UPSC EPFO 2025 (APFC & EO/AO)

Computer Knowledge
 What is Computer?

Programmable Electronic
Device

Arithmetic And Logical Storing And Retrieving Data Executing Instructions.

Operations
Component of Computer System
 Input Unit

The Input Unit is used for giving instructions and data by using input devices.

Purpose:
• Accept Instruction
• Convert and Supply Instruction
 Device Type Use
Keyboard Text input Typing
Mouse Pointing device Selecting items
Touchscreen Touch input Smartphones, ATMs
Scanner Image input Digitizing documents
Mic Audio input Recording
Webcam Video input Online meetings
OMR Special input Exam checking
OCR Text recognition Document scanning
MICR Bank input Cheque processing
Biometric Security input Attendance & identity
 Central Processing Unit

A microprocessor = Central processing unit (CPU) that is implemented as a single integrated circuit (IC) on a
chip.

Transfers instructions and data

Executes instructions

Controls devices
 A. Arithmetic Logic Unit
The Arithmetic Logic Unit (ALU) is a crucial component within a processor, responsible for executing arithmetic and
logical operations on data. It utilizes electronic circuitry and registers to process the data efficiently.

Logical operations
AND, NOT, OR, XOR

Arithmetic
operations Addition, Subtraction, Multiplication And Division

Bit-shifting
operations Left Shift, Right Shift

Comparison
operations =, <=, >, >=
 B. Control Unit

The Control Unit (CU) is a vital component of a computer's central processing unit (CPU), responsible for coordinating the
operation of various hardware components, including input and output devices, registers, and the Arithmetic Logic Unit
(ALU).

Instruction
Fetching

Synchronization
with Instruction
Input/Output Decoding
Devices

Coordination
Control Signal
with ALU and
Generation
Registers
 C. Register Memory
•Fastest
•Smallest
•Not the part of Main Memory
•Temporarily Holds data, Instruction etc
 Output Unit
The Output Unit in a computer system is responsible for delivering processed results to the user in a format that is easily
understandable. It interacts with various output devices such as monitors, printers, plotters, etc., to present the desired
output to the user.

Acceptance of Coded Results

Conversion of Coded Results

Presentation to the User

Output Output
Example Use
Device Type Printer Type Key Features
- Uses a matrix of pins and an inked
Monitor Visual Viewing files, browsing Dot Matrix ribbon
Printer - Forms characters and images by dot
patterns
Printer Hard copy Documents, photos
- Uses a daisy wheel with character
Daisy Wheel
petals
Speaker Audio Music, video sound Printer
- One character printed at a time
- Rotating chain with embossed
Projector Visual Classrooms Chain Printer characters
- One line at a time
Plotter Graphics Engineering drawings - Uses a rotating drum with
Drum Printer embossed characters
Headphone - One line at a time
Audio Personal listening
s
Output Output
Example Use Printer Type Key Features
Device Type
- Uses a laser beam to create an
Monitor Visual Viewing files, browsing Laser
electrostatic image on a rotating
drum
Printer
Printer Hard copy Documents, photos - Coats the drum with toner
- Fuses toner to paper using heat
Speaker Audio Music, video sound - Sprays tiny droplets of liquid ink
Inkjet
onto paper
Printer
Projector Visual Classrooms - Droplets are precisely controlled
- Uses solid ink that melts to apply
Plotter Graphics Engineering drawings Solid Ink
color to paper
Printer
- Non-toxic and easy to handle
Headphones Audio Personal listening
- Uses LEDs instead of lasers to create
LED
an image
Printer
- More energy-efficient
 Memory Unit
The Memory Unit in a computer is like its storage space, where programs and data are kept temporarily or permanently. It
consists of two main types: primary memory (main memory) and secondary memory (auxiliary memory).

Memory Type Description Volatility Usage

Holds running
program
Stores actively instructions, data,
Primary Memory used programs and Volatile intermediate
data. results, and
ongoing processing
results.

Used for long-term Stores programs,

Secondary storage of files, and data not
Non-volatile
Memory programs and actively used by
data. the computer.
 Primary Memory
• RAM performs both read
and writes operations on
memory. DRAM
It stores data for
temporally.
• If power failures happened
RAM in systemsSRAM
during memory
access then you will lose
your dataSDRAM
permanently.
Primary
Memory
Memory • ROM is a type of non-
PROM
volatile memory.
• ROM is the memory from
ROM EPROM
which we can only read.
• The data stored in these
chips is EEPROM
either
unchangeable or requires
a special operation to
change.
 Primary Memory
DRAM
Primary
Memory RAM SRAM
Memory
SDRAM

Dynamic-RAM Static-RAM Synchronous Dynamic-RAM

• Commonly used in • DRAM with higher clock

computing devices. • Stores data in a static form.
speeds.
• Composed of memory • Utilizes multiple transistors
cells with one capacitor per memory cell.
and one transistor. • No refreshing required.
• Requires constant • Employed as cache
refreshing to maintain
the data stored in it.
 Primary Memory

MROM

Primary PROM
Memory ROM
Memory EPROM
EEPROM

Masked-ROM Erasable Programmable -ROM

• Contains a pre-programmed • Erased by exposing it to UV light- Ultra Violet Erasable

set of data or instructions Programmable ROM .

Programmable-ROM Electrically Erasable Programmable -ROM

• Programmed and erased electrically- 10K times in 4 to 10 ms .
• Can be modified only once by a
user • can be erased one byte at a time
 Secondary Memory
•Auxiliary Memory or External Memory.
•Slower and Cheaper than primary Memory Floppy Disk
•No direct Access to CPU
•Can either be external or internal. Zip Disk

Winchester Disk
Magnetic Memory
Hard Disk

Tape Cassette

Magnetic Tapes
Memory Secondary Memory

CD
Optical Memory
DVD

Solid State Storage USB, SD card and Memory Card

 Interconnection of Units

A Bus is a set of wires used for interconnection where each wire can carry 1 bit of data.

Computer Bus

External Bus/
Internal Bus Expansion Bus

Control Bus

Address Bus

Data Bus
 Interconnection of Units
Interface Name Introduced in Purpose
Peripheral Component 1992 Standard bus for connecting peripheral devices to a computer's
Interconnect (PCI) motherboard. Evolved into PCI-X and PCIe.
Universal Serial Bus (USB) 1996 Widely used interface for connecting peripherals to computers.
Supports plug-and-play functionality. Handles various devices.

Serial Advanced Technology 2003 Used for connecting storage devices like HDDs and SSDs to a
Attachment (SATA) computer's motherboard. Provides high-speed data transfer rates.

Small Computer System 1986 Set of standards for connecting peripherals like hard drives, tape
Interface (SCSI) drives, scanners, and printers to a computer.
Industry Standard Architecture 1981 Early standard bus architecture for IBM-compatible computers.
(ISA) Largely replaced by newer standards like PCI.
Accelerated Graphics Port 1996 Specialized high-speed bus for connecting graphics cards to the
(AGP) motherboard. Mostly replaced by PCIe for modern systems.

Peripheral Component 2004 Latest standard for connecting internal components like graphics
Interconnect Express (PCIe) cards, network cards, and SSDs to a motherboard.

IEEE 1394 (FireWire) 1995 High-speed serial bus interface for connecting multimedia devices
like camcorders, digital cameras, and external hard drives.

Thunderbolt 2011 High-speed interface combining PCI Express and DisplayPort into a
single connection. Used for peripherals like external hard drives and
monitors.
Serial Attached SCSI (SAS) 2004 High-speed serial interface for connecting storage devices like hard
drives and tape drives in enterprise environments.
 Memory Measurement

Name Size
1 bit Single digit 0 or 1
1 nibble 4 bits
1 byte 8 bits
1 Kilobyte (KB) 1024 Bytes
1 Megabyte (MB) 1024 KB
1 Gigabyte (GB) 1,024 MB
1 Terabyte (TB) 1,024 GB
1 Petabyte (PB) 1,024 TB
1 Exabyte (EB) 1,024 PB
1 Zetta byte (ZB) 1,024 EB
1 Yotta Byte (YB) 1,024 ZB
1 Brontobyte (BB) 1,024 YB
1 Geop Byte 1,024 BB
 Software

Software, is a collection of instructions, data, or programs that are designed to enable a computer system to perform
specific tasks or functions.
 Types of Software
Software

System Software Application Software Programming Software

Operating System General Purpose

Utility Programs Specific Purpose

Device drivers

Language
Translators
 Types of System Software
System Software
Language
Operating System Utility Programs Device drivers
Translators

Operating System
• Intermediary between users and the computer
hardware.
• Recognize the input from keyboard and display
• Makes sure that the program running at the
same time does not interfere.
• Responsible for the security
 Microsoft-Disk Operating System

MS-DOS: developed by Microsoft in 1980 for microcomputers. MS-DOS was the first operating
system that run on PC developed by IBM corporation in 1981

Structure of DOS Configuration of DOS DOS Commands

1. [Link]
1. Boot Record 1. Internal
2. Auto [Link]
2. Basic Input/ Output System Commands
3. [Link] Program 2. External Commands
4. [Link] Program
 Features of MS-DOS
[Link]-tasking → could run only one program at a time.
[Link]-line interface (no graphics, only text commands).
3.16-bit operating system → worked with older Intel 8086/8088 processors.
[Link] system: Used FAT (File Allocation Table) system.
[Link] → small memory footprint.
[Link] hardware access → user had more control but also higher risk of errors.

Command Meaning / Function Example

DIR Displays list of files and folders in the current directory. DIR
CD Changes the directory (folder). CD DOCUMENTS
COPY [Link]
COPY Copies a file from one location to another.
[Link]
DEL Deletes a file. DEL [Link]
FORMAT Formats a disk (prepares it for use, erases all data). FORMAT C:
CHKDSK Checks disk status and displays error report. CHKDSK D:
EXIT Exits from the DOS command prompt. EXIT
 Types of System Software
Utility Programs

Utility Description Examples

• Increases the amount of information stored on a
Disk DiskDoubler, SuperStor Pro,
hard disk by compressing data.
Compression DoubleDisk Gold
• Automatic
• Detects fragmented files on the hard disk and
Disk
rearranges them for improved efficiency. MyDefrag, Diskeeper, Defraggler
Defragmentation
• Can optimize file and disk layout.
• Makes copies of all data on a disk and allows Windows Backup, Time Machine
Backup Utilities
restoration. (macOS), Acronis True Image
Disk Cleaner • Finds and removes unused files. BleachBit cleaner

Anti-virus • Scans computer for viruses and prevents corruption Kaspersky, AVG, McAfee, Avira
• Facilitates text creation and correction with features
Text Editor like typing, editing, finding, and replacing text. MS Word, WordPad, Notepad
• Supports special commands for text editing.
 Types of System Software

Device Drivers

Controls A Device
 Types of System Software

Language Translator
Machine
High Languag
Level e
Languag
e

Assembler Interpreter
Compiler
 Types of Language Translator

Assembler

Source Program Object Code

Assembler
(Assembly) (Machine Language)
 Types of Language Translator

Interpreter

Source Program Object Code

Interpreter
(HLL) (Machine Language)

Compiler

Source Program Object Code

Compiler
(HLL) (Machine Language)
 Types of Language Translator

Aspect Compiler Interpreter

Translation Translates entire source code into Translates source code line-
Approach machine code by-line during execution
Does not generate an
Execution Generates an executable file
executable file
Reports errors after scanning the Stops at the first error
Error Detection
entire program encountered
Performance Generally faster execution Generally slower execution

May require separate debugging Errors are reported

Debugging
tools immediately, aiding debugging
Python, JavaScript, Ruby, PHP,
Examples C, C++, Java (with JIT compilation)
etc.
 Computer Language

Low-Level Language

Assembly Language/ Symbolic

Machine Language
Language
• Programs are developed using • used as an interface with
binary language. computer hardware.
• It consists of binary digits that • It employs structured
the computer reads and commands as substitutions for
interprets. numbers.
• 01010111 00101011 • Mov edx len
 High Level Language

Procedural programming Object-oriented programming

• In procedural programming, the program is • In object-oriented programming, the program
divided into small parts called functions. is divided into small parts called objects.
• Procedural programming follows a top-down • Object-oriented programming follows
approach. a bottom-up approach.
• There is no access specifier in procedural • Object-oriented programming has access
programming. specifiers like private, public, protected, etc.
• Code reusability absent in procedural • Code reusability present in object-oriented
programming, programming.
• Examples: C, FORTRAN, Pascal, Basic, etc. • Examples: C++, Java, Python, C#, etc.
 Types of System Software

Application Software

General Purpose Specific Purpose

Designed to perform a wide Designed to perform a limited

range of tasks and cater to a range of tasks tailored to meet
broad audience specific needs or requirements.
 Programming Software

Help in writing other software or programs.

Computer Network
 Network Topology and its Types

Network topology refers to the arrangement of nodes (devices such as computers, printers, servers, etc.) and the
links (connections like cables or wireless signals) between them in a computer network.

• All devices are connected to a single communication

Bus Topology medium,(coaxial cable or a twisted-pair cable( backbone)).
• Data is transmitted in both directions along the bus cable.
• Mainly used in 802.3 (ethernet) and 802.4 standard
networks

• Devices are connected in a closed loop, forming a ring.

Ring Topology • No termination point.
• The data flows in one direction, i.e., It is unidirectional
 Types of Network Topology
Star Topology • Each device in the network is connected
directly to a central hub or switch.
• The central computer is known as a server,
and the peripheral devices attached to the
server are known as clients

• Tree topology = bus topology + star

Tree Topology topology.
• All the computers are connected with each
other in hierarchical fashion.
 Types of Network Topology
• Computers are interconnected with each other
Mesh Topology through various redundant connections.

• It does not contain the switch, hub or any central

computer which acts as a central point of
communication.

• The internet is an example of the mesh topology.

C is the total number of
connections.

N is the number of nodes

(devices) in the network

Hybrid
Topology • The combination of various different topologies
 Identifying Nodes in a Networked
Communication

Media Access Control Internet Protocol (IP)

(MAC) Address
MAC address is engraved on NIC. Unique address to uniquely identify each node
12-digit hexadecimal numbers in a network.
(48 bits in length). IPv4 is a 32 bit numeric address.
182:128:0:178
IPv6 address is hexadecimal numbers of 128 bits.
2001:CDBA:0000:0000:0000:0000:3257:9652
 OSI Model

OSI Model (Open Systems Interconnection)

•Developed by ISO (International Standards Organization).
•It is a theoretical reference model — like a textbook definition.
•Breaks data communication into 7 layers (Application to Physical).
•Each layer has a specific role and talks only to the layer above/below.
Purpose: To standardize communication so different systems can talk to each other.

TCP/IP Model (Transmission Control Protocol / Internet Protocol)

•Developed by DARPA (US Department of Defense) in 1970s.
•It is the practical model used in the Internet today.
•Has 4 layers (Application, Transport, Internet, Network Access).
•Simpler, and directly tied to real-world protocols like TCP, IP, HTTP.
Purpose: To implement actual communication on the internet.
 OSI Model
Email, Web
7 Application User interacts with network apps
Browser
Data translation, encryption,
6 Presentation SSL, JPEG
compression
Manages sessions (start/stop
5 Session API sessions
communication)

4 Transport Reliable delivery, error checking TCP, UDP

IP (Internet
3 Network Routing packets
Protocol)
MAC Address,
2 Data Link Error detection in frames
Switch
Transmission through cables, radio Ethernet
1 Physical
waves cable, Wi-Fi
 OSI Model
Layer Description Protocols
- Physically connects communicating systems - Transmits data in bits -
Physical ATM, RS232,
Manages simplex or duplex transmission by modem - Manages hardware
Layer Ethernet
interface to the network
Data Link - Firmware layer of Network Interface Card - Assembles datagrams into
Layer frames - Adds start and stop flags to each frame - Resolves problems
caused by damaged or lost frames
Sub-layers:
HDLC, LSL,
- Media Access Control (MAC): Responsible for physical address of sender ATM
and/or receiver - Protocols: CSMA/CD, Ethernet

- Logical Link Control (LLC): Manages frame, error checking, and flow
control of data
 OSI Model

Layer Description Protocols

Network - Handles routing, switching, and flow control between workstations
IPX, TCP/IP
Layer - Breaks down transport layer datagrams into smaller ones
- Breaks data into data frames - Provides error checking at network
Transport
segment level - Prevents fast hosts from overrunning slower ones -
Layer
Isolates upper layers from network hardware
RPC, PPTP,
Session Layer - Establishes sessions between two workstations exchanging data
SCP, SDP
Presentation - Ensures correct representation of data syntax and semantics -
Layer Controls file-level security - Converts data to network standards
HTTP, FTP,
Application - Sends application requests by users to lower levels - Typical
Telnet, SMTP,
Layer applications: file transfer, email, remote logon, data entry
DNS
TCP/IP model

All services the user interacts with

Application

Communication reliability & flow

Transport
control

Internet
Routing & addressing packets

Network Access (Link)

Hardware, transmission medium
 TCP/IP model
Layer Description
Network Access - Combines the functions of the Physical and Data Link layers from the OSI
Layer model. - Handles physical transmission of data within the same network.

- Also known as the network layer. - Responsible for routing packets across
Internet Layer networks, ensuring they reach their destination regardless of the route
taken.

- Ensures reliable data transmission, flow control, and error correction. -

Transport Layer
Manages end-to-end communication between devices.

- The topmost layer responsible for high-level protocols and user

Application Layer interaction with applications. - Facilitates communication between
different application protocols.
 Hypertext Mark-up Language

•It is the standard language used to create web pages.

•A markup language means it uses tags to tell the browser how
to display text, images, links, etc. Tag
•HTML tags are the special keywords that are used to produce web
pages in various formats. A tag is a special word enclosed in angle-
Container Tag:
brackets < >. 1. They include both the start tag and the
end tag.
2. They contain text between the opening
and the closing tags
<body> Hello World!</body>
Empty tag:
1. They only have opening tag.
2. They do not act on blocks of text
<hr>, <br>
Category Tag Purpose
<!DOCTYPE html> Declares HTML version (HTML5).
<html> … </html> Root element of an HTML page.
Basic Structure <head> … </head> Contains metadata, styles, scripts.
<title> … </title> Sets title in browser tab.
<body> … </body> Contains visible webpage content.
<h1> … <h6> Headings (H1 largest → H6 smallest).
<p> Paragraph.
<br> Line break (empty tag).
<b> / <strong> Bold (strong = semantic emphasis).
Text & Formatting
<i> / <em> Italics (em = semantic emphasis).
<u> Underline text.
<sup> Superscript (e.g., x²).
<sub> Subscript (e.g., H₂O).
<ul> Unordered list (bullets).
Lists <ol> Ordered list (numbers).
<li> List item (used inside <ul>/<ol>).
<a href="URL"> … </a> Hyperlink.
<img src="…" alt="…"> Insert image.
Links & Media
<video src="…" controls> Insert video.
<audio src="…" controls> Insert audio.
<table> Creates table.
<tr> Table row.
Tables <td> Table data/cell.
<th> Table header (bold, centered).
<caption> Table title.
<form> Form container.
<input> Input field (text, password, checkbox, radio).
<textarea> Multi-line text box.
Forms
<button> Button.
<select> Drop-down menu.
<option> Options inside drop-down.
<header> Defines header section.
<footer> Footer section.
<nav> Navigation menu.
Semantic (HTML5) <section> Page section.
<article> Independent content/article.
<aside> Sidebar content.
<main> Main content.
Special <!-- comment --> Inserts a comment (not displayed).
 ATTRIBUTE
Attributes provide additional information about a tag.

Tag Attribute Purpose

<img> src Image source (file path/URL).
<img> alt Alternate text for image.
<a> href Link destination.
<a> target Open in new tab (_blank).
<p> align Alignment (left, right, center).
<table> border Adds border to table.
Input type (text, password,
<input> type
checkbox).
 Mark-up Language

•Markup languages use tags (special symbols enclosed in < >).

•Tags usually come in pairs:
Example: <p>Paragraph text</p>
•Some are self-closing:
Example: <br /> (line break).

Special Elements in HTML Comments

•Headings: <h1> ... <h6> • HTML Comment: <!-- comment -->
•Paragraphs: <p> ... </p> • XML Comment: <!-- comment -->
•Links: <a href="url"> ... </a> • LaTeX Comment: % comment
•Images: <img src="[Link]" /> • Programming languages differ:
▪ C/C++/Java: // or /* ... */
•Lists: <ul><li> ... </li></ul>
▪ Python: #
•Tables: <table> ... </table>
•Comments: <!-- This is a comment -->
 Mark-up Language

File
Language Purpose / Use Example Tag Comment Style
Extension
HTML (HyperText Markup
.html/ .htm Creates web pages <p>Hello</p> <!-- comment -->
Language)
XML (eXtensible Markup
.xml Data storage & transport <name>Rahul</name> <!-- comment -->
Language)
XHTML .xhtml Stricter HTML (follows XML rules) <br /> <!-- comment -->
SGML (Standard
Generalized Markup .sgml Parent of HTML/XML, publishing (Defines rules for tags) Same as XML style
Language)
LaTeX .tex Scientific/technical documents \textbf{bold} % comment

<math><mfrac>...</mfrac> <!-- comment --> (inside

MathML .mml/ .xml Writing mathematical notation on web
</math> XML/HTML)
Lightweight formatting (GitHub, blogs, [//]: # (comment) (not
Markdown .md **bold**
docs) official)
BBCode (Bulletin Board Not supported (depends on
— Forum posts formatting [b]bold[/b]
Code) forum)
WML (Wireless Markup <card><p>Hello</p></card
.wml Old mobile web pages <!-- comment -->
Language) >
 XML (eXtensible Markup Language)
•Used to store and transport data.
•User-defined tags allowed (<student>).
•Tags must always be closed.
•Case-sensitive.
•Attributes store extra info (roll="101").
 LaTeX (Document Preparation System)
•Used for typesetting scientific/academic documents.
•\documentclass{} → Defines type (article, book, report).
•\begin{document} … \end{document} → Main content.
•% → Comment.
 Markdown
➢ Lightweight markup, used in GitHub, blogs, documentation
➢ # for headings.
➢ **bold**, *italic*.
➢ - for lists.
➢ [text](link) for hyperlinks.
SGML (Standard Generalized Markup Language)
➢ Parent language of HTML & XML.
➢ More of a meta-language (a standard to define other markup languages).
➢ Structure is complex; looks like XML but used to define rules
Number Systems
Types of Number Systems
 Decimal to Other Base System

To Binary To Octal To
Hexadecimal
Convert 13₁₀ → Binary Convert 90₁₀ to Octal Convert 200₁₀ to Hexadecimal

Divide by Divide by Divide by

Step Quotient Remainder Step Quotient Remainder Step Quotient Remainder
2 8 16
1 13 ÷ 2 6 1 1 90÷ 8 11 2 1 200÷ 16 12 8
2 6÷2 3 0 2 11÷ 8 1 3 2 12 0 12 (C)
3 3÷2 1 1 3 1 0 1
4 1 0 1
 Other Base Systems to Decimal base System

From
From Binary From Octal
Hexadecimal

Convert 1101₂ → Decimal Convert 175₈ → Decimal Convert 3F₁₆ → Decimal

Bit Place Value Product Digit Place Value Product Hex Place
Value Product
Digit Value
1 2³ = 8 8 1 8² = 64 64
3 3 16¹ = 16 48
1 2² = 4 4 7 8¹ = 8 56
F 15 16⁰ = 1 15
0 2¹ = 2 0 5 8⁰ = 1 5
1 2⁰ = 1 1
Other Base System to Non-Decimal Number
System
 Step 1: Recall the Bases Example 1: Convert 47₈ → Binary
We will go like this:
Octal base: 8 Step 1: Octal → Decimal
Decimal: 10 Digits: 4 and 7
Binary: 2
(47)8 =(4×81)+(7×80)
=(4×8)+(7×1)
Octal → Decimal → Binary = 32 + 7 = 39 = 3910

Step 2: Decimal → Binary

Step 2: Formula for Octal → Decimal
Now convert 39₁₀ → Binary:
Each digit is multiplied by 8 raised to its position (from
right, starting at 0). Step Division Quotient Remainder
Decimal value=(Digitn×8n)+(Digitn−1×8n−1)+…+(Digit0×80) 1 39 ÷ 2 19 1
Then convert that decimal number to binary by dividing by
2. 2 19 ÷ 2 9 1
3 9÷2 4 1

Step 3: Convert Decimal → Binary 4 4÷2 2 0

Once you get the decimal value, convert that decimal → 5 2÷2 1 0
binary by the division-by-2 method. 6 1÷2 0 1
Now read remainders from bottom to top →
100111₂
47₈ = 100111₂
Binary Octal Hexadecimal
 IMPORTANT TERMS
Term Description
Stands for Basic Input Output System. It is system software stored in ROM (Read Only Memory)
on the motherboard, or in advanced systems, in flash memory. BIOS is the first software
BIOS
activated when the computer starts, loading drivers and assisting the operating system in
loading into memory.
Stands for Switched Mode Power Supply. It is a power supply unit that efficiently converts
SMPS electrical power and provides continuous power to a PC. SMPS units are used in desktop
computers to regulate and stabilize voltage and current for internal components.
Refers to the process of starting up a computer. The commands in the ROM are executed to load
Boot
the boot program into memory and execute its instructions. The BIOS program provides basic
Program
input/output commands to start the computer.
Cold Occurs when the computer is turned off and then back on. During cold booting, the computer
Booting runs self-tests on its hardware and loads the operating system before it's ready to use.
Warm
Happens when the system is restarted without interrupting power, also known as a RESTART.
Booting
Firmware is a software program written to a hardware device, allowing the hardware to be
Firmware
updated. Its contents are preserved when the device is turned off or loses power.
A process performed by firmware or software routines immediately after a computer or other
Power On
digital electronic device is powered on. The results may be displayed on a panel, output to an
Self Test
external device, or stored for future retrieval by a diagnostic tool.
 Important Terms

Peripheral Plug and Play

Swapping Device Driver
Management (PnP)

Moving data Software to Automatically detect

Management and
between main communicate with and configure
control of peripheral
memory (RAM) and and control peripheral devices
devices
secondary storage peripheral devices.
 Important Terms

Hot Swapping Bay Swap Peripheral Peripheral Port

Interface

Ability to replace or Swapping components or A standardized A physical connector or

remove peripheral drives in drive bays connection or socket on a computer
devices from a communication system to connect
Computer system Protocol used to peripheral devices
while the system is connect peripheral
running devices
 Important Terms

Peripheral
SPOOL Burst time
Configuration

Setting up and Simultaneous Peripheral Time that a process

adjusting the settings Operations On-Line. requires to execute on
of peripheral devices the CPU without any
Temporary buffer for data that interruptions
is waiting to be processed by a
peripheral device