Operating instructions

laser printer An electro-photographic printer in which a laser is used as the
light source.
Last Known Good Configuration An option on the Advanced Startup Options
menu that allows your system to revert to a previous configuration in order to
troubleshoot and repair any major system problems.
latency The amount of delay before a device may respond to a request; most
commonly used in reference to RAM.
layer In the communications field, a grouping of related tasks involving the
transfer of information. Also, a level of the OSI reference model used for net
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working computers. In graphics work, images can be created in layers, which
can be manipulated separately and then flattened into a single image.
layer 2 switch Also called a bridge. Filters and forwards data packets based
on the MAC addresses of the sending and receiving machines.
layer 3 switch Also called a router. Filters and forwards data packets based
on the network addresses of the sending and receiving machines.
LBA (logical block addressing) A translation (algorithm) of IDE drives pro-
moted by Western Digital as a standardized method for breaking the 504-MB
limit in IDE drives. Subsequently universally adopted by the PC industry and is
standard on all EIDE drives.
LCD (liquid crystal display) A display technology that relies on polarized
light passing through a liquid medium rather than on electron beams striking a
phosphorescent surface.
LED (light-emitting diode) Solid-state device that vibrates at luminous fre
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quencies when current is applied.
legacy device Any device that is not Plug-and-Play compatible.
level 1 (L1) cache The first RAM cache accessed by the CPU, which stores
only the absolute most-accessed programming and data used by currently run
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ning threads. This is always the smallest and fastest cache on the CPU.
level 2 (L2) cache The second RAM cache accessed by the CPU, which is
much larger and often slower than the L1 cache; accessed only if the requested
program/data is not in the L1 cache.
GLOSSARY 39
Passport / Mike Meyers‘ A+ Certification Passport / Meyers / 226308-3 / Glossary
P:\010Comp\Passport\308-3\gloss.vp
Monday, April 09, 2007 10:24:44 PM
Color profile: Generic CMYK printer profile
Composite Default screen