bus
developed by Apple and Texas Instruments enables connection of 60 devices at
speeds up to 800 megabits per second.
firmware Embedded programs or code that is stored on a ROM chip. Firm
-
ware is generally OS-independent,thus allowing devices to operate in a wide va
-
riety of circumstances without direct OS support. The system BIOS is firmware.
Flash ROM A type of ROM technology that can be electrically reprogrammed
while still in the PC. Flash is the overwhelmingly most common storage me-
dium of BIOS in PCs today, as it can be upgraded without even having to open
the computer on most systems.
FlexATX A motherboard form factor. Motherboards built in accordance
with the FlexATX form factor are very small, much smaller than microATX
motherboards.
flexing Condition that can result when components are installed on a moth-
erboard after it has been installed into a computer case. Excessive flexing can
cause damage to the motherboard itself.
floppy disk A type of removable storage media that can hold between 720 KB
and 1.44 MB of data.
floppy drive A piece of system hardware that uses removable 3.5-inch disks as
storage media.
flux reversal The point at which a read/write head detects a change in mag
-
netic polarity.
FM synthesis A method for producing sound that used electronic emulation
of various instruments to more or less produce music and other sound effects.
GLOSSARY 29
Passport / Mike Meyers‘ A+ Certification Passport / Meyers / 226308-3 / Glossary
P:\010Comp\Passport\308-3\gloss.vp
Monday, April 09, 2007 10:24:43 PM
Color profile: Generic CMYK printer profile
Composite Default screen