Laptop User Manual

Glossary

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baud rate — The speed at which a communication device, such as a

printer or modem, transmits information. Baud rate is the number of

signal changes per second (not necessarily the same as bits per

second). See also bits per second.

BIOS (basic input/output system) — Basic instructions, stored in read-

only memory (ROM), containing the information the computer

needs to check hardware and load the operating system when you

start up the computer.

bits per second (bps) — A way of measuring the speed at which

information is passed between two devices. This is the basic unit of

measure used in modem communications, and is similar, but not

identical, to the baud rate. See also baud rate.

boot — To start the computer. The term “boot” originates from bootstrap

program (as in “pulling itself up by its bootstraps”), a program that

loads and initializes the operating system. See also reboot.

boot disk — See system disk.

boot priority (startup sequence) — The order in which the computer

accesses its internal storage drives to locate the startup files. Under

the default startup sequence, the computer looks for the startup files

in the diskette drive before checking the internal storage drive.

bus — An electrical circuit that connects the central processing unit

(CPU) with other parts of the computer, such as the video adapter,

disk drives, and ports. It is the pathway through which data flows

from one device to another. See also bus speed, frontside bus.

bus speed — The speed at which the central processing unit (CPU)

communicates with the other parts of the computer.

cache — A section of very fast memory in which frequently used

information is duplicated for quick access. Accessing data from

cache is faster than accessing it from the computer’s main memory.