Computer Terms:Glossary of Computer Definition and Meaning...

This is a continuation of computer terms from my previous post about a definition and meaning 

Section B 


Back up: When used as a verb, to make a duplicate copy of important files or data 



Backbone:  A network used to link several networks together. For example, several Token Tings and Ethernet LANS may be connected using a single FDDI backbone.


Backup: When used as a noun,refers to the file created when backing up. Backups can be made by saving a file with a different name or by copying files to a different storage media.


Back up domain controller (BDC): In Windows NT, a computer on a network that holds a read-only copy of the SAM (security accounts manager) database.


Backward compatible: Refers to new hardware and software that is able to support older, existing technologies. This is a common choice of hardware and software manufacturers.


Bandwitdth: The range of frequencies that a communication cale or channel can carry. In general use, the term refers to the volume of data that can travel on a bus or over a cable. 


Bank: An area on the system board that contains slots for memory modules (typically labeled bank 0,1,2,and 3). 


Base memory: Memory addresse between 0 and 640K. Also called Conventional memory. 


Baseband: Relating to a communications system that carries only a single message at a time over wire. Ethernet uses baseband technology. Compare to broadband. 


Batch file: A text file containing a series of DOS instructions to the computer, telling it to perform a specific task(for example, AUTOEXEC.BAT. which contains a series of startup commands). 


Baud rate: A measure of line speed between tow devices such as a computer and a printer or a modem. This speed is measured in the number of times a signal changes in one second.

Binding Associating an OSI layer to a lyer above it of below it. For example, associating TCP/IP to a NIC.


BIOS(basic input/output system): Firmware that controls much of computer's input/output functions, such as communication with the floppy driveRAM chips, and the monitor. Also called ROM BIOS


Bit-map file: A type of graphics file in which the image is written as a series of 0s and 1s. These files have the extension .bmp and can be loaded into paint probrams to be edited and printed.

Block mode: A method of data transfer between hard drive and memory that allows multiple data transfers on a single software interrupt.


BNC connector: A connector used on an Ethernet 10Base2(thinnet) network. A BNC connector looks like a TV vable connector.


Boot loader menu: A startup munu that gives the user the choice between Windows NT Workstation Version 4.0 and another OS. such  as Windows 98


Boot partition; The hard drive partition where the Windows NT OS is stored. The system parttion and the boot partition may be different partitions


Boot record
(of hard drives): The first sector of each logical drive in a partition that contains information about the logical drive. If the boot records is in the active
partition,then it is used to bood the OS. Also called the OX boot record or volumn boot record.


Boot sector virus: An infectious program that can replace the boot program with a modified, infected version of the boot command utilities,often causingboot and data retrieval problems


Bootable disk: For DOS,a floppy disk that can upload the OS file necessary for somputer startup. It must have the two hidden system files IO.SYS andMSDOS.SYS,and also COMMAND.COM.


Booting: The process thata computer goes through when it is first turned on to get the computer ready to receive command.




Bps(bits per second): A  measure of data transmission speed.(Example: A common modem speed is 56,000 bps or 56Kps.)


Bridge: A hardware device or box,coupled with software at the data-link layer, used to connect similar networks and network segments. A bridge uses a MAC address to determine which network gets a packet.


Briefcase: A Windows9x system folder used to synchronize files between two computers. When files are transferred from one computer to another,Briefcase automatically updates files on the original computer to the most recent  version.


Broadband: Relating to a communications system such as cable modem or ATM networks that carry multiple messages over wire, each message
traveling on its own frequency. Compare to baseband.


Buck-Boost regulator: A line-interative UPS that offers good line conditioning and has an automatic voltage regulator that decreases('bucks") the voltage during
electrical spikes and boosts it during sags.


Buffer: A temporary memory area where data is kept before being written to a hard drive or sent to a printer, thus reducing the number of writesto the devices.


Burst EDO(BEDO) A refined version of EDO memory that significantly improved access time over EDO,BEDO is not widely used today becauseIntel chose not to support it. BEDO memory is stored on 168-pin DIMM modules


Burst SRAM: Memory that is more expensive and slightly faster than pipelined burst SRAM. Data is sent as a two-step process, the data address is sent, and then the data itself is sent without interruption.


Bus: Strips of parallel wires or printed circuits used to transmit electronic signals on the system board to other devices.Most Pentium systems use a 32-bit or 64-bit bus.
Bus enumerator A component of Windows 9x Plug and Play that locates all devices on a particular bus and inventories the resource requirements for these devices.


Bus mouse: A mouse that plugs into a bus adapter card and has a round,9-pin mini-DIN connector


Bus network topology A network design in which nodes are connected in line with one another, with no centralized point of contact.


Bus speed The speed or frequency at which the data on the system board is moving.