User`s guide

Glossary
285
ROM (read-only memory)—Non-volatile memory that can be read but
not written to. By non-volatile, we mean that information in ROM
remains whether or not the computer is receiving power. This type of
memory is used to store your computer’s BIOS, which is essential
instructions the computer reads when you start it up. See also BIOS,
memory. Compare RAM.
S
select—To highlight or otherwise specify text, data, or graphics with the
intent to perform some operation on it.
serial—Processes that occur one at a time. In communications, it means
the transmission of one bit at a time sequentially over a single channel.
On your computer, the serial port provides a serial interface between
the computer and an appropriate device. Compare parallel.
shortcut—See keyboard shortcut.
software—See program. Compare hardware.
Standby—A feature of some Windows operating systems that allows
you to turn off the computer without exiting your open applications
and to continue from where you left off when you turn the computer
on again.
Suspend—A feature of some Windows operating systems that allows
you to turn off the computer without exiting your open applications
and to continue from where you left off when you turn the computer
on again.
system disk—A diskette that contains the operating system files needed
to start the computer. Any diskette can be formatted as a system disk.
A system disk is also called a “bootable disk” or a “startup disk.”
Compare non-system disk.
system prompt—The symbol (in MS-DOS, generally a drive letter
followed by a “greater than” sign) indicating where users are to enter
commands.
T
TFT display—See active-matrix display.
U
universal serial bus (USB)—A serial bus that supports a data transfer
rate of up to 12 Mbps (12 million bits per second). USB can connect
up to 127 peripheral devices through a single all-purpose USB port.
USB allows hot swapping of peripherals. See also bus, hot swapping,
serial.