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FPU (floating point unit) Formal term for math coprocessor (also called a numeric processor) circuitry inside a CPU. A math coprocessor calculates by using a floating point math (which allows for decimals). Before the Intel 80486, FPUs were separate chips from the CPU.

fragmentation Occurs when files and directories get jumbled on a fixed disk and are no longer contiguous. Can significantly slow down hard drive access times and can be repaired by using the DEFRAG utility included with each version of Windows. (See also defragmentation (DEFRAG).)

freeware Software that is distributed for free, with no license fee.

frequency Measure of a sound’s tone, either high or low.

frontside bus Wires that connect the CPU to the main system RAM. Generally running at speeds of 66–133 MHz. Distinct from the expansion bus and the backside bus, though it shares wires with the former.

front-view projector Shoots the image out the front and counts on you to put a screen in front at the proper distance.

FRU (field replaceable unit) Any part of a PC that is considered to be replaceable “in the field,” i.e., a customer location. There is no official list of FRUs—it is usually a matter of policy by the repair center.

FTP (File Transfer Protocol) FTP uses port numbers 20 and 21. Protocol used when you transfer a file from one computer to another across the Internet.

fuel cells Power source that uses chemical reactions to produce electricity. Lightweight, compact, and stable devices expected to replace batteries as the primary power source for portable PCs.

full-duplex Any device that can send and receive data simultaneously.

Full-Speed USB USB standard that runs at 12 Mbps.

fuser assembly Mechanism in laser printers that uses two rollers to fuse toner to paper during the print process.

gain Ratio of increase of radio frequency output provided by an antenna, measured in decibels (dB).

GDI (graphical device interface) Component of Windows that utilizes the CPU rather than the printer to process a print job as a bitmapped image of each page.

general protection fault (GPF) Error code usually seen when separate active programs conflict on resources or data.

geometry Numbers representing three values: heads, cylinders, and sectors per track; define where a hard drives stores data.

giga Prefix for the quantity 1,073,741,824 or for 1 billion. One gigabyte would be 1,073,741,824 bytes, except with hard drive labeling, where it means 1 billion bytes. One gigahertz is 1 billion hertz.

GPU (graphics processing unit) Specialized processor that helps CPU by taking over all of the 3-D rendering duties.

grayscale depth Number that defines how many shades of gray the scanner can save per dot.

grayware Program that intrudes into a user’s computer experience without damaging any systems or data.

group Collection of user accounts that share the same access capabilities.

Group Policy Means of easily controlling the settings of multiple network clients with policies such as setting minimum password length or preventing Registry edits.

Guest/Guest groups Very limited built-in account type for Windows.

GUI (graphical user interface) Interface that enables user to interact with computer graphically, by using a mouse or other pointing device to manipulate icons that represent programs or documents, instead of using only text as in early interfaces. Pronounced “gooey.”

HAL (hardware abstraction layer) Part of the Windows OS that separates system-specific device drivers from the rest of the NT system.

handshaking Procedure performed by modems, terminals, and computers to verify that communication has been correctly established.

hang When a computer freezes and does not respond to keyboard commands, it is said to “hang” or to have “hung.”

hang time Number of seconds a too-often-hung computer is airborne after you have thrown it out a second-story window.

hardware Physical computer equipment such as electrical, electronic, magnetic, and mechanical devices.