RAM
Acronym for Random Access Memory. Semiconductor-based
memory that can be read and written by the central processing
unit (CPU) or other hardware devices. The term is generally
understood to refer to volatile memory that does not
permanently hold data or programs.
Readme
A file containing information
that a user will either need or find informative when using or
installing a particular program. Readme files are generally
formatted as plain text (without extraneous or
program-specific characters) so that they can be read easily
by a variety of word processing programs.
Real Time Clock
(RTC)
An independent timekeeping circuit used
within a microcomputer to keep track of the time and calendar
date. A clock/calendar circuit is battery powered, so it
continues running even when the computer is turned off. The
time and date kept by the clock/calendar can be used by the
operating system (for example, to "stamp" files with the date
and time of creation or revision) and by application programs
(for example, to insert the date or time in a document) via
calls to the BIOS.
reboot
To restart a computer by
reloading the operating system. This can be done by performing
either a cold boot (turning the computer system off and then
back on) or a warm boot (without turning the computer off).
remote
system
The computer or network that a user
accesses via a modem.
removable
disk
A disk that can be removed from a disk
drive. Floppy disks are removable; hard disks usually are not.
Rich Text Format
(RTF)
An adaptation of DCA (Document Content
Architecture) that is used for transferring formatted text
documents between applications, even those applications
running on different platforms, such as between IBM and
compatibles and Apple Macintoshes.
rollover
problem
As related to the year 2000 issue, this
refers to the inability of some computer hardware, usually the
Real Time Clock or BIOS, to interpret the century as the
twenty-first (20xx) when the two-digits allocated for the year
"roll over" from "99" to "00." For some computers, the BIOS
will incorrectly interpret the year as "1900" instead of
"2000," and this may lead to inaccuracies within the computer
system regarding dates and date calculations.
ROM
Acronym for Read-Only Memory. A semiconductor circuit into
which code or data is permanently installed by the
manufacturing process. ROM contains instructions or data that
can be read but not modified.
run
To start or execute a program.
