UPMSP Computer Technology and Maintenance flashcards

32 cards. Read the term and the definition here. The deck at the top of this page is optional.

Byte

A group of 8 bits treated as one unit; it commonly stores one character of text and is the basic addressable unit of computer memory.

Hexadecimal numbering

A base-16 number system using digits 0-9 and letters A-F, where each hex digit represents exactly four binary bits, making binary values shorter to write.

Two's complement

A method of representing signed integers by inverting all bits of a number and adding one, allowing subtraction to be performed as addition in binary arithmetic.

Logic gate

A hardware circuit that performs a Boolean operation such as AND, OR, NOT or XOR on one or more binary inputs and produces a single binary output.

Control unit

The CPU section that fetches instructions from memory, decodes them, and directs the ALU and other components to carry out each operation in sequence.

Volatile memory

Memory that loses its stored contents when power is removed; RAM is volatile, which is why unsaved work disappears after a power failure.

Solid state drive

A storage device using flash memory chips with no moving parts, giving faster access, lower power use and greater shock resistance than a hard disk.

Peripheral device

Any hardware connected to the computer to provide input, output or extra storage, such as a keyboard, printer, scanner or external drive.

Virtual memory

A technique where the operating system uses part of secondary storage as an extension of RAM, letting programs larger than physical memory run.

Device driver

Software that lets the operating system communicate with and control a specific hardware device, translating general commands into device-specific instructions.

File system

The structure an operating system uses to organize, name, store and retrieve files on a storage device, for example FAT32, NTFS or ext4.

Command line interface

A text-based interface where the user types commands such as dir, copy or ls instead of clicking icons, allowing scripting and precise control.

Thermal paste

A heat-conducting compound applied thinly between the CPU and its cooler to fill microscopic gaps and improve heat transfer away from the processor.

POST

Power-On Self-Test: a diagnostic routine in firmware that checks CPU, memory and essential hardware at startup and signals faults by beeps or codes.

Dual-channel memory

A configuration where matched RAM modules are installed in paired slots so the memory controller accesses both together, increasing effective memory bandwidth.

BIOS/UEFI setup

Firmware configuration utility used to set boot order, date and time, SATA mode, virtualization support and hardware settings before the operating system loads.

Electrostatic discharge

A sudden transfer of static electricity between objects that can destroy sensitive chips; prevented by wrist straps, grounding and handling cards by their edges.

Preventive maintenance

Scheduled cleaning, inspection and updating of hardware and software to reduce failures, extend equipment life and avoid unexpected downtime.

SMART

Self-Monitoring, Analysis and Reporting Technology built into drives; it reports health indicators so impending disk failure can be detected early.

Subnet mask

A 32-bit value that identifies which part of an IPv4 address is the network portion and which part identifies the host.

DHCP

Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol automatically assigns IP address, subnet mask, default gateway and DNS server settings to devices joining a network.

DNS

Domain Name System translates human-readable domain names into numeric IP addresses so browsers can locate servers on the internet.

Router

A network device that forwards data packets between different networks using IP addresses and connects a local network to the internet.

Differential backup

A backup that copies all files changed since the last full backup; restoring needs the last full backup plus the latest differential set.

Ransomware

Malicious software that encrypts a user's files and demands payment for the decryption key; offline backups are the main defense against data loss.

Phishing

A social engineering attack using fake emails or websites to trick users into revealing passwords, OTPs or financial details.

Three-two-one backup rule

A backup strategy requiring three copies of data, stored on two different media types, with one copy kept offsite or offline.

Absolute cell reference

A spreadsheet reference written with dollar signs, such as $A$1, that does not change when the formula is copied to another cell.

Mail merge

A feature that combines one main document with a list of records to generate many personalized letters, envelopes or labels automatically.

PDF format

Portable Document Format preserves fonts and layout identically on any device, making it suitable for final documents that should not be edited.

E-waste

Discarded electrical and electronic equipment such as computers, monitors and batteries, which contains hazardous materials and requires authorized recycling.

Ergonomics

Design of the workspace and working posture, including monitor height, chair support and breaks, to reduce strain and repetitive injury.