Information Technology
Home > Information Technology > Compulsory Units > Run standard diagnostic tests > Run standard diagnostic tests
Key terms and concepts
| Terms | Definitions |
|---|---|
| Backup | A method of storing files for use in an emergency. The backup medium includes tape, disk or CD. |
| Boot sector infectors | Viruses that infect the boot sector of a floppy or hard disk. |
| Defrag | Defragmentation is the process of locating the non contiguous fragments of data, into which a computer file may be divided, as it is stored on a hard disk, and rearranging the fragments and restoring them into fewer fragments or into the whole file. |
| File infectors | Viruses that attack and modify program files, usually .exe and .com files. When the program is run the virus is executed. |
| Logic bombs | Viruses that activate when they detect certain conditions, e.g. a certain date. |
| Macro viruses | These viruses make use of the built-in programming languages in Microsoft Word and Excel (VBA). They are a malevolent macro that duplicate themselves into other documents, and spread, just like any other virus, once the file has been opened. |
| Maintenance | Maintenance refers to rectifying faults and changing settings or components, to ensure that equipment continues to work effectively. |
| Non-routine maintenance | When a device or its components are serviced to rectify a specific fault. Procedures such as replacing a faulty CD/DVD drive or adding extra RAM to a poorly performing computer are some examples of non-routine maintenance. |
| Preventative maintenance | Regular inspection of the computer’s hardware to prevent things from going wrong. |
| Polymorphic viruses | Viruses which modify their program codes every time they attach themselves to another program or file. |
| Routine maintenance | When a device or its components are serviced as a matter of course. Procedures such as adding paper to the printer tray, aligning the print heads or changing toner cartridges are some examples of routine maintenance. |
| Scandisk | Scandisk is a Windows utility used to check your hard disk for errors and to correct problems that are found. |
| Trojan horse | A destructive program that masquerades as a harmless application. While Trojan horses do not copy themselves they can do just as much damage as viruses. |
| Virus | A program that is loaded onto your computer without your knowledge, and runs without your consent. Most viruses can also replicate themselves. |
| Virus signature | The virus signature is like a fingerprint, in that it can be used to detect and identify specific viruses. It consists of a unique string of bits, or the binary pattern, of a virus. Anti-virus software uses the virus signature to scan for the presence of malicious code. |
Back to Run standard diagnostic tests
|