`
`Microsoft"
`
`l '.
`* Fully updated with the latest
`technologies, terms, and acronyms-,9 .
`
`Cpmwter
`Iarlctlony
`Fifth Ed itio .\
`
`
`
`- Easy to read, expertly illustrated
`
`' Definitive coverage of hardware,
`software, the lnterhet, and more!
`
`

`

`Microsoft·
`
`Microsoft®
`
`om u er
`•
`•
`1c 1onar
`Fifth Edition
`
`

`

`PUBLISHED BY
`Microsoft Press
`A Division of Microsoft Corporation
`One Microsoft Way
`Redmond, Washington 98052-6399
`
`Copyright © 2002 by Microsoft Corporation
`
`All rights reserved. No part of the contents of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form
`or by any means without the written permission of the publisher.
`
`Library of Congress Control Number: 2002019714
`
`Microsoft Press books are available through booksellers and distributors worldwide. For further informa(cid:173)
`tion about international editions, contact your local Microsoft Corporation office or contact Microsoft
`Press International directly at fax (425) 936-7329. Visit our Web site at www.microsoft.com/mspress.
`Send comments to mspinput@microsoft.com.
`
`Active Desktop, Active Directory, ActiveMovie, ActiveStore, ActiveSync, ActiveX, Authenticode,
`BackOffice, BizTalk, ClearType, Direct3D, DirectAnimation, DirectDraw, Directlnput, DirectMusic,
`DirectPlay, DirectShow, DirectSound, DirectX, Entourage, FoxPro, FrontPage, Hotmail, IntelliEye,
`IntelliMouse, IntelliSense, JScript, MapPoint, Microsoft, Microsoft Press, Mobile Explorer, MS-DOS,
`MSN, Music Central, NetMeeting, Outlook, PhotoDraw, PowerPoint, SharePoint, UltimateTV, Visio,
`Visual Basic, Visual C++, Visual FoxPro, Visual lnterDev, Visual J++, Visual SourceSafe, Visual Studio,
`Win32, Win32s, Windows, Windows Media, Windows NT, Xbox are either registered trademarks or
`trademarks of Microsoft Corporation in the United States and/or other countries. Other product and
`company names mentioned herein may be the trademarks of their respective owners.
`
`The example companies, organizations, products, domain names, e-mail addresses, logos, people, places,
`and events depicted herein are fictitious. No association with any real company, organization, product,
`domain name, e-mail address, logo, person, place, or event is intended or should be inferred.
`
`Acquisitions Editor: Alex Blanton
`Project Editor: Sandra Haynes
`
`Body Part No. XOS-41929
`
`

`

`stoptr:ansmission
`
`rtup n. See boot1•
`rtup application n. On the Macintosh, the application
`takes control of the system when the computer is
`edon.
`RTUP.CMD n. A special-purpose batch file stored in
`f()ot directory of the startup disk in OS/2-the OS/2
`valent of an MS-DOS AUTOEXEC.BAT file.
`
`up ROM n. The bootstrap instructions coded into a
`uter's ROM (read-only memory) and executed at
`. The startup ROM routines enable a computer to
`itself and its devices (such as the keyboard and disk
`), prepare itself for operation, and run a short pro(cid:173)
`to load an operating-system loader program. See
`boot1, power-on self test.
`.tup screen n. A text or graphics display that appears
`screen when a program is started (run). Startup
`usually contain information about the software's
`n and often contain a product or corporate logo.
`ired ring n. A network topology in which hubs and
`connect to a central hub in typical star fashion, but
`nnections within the central hub form a ring. Star(cid:173)
`ring is a combination of star and ring topologies.
`
`·· 1 adj. Of or pertaining to a system or process that
`s all details of the state of an activity in which it
`es. For example, stateful handling of messages
`nt of their content. Compare stateless.
`ess adj. Of or pertaining to a system or process that
`pates in an activity without monitoring all details of
`. For example, stateless handling of messages
`e account of only their sources and destinations
`their content. Compare stateful.
`ent n. The smallest executable entity within a pro(cid:173)
`ing language.
`f·the-art adj. Up to date; at the forefront of cur(cid:173)
`or software technology.
`
`adj. In information processing, fixed or predeter(cid:173)
`For example, a static memory buffer remains
`n size throughout program execution. The oppo(cid:173)
`tion is dynamic, or ever-changing.
`
`static2 n. In communications, a crackling noise caused
`by electrical interference with a transmitted signal. See
`also noise (definition 2).
`static allocation n. Apportionment of memory that
`occurs once, usually when the program starts. The mem(cid:173)
`ory remains allocated during the program's execution and
`is not deallocated until the program is finished. See also
`allocate, deallocate. Compare dynamic allocation.
`static binding n. Binding (converting symbolic
`addresses in the program to storage-related addresses) that
`occurs during program compilation or linkage. Also
`called: early binding. Compare dynamic binding.
`static buffer n. A secondary sound buffer that contains
`an entire sound; these buffers are convenient because the
`entire sound can be written once to the buffer. See also
`streaming buffer.
`static electricity n. An electrical charge accumulated in
`an object. Although generally harmless to humans, the
`discharge of static electricity through an electronic circuit
`can cause severe damage to the circuit.
`static RAM n. A form of semiconductor memory (RAM)
`based on the logic circuit known as a flip-flop, which
`retains information as long as there is enough power to run
`the device. Static RAMs are usually reserved for use in
`caches. Acronym: SRAM. See also cache, RAM, synchro(cid:173)
`nous burst static RAM. Compare dynamic RAM.
`static routing n. Routing based on a fixed forwarding
`path. Unlike dynamic routing, static routing does not
`adjust to changing network conditions. Compare dynamic
`routing.
`static Web page n. Web page that displays the same
`content to all viewers. Usually written in hypertext
`markup language (HTML), a static Web page displays
`content that changes only if the HTML code is altered. See
`also dynamic Web page.
`station n. 1. In the IEEE 802.11 wireless LAN specifica(cid:173)
`tion, a single, often mobile, node. 2. See workstation.
`stationery1 adj. Describing a type of document that,
`when opened by the user, is duplicated by the system; the
`copy is opened for the user's modification while the origi(cid:173)
`nal document remains intact. Stationery documents can be
`used as document templates or boiler:plates. See also boil(cid:173)
`erplate, template (definition 5).
`stationery2 n. A stationery document. See also
`stationery 1•
`
`497
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`

`

`statistical multiplexer n. A multiplexing device that
`adds intelligence to time-division multiplexing by using
`buffering (temporary storage) and a microprocessor to com(cid:173)
`bine transmission streams into a single signal and to allo(cid:173)
`cate available bandwidth dynamically. Also called: stat
`mux. See also dynamic allocation, multiplexing, time(cid:173)
`division multiplexing.
`statistics n. The branch of mathematics that deals with
`the relationships among groups of measurements and with
`the relevance of similarities and differences in those rela(cid:173)
`tionships. See also binomial distribution, Monte Carlo
`method, probability, regression analysis, standard devia(cid:173)
`tion, stochastic.
`stat mux n. See statistical multiplexer.
`status n. The condition at a particular time of any of
`numerous elements of computing-a device, a communi(cid:173)
`cations channel, a network station, a program, a bit, or
`other element-used to report on or to control computer
`operations.
`status bar n. In Windows 9x and Windows NT 4 and
`later, a space at the bottom of many program windows that
`contains a short text message about the current condition
`of the program. Some programs also display an explana(cid:173)
`tion of the currently selected menu command in the status
`bar. See the illustration.
`
`Status bar.
`
`status codes n. Strings of digits or other characters that
`indicate the success or failure of some attempted action.
`Status codes were commonly used to report the results of
`early computer programs, but most software today uses
`words or graphics. Internet users, especially those with
`UNIX shell accounts, are likely to encounter status codes
`while using the Web or FfP. See also HTTP status codes.
`steganography n. A "hide-in-plain-sight" technique for
`concealing information by embedding a message within
`an innocuous cover message. In steganography, bits of
`unnecessary data within an image, sound, text, or even a
`blank file are replaced with bits of invisible information.
`The term steganography comes from the Greek for "cov(cid:173)
`ered writing" and has traditionally included any method of
`secret communication that conceals the existence of the
`message. Because steganography cannot be detected by
`decryption software, it is often used to replace or supple(cid:173)
`ment encryption.
`
`stote1gearea n~t
`
`step-frame n. The process of capturing video images 0
`frame at a time. This process is used by computers that al"
`too slow to capture analog video images in real time.
`stepper motor n. A mechanical device that rotates ollly J:;
`fixed distance each time it receives an electrical pulse. A
`stepper motor is part of a disk drive.
`step-rate time n. The time required to move a disk
`ator arm from one track to the next. See also actuator,
`stepper motor.
`stereogram n. See autostereogram.
`sticky adj. In reference to a Web site, properties such
`targeted content or services that increase the amount of
`time users choose to spend at the site and increase user's
`desire to return to the site repeatedly.
`StickyKeys n. An accessibility feature built into Macin(cid:173)
`tosh and Windows computers that causes modifier keys
`such as Shift, Control, or Alt to "stay on" after they are
`pressed, eliminating the need to press multiple keys simul~
`taneously. This feature facilitates the use of modifier keys ·
`by users who are unable to hold down one key while
`pressing another.
`stochastic adj. Based on random occurrences. For
`pie, a stochastic model describes a system by taking into
`account chance events as well as planned events.
`stop bit n. In asynchronous transmission, a bit that sig~
`nals the end of a character. In early electromechanical
`teleprinters, the stop bit provided time for the receiving
`mechanism to coast back to the idle position and,
`depending on the mechanism, had a duration of 1, 1.5, or
`2 data bits. See also asynchronous transmission. Com"
`pare parity bit, start bit.
`Stop error n. A serious error that affects the operating
`system and that could place data at risk. The operating
`system generates an obvious message, a screen with the
`Stop error, rather than continuing on and possibly corrupt"
`ing data. Also called: blue screen error, fatal system
`See also Blue Screen of Death.
`storage n. In computing, any device in or on which
`mation can be kept. Microcomputers have two main
`of storage: random access memory {RAM) and disk
`and other external storage media. Other types of storage
`include read-only memory (ROM) and buffers.
`storage area network n. A high-speed network that
`vides a direct connection between servers and storage,
`including shared storage, clusters, and disaster-recovery
`
`498
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`