Quick Reference Guide

40 Glossary
USB
Abbreviation for Universal Serial Bus. A USB connector provides a single
connection point for multiple USB-compliant devices, such as mice, keyboards,
printers, and computer speakers. USB devices can also be connected and
disconnected while the system is running.
utility partition
A bootable partition on the hard drive that provides utilities and diagnostics for
your hardware and software. When activated, the partition boots and provides an
executable environment for the partition's utilities.
Windows Preinstallation Environment (Windows PE)
The Microsoft Windows Preinstallation Environment (Windows PE) is a
minimal Win32 subsystem with limited services, based on the Windows kernel
running in a protected mode. It contains the minimal functionality that you need
to run Windows Setup, install an operating system from a network share,
automate basic processes, and perform hardware validation.