Tech Jargon VI
Today's topic…what was today's topic?…It was just on the tip of my tongue, but now it seems to have slipped my mind! My memory doesn't seem to be helping me out here. If only my memory were like that of a computer! Oh yes, that reminds me today's technical jargon is all about "memory"…not mine, the computer's of course.
Memory: Also known as RAM (Random Access Memory), it is a virtual space in your CPU where the computer holds whatever you are currently working on….just like the human short term memory holds whatever the person does or thinks. However, the contents of the memory are lost when the computer is switched off.
ROM: Stands for Read Only Memory. As the name suggests, it is a kind of memory whose contents are preset and cannot usually be changed by the user. In other words, it is "read-only".
A read-only file is one that has been set so that it cannot be altered or deleted. In other words, the file is "write-protected". You can easily make any file read-only in windows by right-clicking on it and checking the "read-only" box under "attributes".
Floppy disks can be write-protected by moving a small plastic square on the top left corner. Files on CDROMs are always read-only, so you cannot change the contents of the CDROM.
Cache: Pronounced as "cash" and not "catchy" as many would like to pronounce, it has nothing to do with the latest Hindi movie starring Ajay Devgan. Cache is a temporary storage area for frequently or recently used data, either from memory or from the internet. For example, if you go back to a web page you have recently visited, your PC will usually be able to display it from the Internet cache of your computer, making your page appear faster on screen, since the computer will not have to download it from the internet once again.
BIOS: Though BIOS is not exactly a type of memory, I thought of mentioning this as it will be needed to explain the next kind of memory. The BIOS is the program that loads first and foremost when you start your PC. You may have seen this familiar word on your startup screen. This program is built into every PC and is used for setting up very basic things, like how many hard and floppy disks your PC has and what type they are. But don't worry, I don't think you'll need to access the BIOS anytime, unless you're upgrading your hardware yourself -- for example, adding more RAM or an extra disk drive. BIOS settings are always stored in a special type of memory called CMOS.
CMOS: Short for Complementary Metal Oxide Semiconductor (a mouthful, isn't it?), it is usually pronounced as "see moss" (I know, nothing to do with the real thing). Obviously, the full form clearly gives out what it's made of. A CMOS is a special type of memory which retains its data even when the PC is switched off. It is usually used to store settings like how much RAM your computer has or what is the speed of your processor. These settings are accessed via the BIOS.
Mind you, the main difference between CMOS and BIOS is that the CMOS is a kind of memory, while BIOS is a program and the information that is stored in CMOS is accessed by the BIOS for our information, or other purposes. Hope I've been able to make that clear.
Nahid Akhter
Comments