Toshiba PPM78U05L01E User Manual

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Glossary-8
User’s Manual
PORTÉGÉ M780
format: The process of readying a blank disk for its first use. Formatting 
establishes the structure of the disk that the operating system 
expects before it writes files or programs onto the disk.
function keys: The keys labeled F1 through F12 that tell the computer to 
perform certain functions.
G
gigabyte (GB): A unit of data storage equal to 1024 megabytes. See also 
megabyte.
graphics: Drawings, pictures, or other images, such as charts or graphs, to 
present information.
H
hard disk: A non-removable disk usually referred to as drive C. The factory 
installs this disk and only a trained engineer can remove it for 
servicing. Also called fixed disk.
hard disk drive (HDD): An electromechanical device that reads and writes 
a hard disk. See also hard disk.
hardware: The physical electronic and mechanical components of a 
computer system: typically, the computer itself, external disk drives, 
etc. See also software and firmware.
hertz: A unit of wave frequency that equals one cycle per second.
hexadecimal: The base 16 numbering system composed of the digits 0 
through 9 and the letters A, B, C, D, E, and F.
host computer: The computer that controls, regulates, and transmits 
information to a device or another computer.
hot key: The computer’s feature in which certain keys in combination with 
the extended function key, FN, can be used to set system 
parameters, such as speaker volume.
HW Setup: A TOSHIBA utility that lets you set the parameters for various 
hardware components.
I
icon: A small graphic image displayed on the screen or in the indicator 
panel. In Windows, an icon represents an object that the user can 
manipulate.
i.LINK (IEEE1394): This port enables high-speed data transfer directly 
from external devices such as digital video cameras.
input: The data or instructions you provide to a computer, communication 
device or other peripheral device from the keyboard or external or 
internal storage devices. The data sent (or output) by the sending 
computer is input for the receiving computer.