Define Windows XP

Definition for XP :
Microsoft Windows XP was introduced in 2001 and is the most significant upgrade to the Windows operating system since Windows 95. The previous version of Windows, called Windows Me (or Millennium Edition) still had the look and feel of Windows 95 and was known to have stability issues and incompatibilities with certain hardware.

The letters "XP" stand for "eXPerience," meaning the operating system is meant to be a new type of user experience.

What is an extension?

Disk files have to be identified so the operating system can address them. These filenames have specific rules.
The basic form of a filename is:
rootname.ext

what is a file extension?

A file extension is nothing more than the last characters after the period in the name of a file. For a detailed explanation, examples, and a method of setting your system so that it shows file extensions.

File extensions

Here are the various commonly used file types.
AAC audio file - .aac
AutoIt Version 3 file - .au3
Microsoft Audio Video Interweave (AVI) file - .avi
Adobe Photoshop Eps file - .eps
AutoCAD File - .dwg
Bitmap image file - .bmp, .dib, .rle
Graphic Interchange Format image file -.gif
Microsoft Office Word document file - .doc
Microsoft Office Word 2007 document file - .docx
Microsoft Office Excel spreadsheet file - .xls
Microsoft Office Excel 2007 spreadsheet file - .xlsx
Microsoft Office Publisher file - .pub
Microsoft Office PowerPoint Presentation file - .ppt
Microsoft Office PowerPoint 2007 Presentation file - .pptx
Executable file (program) - .exe, .com
Macromedia Flash Project file - .fla
Hyper Text Markup Language file - .html, .htm
JPEG image file - .jpg, .jpe, .jpeg, .jfif
MPEG Layer 3 audio file - .mp3
MPEG Layer 4 audio file - .mp4
MPEG movie file - .mpeg, .mpg, .mp2, .m2ts
Windows Movie Maker Project file - .mswmm
Portable Bitmap file - .pbm, .pgm, .ppm, .pnm, .pfn
PHP dynamic webpage script file - .php
Pict file - .pict, .pct
Monster Truck Madness truck or track file -.pod
Pixar file - .pxr
Portable Network Graphic image file - .png
Microsoft PowerPoint slideshow file - .pps
Photoshop's Large Document File - .psb
Adobe Photoshop File - .psd, .pdd
Raw (unprocessed) image file - .raw
Sim City 4 Save File - .sc4
Scitex CT (Continuous Tone) Bitmap Image File - .sct
Macromedia Shockwave Flash Movie file - .swf
Targa image file - .tga, .icd, .vst, .vda
Temporary file - .tmp
Tiff image file - .tif, .tiff
Basic text file - .txt
Wave audio file - .wav
Xml Structured Data/Database file - .xml
Portable Document Format file - .pdf
Ogg Audio Container File - .ogg
Xvid video file - .xvid
Microsoft Visio diagram file - .vsd
ZIP compression file-.zip
Diablo II character file-.d2s
WinRAR archive file-.rar
Backup copy of files-.bak
Windows Media Video files - .wmv
Windows Media Audio files - .wma
Blender file - .blend, .blend1
Dynamic link library file - .dll
Initialization file - .ini
binary file- .bin
Miro Flie-.miro.1
Database extension-.dbx
Personal storage folder-.pst(Microsoft outlook)

PDF

What is meant by PDF ?
The Portable Document Format (PDF) is the file format created by Adobe Systems in 1993 for document exchange. PDF is fixed-layout document format used for representing two-dimensional documents in a manner independent of the application software, hardware, and operating system.

Software Package

What is software package ?

Term used to describe software that is bunched together making a complete set. For example, Microsoft Office includes many software programs that may be used in the office, such as Microsoft Excel, Microsoft Word and Microsoft Access.

Multiple software programs that work together (or performs similar functions) and is bundled and sold together as a software package.

Application Software

What is meant by application software ?
A program or group of programs designed for end users. Software can be divided into two general classes: systems software and applications software. Systems software consists of low-level programs that interact with the computer at a very basic level. This includes operating systems, compilers, and utilities for managing computer resources.
In contrast, applications software (also called end-user programs) includes database programs, word processors, and spreadsheets. Figuratively speaking, applications software sits on top of systems software because it is unable to run without the operating system and system utilities.

Types of OS

An Operating System, or OS, is a software program that enables the computer hardware to communicate and operate with the computer software. Without a computer Operating System, a computer would be useless.
Operating system types :
GUI - Short for Graphical User Interface, a GUI Operating System contains graphics and icons and is commonly navigated by using a computer mouse.Examples of GUI Operating Systems.
Windwos 98,Windows2000,windowsXP,Windows Vista,Ubuntu.
Multi-user - A multi-user Operating System allows for multiple users to use the same computer at the same time and/or different times.Some examples of multi-user Operating Systems.
Linux,Unix,Windows2000,WindowsXP,Windows2003.
Multiprocessing - An Operating System capable of supporting and utilizing more than one computer processor. Below are some examples of multiprocessing Operating Systems.
Examples : Linux,Unix,Windows2000,Windows2003.
Multitasking - An Operating system that is capable of allowing multiple software processes to run at the same time. Below are some examples of multitasking Operating Systems.
Multithreading - Operating systems that allow different parts of a software program to run concurrently. Operating systems that would fall into this category are:
Linux,Unix,Windows2000,Windows2003.

Performance between NTFS vs FAT

Comparing performance between NTFS vs FAT

NTFS :Default File system In Windows XP, 2k and NT
FAT : Fat 16 not compatible with XP, FAT is more compatible with other operating Systems( Windows 95, etc)

NTFS :Support For Drives over 40gb, Files over GB
FAT : -

NTFS :Allows extended file names, foreign characters
FAT : FAT 16 has 8.3 character limitation

NTFS :Has a severely crippled maintenance system in chkdsk
FAT : Has better, more and interactive recovery utilities (scandisk)

NTFS :Chkdsk is notoriously slow
FAT : Scandisk is very quick

NTFS :Increased security with file encryption
FAT : Just a space for the OS to read files
Faster on drives less than 10gb

NTFS : Smaller file clusters, 4kb
FAT : FAT 16 cluster size is 32kb

NTFS :Compression to reduce disk space
FAT : -

NTFS :User permissions for files and folders
FAT : -

NTFS :File copies are “undone” if interrupted, cluster chains is cleaned
FAT : Cluster chains containing data from interrupted copies are marked as damaged

NTFS :Small files are kept in Master File Table at the beginning of the drive
FAT : Master File Table are separate from files

NTFS :Not compatible with different operating systems on the same computer
FAT : _

Advantages of NTFS

The NTFS file system, introduced with first version of Windows NT, is a completely different file system from FAT. It provides for greatly increased security, file–by–file compression, quotas, and even encryption. It is the default file system for new installations of Windows XP, and if you're doing an upgrade from a previous version of Windows, you'll be asked if you want to convert your existing file systems to NTFS. Don't worry. If you've already upgraded to Windows XP and didn't do the conversion then, it's not a problem. You can convert FAT16 or FAT32 volumes to NTFS at any point. Just remember that you can't easily go back to FAT or FAT32 (without reformatting the drive or partition), not that I think you'll want to.The NTFS file system is generally not compatible with other operating systems installed on the same computer, nor is it available when you've booted a computer from a floppy disk. For this reason, many system administrators, myself included, used to recommend that users format at least a small partition at the beginning of their main hard disk as FAT. This partition provided a place to store emergency recovery tools or special drivers needed for reinstallation, and was a mechanism for digging yourself out of the hole you'd just dug into. But with the enhanced recovery abilities built into Windows XP (more on that in a future column), I don't think it's necessary or desirable to create that initial FAT partition.

NTFS

What is NTFS ?
NT File System: One of the file systems for the Windows NT, 2000 and XP operating systems. NTFS is the more advanced file system, compared to FAT32. It improves performance and is required in order to implement numerous security and administrative features in the OS. For example, NTFS supports Active Directory domain names and provides file encryption. Permissions can be set at the file level rather than by folder, and individual users can be assigned disk space quotas. NTFS is designed to log activity and recover on the fly from hard disk crashes. It also supports the Unicode character set and allows file names up to 255 characters in length. See FAT32.

FAT32

What is FAT32?
FAT32 is supported by Windows 95's OEM SR2 release, as well as Windows 98, Windows ME and Windows 2000. FAT32 uses a 28-bit binary cluster number--not 32, because 4 of the 32 bits are "reserved". FAT32 can theoretically handle volumes with over 268 million clusters, and will support (theoretically) drives up to 2 TB in size.

FAT16

What is FAT16?
The FAT used for most older systems, used a 16-bit binary number to hold cluster numbers. A volume using FAT16 can hold a maximum of 65,526 clusters, FAT16 was used for hard disk volumes ranging in size from 16 MB to 2,048 MB. VFAT is a variant of FAT16.

FAT

What is meant by File Allocation Table ?
FAT : An area on a hard disk or floppy disk where information is stored about the physical location of each piece of every file on the disk and about the location of unusable areas of the disk.

MBR

What is meant by MBR ?
The Master Boot Record (MBR) is the information in the first sector of any hard disk or diskette that identifies how and where an operating system is located so that it can be boot (loaded) into the computer's main storage or random access memory. The Master Boot Record is also sometimes called the "partition sector" or the "master partition table" because it includes a table that locates each partition that the hard disk has been formatted into. In addition to this table, the MBR also includes a program that reads the boot sector record of the partition containing the operating system to be booted into RAM. In turn, that record contains a program that loads the rest of the operating system into RAM.

Addressing Mode

What is the addressing mode for Hard dsik ?
There are two modes of addressing the data blocks on more recent hard disks. The older mode is CHS addressing (Cylinder-Head-Sector), used on old ST-506 and ATA drives and internally by the PC BIOS. The more recent mode is the LBA (Logical Block Addressing), used by SCSI drives and newer ATA drives (ATA drives power up in CHS mode for historical reasons).

SMPS

What is meant by SMPS ?
The SMPS is a power supply unit (swithc mode power supply) that not only delivers energy to an electronic device from an electrical outlet, but also regulates the current to meet the devices specific requirements. If you have any type of sophisticated electronics such as computers, laptops, high end audio equipment, cell phones etc.

Northbridge

What is Northbridge ?
Northbridge is an Intel chipset that communicates with the computer processor and controls interaction with memory, the Peripheral Component Interconnect (PCI) bus, Level 2 cache, and all Accelerated Graphics Port (AGP) activities. Northbridge communicates with the processor using the frontside bus (FSB). Northbridge is one part of a two-part chipset called Northbridge/Southbridge. Southbridge handles the input/output (I/O) functions of the chipset.

Backside Bus

What is meant by Backside Bus ?
A dedicated channel between the CPU and a level 2 cache. It typically runs at the full speed of the CPU, whereas the frontside bus generally runs slower.

FSB

What is meant by System Bus ?
1.The primary pathway between the CPU and memory. The speed is derived from the number of parallel channels (16 bit, 32 bit, etc.) and clock speed. Also known as a "frontside bus," it is faster than the peripheral bus (PCI, ISA, etc.), but slower than the backside bus.
2.The primary pathway between the CPU and peripherals.

IRQ

Definition for IRQ :
IRQ (Interrupt ReQuest) A hardware interrupt on a PC. There are 16 IRQ lines used to signal the CPU that a peripheral event has started or terminated. Except for PCI devices, two devices cannot use the same line. If a new expansion board is preset to the IRQ used by an existing board, one of them must be changed. This was an enormous headache in earlier machines.Starting with the 286 (introduced in 1982), two 8259A controller chips have been cascaded together for a total of 16 IRQs (the first PCs had only one chip and eight IRQs). However, IRQ 2 is lost because it is used to connect to the second chip. IRQ 9 may be available for general use as most VGA cards do not require an IRQ.
PCI to the RescueThe PCI bus allows IRQs to be shared, which helps to solve the problem of limited IRQs available on a PC. For example, if there were only one IRQ left over after ISA devices were given their required IRQs, all PCI devices could share it. In a PCI-only machine, there cannot be insufficient IRQs, as all can be shared.
IRQ Assignment
0 System timer
1 PS/2 port
2 Connects to IRQ 9
3 COM2, COM4
4 COM1, COM3
5 Sound
6 Floppy disk
7 LPT1
8 Real-time clock
9 VGA, 3270 emulation**
10 **
11 **
12 PS/2 port
13 Math coprocessor
14 IDE primary
15 IDE secondary
** For general use.

BIOS

What is meant by BIOS ?
Basic Input/Output System is the program which starts up your computer and communicates between the devices in your computer (such as your hard drive and graphics card) and the system. BIOS is normally stored in an EPROM chip (Eraseable Programmable Read Only Memory).
BIOS is an integral part of your computer and comes with it when you bring it home. (In contrast, the operating system can either be preinstalled by the manufacturer or vendor or installed by the user.) BIOS is a program that is made accessible to the microprocessor on an eraseable programmable read-only memory ( EPROM ) chip. When you turn on your computer, the microprocessor passes control to the BIOS program, which is always located at the same place on EPROM.When BIOS boots up (starts up) your computer, it first determines whether all of the attachments are in place and operational and then it loads the operating system (or key parts of it) into your computer's random access memory ( RAM ) from your hard disk or diskette drive.With BIOS, your operating system and its applications are freed from having to understand exact details (such as hardware addresses) about the attached input/output devices. When device details change, only the BIOS program needs to be changed. Sometimes this change can be made during your system setup. In any case, neither your operating system or any applications you use need to be changed.Although BIOS is theoretically always the intermediary between the microprocessor and I/O device control information and data flow, in some cases, BIOS can arrange for data to flow directly to memory from devices (such as video cards) that require faster data flow to be effective.

Hard disk

A magnetic disk on which you can store computer data. The term hard is used to distinguish it from a soft, or floppy, disk. Hard disks hold more data and are faster than floppy disks. A hard disk, for example, can store anywhere from 10 to more than 100 gigabytes, whereas most floppies have a maximum storage capacity of 1.4 megabytes.A single hard disk usually consists of several platters. Each platter requires two read/write heads, one for each side. All the read/write heads are attached to a single access arm so that they cannot move independently. Each platter has the same number of tracks, and a track location that cuts across all platters is called a cylinder. For example, a typical 84 megabyte hard disk for a PC might have two platters (four sides) and 1,053 cylinders.

CPU

Define CPU:
CPU (central processing unit) is an older term for processor and microprocessor, the central unit in a computer containing the logic circuitry that performs the instructions of a computer's programs.

What are the types of memory?

RAM (random-access memory): This is the same as main memory. When used by itself, the term RAM refers to read and write memory; that is, you can both write data into RAM and read data from RAM. This is in contrast to ROM, which permits you only to read data. Most RAM is volatile, which means that it requires a steady flow of electricity to maintain its contents. As soon as the power is turned off, whatever data was in RAM is lost.
ROM (read-only memory): Computers almost always contain a small amount of read-only memory that holds instructions for starting up the computer. Unlike RAM, ROM cannot be written to.
PROM (programmable read-only memory): A PROM is a memory chip on which you can store a program. But once the PROM has been used, you cannot wipe it clean and use it to store something else. Like ROMs, PROMs are non-volatile.
EPROM (erasable programmable read-only memory): An EPROM is a special type of PROM that can be erased by exposing it to ultraviolet light.
EEPROM (electrically erasable programmable read-only memory): An EEPROM is a special type of PROM that can be erased by exposing it to an electrical charge.

Define computer Memory

The term memory is usually used as a shorthand for physical memory, which refers to the actual chips capable of holding data. Some computers also use virtual memory, which expands physical memory onto a hard disk.

Types of MotherBoard

Full AT
The first type of motherboard that we want to talk about is the full AT motherboard.The full AT motherboard is 12 inches wide and 11 inches long.The full AT suffered from a problem with accessing some of the items on the motherboard because the drive bays hung over the motherboard. This situation made installation and troubleshooting of the components on the motherboard very difficult.Another problem with the layout of the full AT board is that the expansion cards, once inserted into the systems, would cover the processor. This situation led to cooling problems due to the fact that ventilation was insufficient to keep the chip from overheating.
Baby AT
The baby AT system board form factor has been one of the most popular motherboard types until recent years. The baby AT board is 8.5 inches wide and 10 inches long. This motherboard can be easily recognized because it usually has a DIN keyboard connector in the top-right corner of the board.
The baby AT board was about two-thirds the size of the full AT board and incorporated a socket 7 ZIF slot for classic Pentium processors. The baby AT board usually had a mixture of ISA/EISA and PCI slots located on the system board and included a plug and play BIOS.Take a minute to consider some of the key components on the baby AT motherboard The socket 7 ZIF slot is usually situated at the bottom of the motherboard where the processor is to be installed. Also notice the SIMM and DIMM sockets on the right side of the motherboard, which are used to house RAM memory. To the left of the SIMM and DIMM slots, are the primary and secondary EIDE controllers for connecting the hard drives to the board. To the left of the EIDE controllers, notice the types of expansion slots that are used: There are four PCI slots and three EISA slots. Above the PCI slots, there is a silver circle, which is the CMOS battery.
ATX
In 1995, Intel wanted a system board that would be used to support the Pentium II processor and the new AGP slot, so the ATX form factor was built. The ATX board is 7.5 inches wide and 12 inches long and has all the IO ports integrated directly into the board, including USB ports. The ATX board introduced a 100 MHz system bus, whereas older Pentium boards ran at 60/66 MHz and had one AGP slot for video cards. The ATX board also had soft power support, which meant that the system could be shut down by the operating system. The ATX form factor rotated the baby AT components by 90 degrees so that any cards inserted into the bus architectures would not cover the processor and prevent proper cooling.

MotherBoard

Define MotherBoard :
The large circuit board into which your CPU, memory boards, and peripheral cards are plugged.

About Software

Define Software :
Software is a general term for the various kinds of programs used to operate computers and related devices. Software is often divided into application software (programs that do work users are directly interested in) and system software (which includes operating systems and any program that supports application software).

Hardware

What is computer Hardware?
Hardware is the physical aspect of computers, telecommunications, and other devices.Hardware includes not only the computer proper but also the cables, connectors, power supply units, and peripheral devices such as the keyboard, mouse, audio speakers, and printers.

what are the types of computer ?

Embedded computers
Personal computer
Laptop / portable / notebook computer
Server
Mainframe or Supercomputer

What are the basic components of a computer ?

Cabinet
CD-ROM, CD-R, and/or CD-RW
CPU
DVD
Floppy disk drive
Hard disk drive
Keyboard
Memory
Microphone
Monitor, LCD, or other display device
Motherboard
Mouse
Printer
Sound card
Speakers
Video card

What are the basic functions of an operating system?

Operating system controls and coordinates the use of the hardware among the various applications programs for various uses. Operating system acts as resource allocator and manager. Since there are many possibly conflicting requests for resources the operating system must decide which requests are allocated resources to operating the computer system efficiently and fairly. Also operating system is control program which controls the user programs to prevent errors and improper use of the computer. It is especially concerned with the operation and control of I/O devices.