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Bring yourself up to speed with our introductory content.

• swap file (swap space or pagefile)

  A swap file (or swap space or, in Windows NT, a pagefile) is a space on a hard disk used as the virtual memory extension of a computer's real memory (RAM). Continue Reading

• Component Object Model (COM)

  Component Object Model (COM) is Microsoft's framework for developing and supporting program component objects. Continue Reading

• carbon copy (cc)

  In e-mail, a carbon copy (abbreviated "cc," and sometimes "fcc" for "first carbon copy") is a copy of a note sent to an addressee other than the main addressee. Continue Reading

• Windows NT

  Windows NT is a Microsoft Windows personal computer operating system designed for users and businesses needing advanced capability. Continue Reading

• word processor

  A word processor is a computer program that provides special capabilities beyond that of a text editor such as the WordPad program that comes as part of Microsoft's Windows operating systems. Continue Reading

• Definitions to Get Started

  • GUID (global unique identifier)
  • Active Directory Domain Services (AD DS)
  • active directory
  • blue screen of death (BSOD)

  • NTFS (NT File System)
  • Microsoft Windows Subsystem for Linux (WSL)
  • Microsoft Technology Associate (MTA) certification
  • Microsoft System Center Configuration Manager (SCCM)

  View All Definitions

• Winsock

  Winsock is a programming interface and the supporting program that handles input/output requests for Internet applications in a Windows operating system.Continue Reading

• domain controller

  Primary domain controller (PDC) and backup domain controller (BDC) are roles that can be assigned to a server in a network of computers that use the Windows NT operating system.Continue Reading

• enterprise

  In the computer industry, an enterprise is an organization that uses computers.Continue Reading

• Wintel

  Wintel is a computer trade industry term for personal computers based on the Intel microprocessor and one of the Windows operating system from Microsoft.Continue Reading

• NetBEUI (NetBIOS Extended User Interface)

  NetBEUI (NetBIOS Extended User Interface) is a new, extended version of NetBIOS, the program that lets computers communicate within a local area network.Continue Reading

• windowing system

  A windowing system is a system for sharing a computer's graphical display presentation resources among multiple applications at the same time.Continue Reading

• command interpreter

  A command interpreter is the part of a computer operating system that understands and executes commands that are entered interactively by a human being or from a program.Continue Reading

• NDIS (Network Driver Interface Specification)

  NDIS (Network Driver Interface Specification) is a Windows specification for how communication protocol programs (such as TCP/IP) and network device driver should communicate with each other.Continue Reading

• directory

  A directory is, in general, an approach to organizing information, the most familiar example being a telephone directory.Continue Reading

• command

  In computers, a command is a specific order from a user to the computer's operating system or to an application to perform a service, such as "Show me all my files" or "Run this program for me.Continue Reading

• ScanDisk

  ScanDisk is a Windows utility used to check your hard disk for errors and to correct problems that are found.Continue Reading

• system

  A system is a collection of elements or components that are organized for a common purpose.Continue Reading

• DirectX

  DirectX is an application program interface (API) for creating and managing graphic images and multimedia effects in applications such as games or active Web pages that will run in Microsoft's Windows operating systems.Continue Reading

• WinZip

  WinZip is a Windows program that lets you archive and compress files so that you can store or distribute them more efficiently.Continue Reading

• ICM file (Image Color Matching file)

  In Windows 95 and possibly other operating systems, an ICM (Image Color Matching) file contains a color system profile for a particular application or device such as a color printer or scanner.Continue Reading

• OCX

  An OCX is an Object Linking and Embedding (OLE) custom control, a special-purpose program that can be created for use by applications running on Microsoft's Windows systems.Continue Reading