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CMOS setup program Program enabling you to access and update CMOS data.

CNR (Communications and Network Riser) Proprietary slot used on some motherboards to provide a sound inference–free connection for modems, sound cards, and NICs.

coaxial cable Cabling in which an internal conductor is surrounded by another, outer conductor, thus sharing the same axis.

code Set of symbols representing characters (e.g., ASCII code) or instructions in a computer program (a programmer writes source code, which must be translated into executable or machine code for the computer to use).

codec (compressor/decompressor) Software that compresses or decompresses media streams.

color depth Term to define a scanner’s ability to produce color, hue, and shade.

COM port(s) Serial communications ports available on your computer. When used as a program extension, .COM indicates an executable program file limited to 64 KB.

command A request, typed from a terminal or embedded in a file, to perform an operation or to execute a particular program.

command prompt Text prompt for entering commands.

command-line interface User interface for an OS devoid of all graphical trappings.

Compact Flash (CF) One of the older but still popular flash media formats. Its interface uses a simplified PC Card bus, so it also supports I/O devices.

compatibility modes Feature of Windows 2000 and beyond to allow software written for previous versions of Windows to operate in newer operating systems.

compliance Concept that members of an organization must abide by the rules of that organization. For a technician, this often revolves around what software can or cannot be installed on an organization’s computer.

component failure Occurs when a system device fails due to manufacturing or some other type of defect.

compression Process of squeezing data to eliminate redundancies, allowing files to use less space when stored or transmitted.

CompTIA A+ 220-701 (Essentials) One half of the CompTIA A+ exam, concentrating on understanding terminology and technology, how to do fundamental tasks, and basic Windows operating system support.

CompTIA A+ 220-702 (Practical Application) Other half of the CompTIA A+ exam, covering advanced troubleshooting and configuration.

CompTIA A+ certification Industry-wide, vendor-neutral computer certification program that demonstrates competency as a computer technician.

CompTIA Network+ certification Industry-wide, vendor-neutral certification for network technicians, covering network hardware, installation, and troubleshooting.

Computer (Vista) Default interface in Windows Vista and 7 for Windows Explorer; displays drives and network locations. (See My Computer.)

Computer Administrator One of three types of user accounts, the Administrator account has access to all resources on the computer.

Computer Management Applet in Windows’ Administrative Tools that contains several useful snap-ins, such as Device Manager and Disk Management.

computing process Four parts of a computer’s operation: input, processing, output, and storage.

Computing Technology Industry Association (CompTIA) Nonprofit IT trade association that administers the CompTIA A+ and CompTIA Network+ exams.

conditioning charger Battery charger that contains intelligent circuitry that prevents portable computer batteries from being overcharged and damaged.

connectors Small receptacles used to attach cables to a system. Common types of connectors include USB, PS/2, and DB-25.

consumables Materials used up by printers, including paper, ink, ribbons, and toner cartridges.

container file File containing two or more separate, compressed tracks, typically an audio and a moving picture track. Also known as a wrapper.

context menu Small menu brought up by right-clicking on objects in Windows.

Control Panel Collection of Windows applets, or small programs, that can be used to configure various pieces of hardware and software in a system.

controller card Card adapter that connects devices, such as a disk drive, to the