backup
A duplicate copy of a
program, a disk or data, made either for archiving purposes or
for safeguarding valuable files from loss should the active
copy be damaged or destroyed. A backup is an "insurance" copy.
BIOS
The set of essential software routines that test hardware
at startup, start the operating system, and support the
transfer of data among hardware devices. BIOS is an acronym
for Basic Input/Output System. On PC-compatible computers, the
BIOS is stored in read-only memory (ROM) so that it can be
executed when the computer is turned on. Although critical to
performance, the BIOS is usually invisible to computer users.
bit
Shortened term for binary digit. It is the smallest unit
of information handled by a computer. One bit expresses a 1 or
a 0 in a binary numeral, or a true or false logical condition,
and is represented physically by an element such as a high or
low voltage at one point in a circuit or a small spot on a
disk magnetized one way or the other. A single bit conveys
little information a human would consider meaningful. A group
of 8 bits, however, makes up a byte, which can be used to
represent many types of information, such as a letter of the
alphabet, a decimal digit or other character.
boot
The process of starting or resetting a computer. When
first turned on (cold boot) or reset (warm boot), the computer
executes important software that loads and starts the
computer's operating system and prepares it for use. Thus, the
computer can be said to pull itself up by its own bootstraps.
boot
disk
A floppy disk that contains key system
files from the operating system and that can boot, or start,
the PC. A boot disk must be inserted in the primary floppy
disk drive (usually drive A:) and is used when there is some
problem with starting the PC from the hard disk, from which
the computer generally boots.
boot
drive
In a PC-compatible computer, this is the
disk drive that the BIOS uses to automatically load the
operating system when the computer is turned on. In computers
with MS-DOS, Windows 3.x, or Windows 95 operating systems, the
default boot drive is generally the primary floppy disk drive
(A). If a floppy disk is not found in that drive, the BIOS
will check the primary hard disk next, which is drive C.
boot
failure
The inability of a computer to locate
or activate the operating system and thus boot (start) the
computer.
bundled
software
Software programs that are sold with a
computer as part of a combined hardware/software package, or
programs that are sold with larger programs to increase
functionality or attractiveness.
