Computer Terms
Here you can find simple definitions for most common computer terms. Don't worry if you don't understand computer jargon; all definitions are presented in an easy-to-understand way.If you have a computer term that you would like to have defined, please email it to miss@wiu.edu.
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A
AC - Academic Computing, now known as University Computer Support Services
All Programs - This is where you will find all the programs that are installed on your computer. It is located below all your recently used programs.
Application Explorer - This is an icon on your desktop that allows you to connect with programs on the network. There are programs that you can install and other programs that you can use on a daily basis.
Attachment - A file that is sent along with an email message.B
Backbone - This is one of many infrastructures that you don't see. It is connected to your computer via the wall plate in your office.C
Click - This is when you click one time on the left mouse button.
Client - This is a program that allows your computer to talk to the server. This program is updated from time to time as changes are made to the server or when updates arrive.
Closing Windows - At the top right of most windows there are three icons. The X is the icon for closing windows. When you click the X, the window will disappear. The only way to access it again is to open it again.
Clustering - Tying one or more servers together to create a fault tolerant network. If one goes down the other picks up the load and the network keeps running
Copy - You use this option to create a copy of the file in the same location or in another location.
CPU - Commonly refers to the main part of the computer system (where your hard drive, floppy drive, processor and memory is). Technically, the CPU stands for "central processing unit," which is the processor in the computer.
Cut - You use this option to move a file from location to another. This will not leave a copy of the file when you are done.D
Desktop - This is where all your icons are located. This is the first screen you see when you are completely logged in. By default you should see the Application Explorer and the trash can.
DOSS-NT - This is the name of the Microsoft domain server used for the Division of Student Services. This server doesn't affect most areas within the Division.
Double Click - This is when you click the left mouse button twice quickly.
Download - To get a file located on the internet or in an email.
Driver - These are files that allow your computer to talk to external and internal parts. There are drivers for your monitor, keyboard, mouse, printer, sound, and many others.E
ECOM - A collection of services provided to all university employees and students by University Computing Support Services. Your ECOM account allows you to access your university email, web space, modem internet access, and listserv.
ESSWEB - The live webserver. This is where all websites hosted by ESS are stored.F
F: Drive - This is an individual users directory. Files in this diretory can only be accessed by you.
FAQ - FAQ stands for Frequently Asked Questions. We have a site that is called either FAQ page or the Knowledge Base. This is a place where you can ask questions and the computer will answer them for you. If the answer is not there, it contacts ESS and we write a answer for you question.
File - Typically we use this to identify a document or application saved by a user.
File Backup - An operation that makes a copy of the data stored on a server then moves this data to a removable data tape. The tapes are then stored in a separate location.
Format - The process of removing all files and programs that were stored on the local hard drive.G
G: Drive - This is our group network directory. Files stored here are accessable to individuals in your office. Security levels can be created so diffent users have different file access.
Ghost - Restoring a computer back to it's original configuration. This process removes all files and programs that were stored on the local hard drive.
GroupWise - The email program used by the Division of Student Services.H
Hard Drive - Internal disk drive that contains the operating system and programs that you run from your local machine.
Highlight - This is the way to select files for move/deleting/copying/renaming. This can be done by clicking the mouse button, dragging it over the files you want to do something to and then letting off of the mouse button. You can also use shortcut keys to accomplish the same things; we will cover this in class.I
Icons - Pictures placed on your desktop that are shortcuts to files or programs. An example would be our Application Explorer.
Imaging - This is the new way that we Ghost computers, so you may hear this term interchanged with Ghosting.K
Knowledge Base - A storehouse for many common questions and answers. We have a site that is called either FAQ page or the Knowledge Base. This is a place where you can ask questions and the computer will answer them for you. If the answer is not there, it contacts ESS and we write a answer for you question.L
Logging In - The process of entering your username and password to gain access to the network, a website, program, etc.
Logging Out - This is an option that will allow you to close your access without restarting your computer. When you click the start button there are two options: shutdown and logout. Sometimes logging out of your computer is quicker if someone else is going to get back on it and it hasn’t had any problems.M
Mainframe vs Server - When you log into your computer in the morning, you are connecting to the DOSSMAIN server. This is the server that has all your programs, personal space (F:\users), group space (G:\) and allows you to be connected to the internet. When you log into QWS secure or MVS, you are connecting to the Mainframe. The Mainframe has most all the student information (WIUP and TSO) and is separate from the server. There can be times when you are connected to one but not the other.
Maximize Windows - At the top right of most windows there are three icons. The “box” icon is for maximizing windows. This will make the window as big as it can be on your monitor. Another way to maximize a window is the click the window shortcut in the task bar. Doing this will open the window on your desktop. If it’s not big enough you can also then click the “box” to increase it size.
Minimize Windows - At the top right of most windows there are three icons. The – icon is for minimizing the window. When you click this button ( - ), the window will shrink itself and only show up on the task bar.
MS - Microsoft
My Computer - This is a program that allows you to see all folder and files that are located on the drives you have access to. It will show you your hard drive (c:\), floppy drive (a:\), and the network drives you have access to (f:\, g:\, w:\) and others depending on your computer and access rights.
My Documents - This is a shortcut to a folder on your hard drive where you can store files. We suggest that you don’t use this location because it saves to your hard drive. If something happens to your computer, the files could be lost. By default, you should always save documents to either F or G depending on the document use.N
Network - A group of computers that are connected via switches and routers to allow them to share data and applications.
Network Drives - These are storage locations on the network. All network drives are backed up nightly to protect the data stored on them. The F: drive and the G: drive are network drives.
Network User Space - Your personal user space is a total of what you have on F and W; for most people it’s only F. Your F drive should be used to store work related files. You have a total 100 MB of space available to you. Only the user and the network administrators have the ability to see what’s in this account. The network administrators will not look at what is in this account unless there is a problem.
Your group space is what you have on G. G should be used for work related documents shared between at least two people. You have a total of 100 MB of space available to you. Anyone in your office will have the ability to look at the files placed in this location. There are sometimes staff only areas that student workers can’t see unless requested by a supervisor.
Groupwise has 100 MB of regular email space and then another 100 MB of archive space.
*** No user space will be increased past 100 MB. Groupwise will notify you when you are getting close and you will have to archive or delete emails. The network will give you a client32 error if you are running low on space. When this happens, please contact the Student Assistance Center and a network administrator will increase you space as long as it’s under 100 MB.
NIC - Network Interface Card; the piece of hardware inside your computer that plugs into the wallplate via a network cord.O
Operating System - MS Windows 95, 98, NT, 2000 or XP. The opperating system manages your computer respources and programs.P
Paste - This is the last part of the cut/copy option. Once you have cut or copied a file and decide where to you want it to be located, you then paste it in the folder.
PDF - A type of file commonly used for downloadable documents on the internet. PDF files require Adobe Acrobat Reader to view.
Pinned Programs - Windows XP allows you to place shortcuts so they will always appear when you click the start button. They are located above the recently used program and by default, we have place WIU_MVS_Secure.
Push - This is when we send an automatic program update to your computer through the server. Some Pushes we have done in the past included: client, Groupwise, and Symantec. Q
Quick Launch - This is the area just to the right of your start button. You can place shortcuts to programs that you used frequently. By default, you have Internet Explorer, WIU_MVS_secure, and the show desktop icon.R
RAM - This is the internal memory that your machine uses to process requests. RAM is a key issue when it comes to a computers performance.
Reboot - To restart a computer.
Recently Used Programs - When you click on the start button there is a menu with two sides. The left side has a top and bottom part. The bottom part lists all the programs that you have recently used.
Restart - When you click the start button and then select the shutdown option, you are giving several other options to choose from; one of those options is restart. If you pick this option, your computer will shutdown and then automatically turn it self back on.
Right Click - This is when you click one time on the right mouse button. Remember, if we don't say right click, it's always left click.
Right-clicking - Clicking the right mouse button.
Router - This is one of many infrastructures that you don't see. It is connected to your computer via the wall plate in your office.S
Screen Saver - When you are away for a set period of time, your computer runs a program that places images that move so your screen doesn’t get one image “burned” into it. The default screen saver is the Student Services name scrolling across your screen. If you download a free screen saver from the internet, it can cause problems even if you remove it later.
Server vs Mainframe - When you log into your computer in the morning, you are connecting to the DOSSMAIN server. This is the server that has all your programs, personal space (F:\users), group space (G:\) and allows you to be connected to the internet. When you log into QWS secure or MVS, you are connecting to the Mainframe. The Mainframe has most all the student information (WIUP and TSO) and is separate from the server. There can be times when you are connected to one but not the other.
Shortcut - A shortcut is a way to get to a file or program quicker. Usually, these are pictures that you can double click on called icons.
Shutdown - When you click the start button and then select the shutdown option, you are giving several other options to choose from; one of those options is shutdown. If you pick this option, your computer will shutdown and power off.
Start Button - This is the button usually located at the bottom left of your desktop. When you click the start button you will see the recently used programs, pinned programs, all programs, my computer, and my documents.
Switch - This is one of many infrastructures that you don't see. It is connected to your computer via the wall plate in your office.
System Tray - This is the area to the far right of your task bar. It usually has your clock and other programs that load at startup. Some of these programs are ones that load by default for network connection. The more programs you have in this area, the slower your computer will run. T
Task Bar - This is the long box usually located at the bottom of your desktop. It contains the start button, quick launch area, open windows, and your system tray.
TESTAPPS - The development webserver. This server is a duplicate of the live webserver, ESSWEB, and is where all work on websites is done before being moved "live." This webserver is not publically available.U
UCSS - University Computer Support Services (previously known as Academic Computing)W
Wall Paper - This is the picture that sits on your desktop. The default wall paper is the Student Services new logo with the bell tower. You can change this if you like to any picture file you have.
Webserver - A webserver is a computer that houses websites.
Windows - An Area displayed on your screen that contains other things like programs, folders, files, and etc. When you open a window it appears on the screen and in your task bar. Most windows can be moved, minimized, maximized, and closed. Z
ZenWorks - A network management utility that helps to manage both the network servers and individual workstations installed on the network.
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