Computer Terms: How not to feel like a dummy (Part 2)

This post is a continuation of my last blog entry on computer hardware terminology. What follows is a brief index of commonly used computer function terms that may help explain to the service technician what the problem is or when it occurred.

Upload and Download

The terms I hear misused most commonly are Upload and Download. For the most part, uploading and downloading refer to transferring data to and from the Internet.

These terms can be a bit confusing, however, because they can also be used to describe the transfer of data on a network subjective to the user's hierarchy on the network. Downloading is when you transfer data from a computer that is higher than yours on the hierarchy. Uploading is when you transfer files to a computer that is higher than yours.






Cut, Copy, Move, Burn, and Rip

 When something is "cut" or "copied", it is sent to the "clipboard" which is a temporary space in the memory (RAM) until it is "pasted". The difference between cutting and copying is that when you cut, the original is removed and when you copy the original remains. Whenever something is placed back onto the computer or media from RAM it is known as "pasting". It is impossible to paste without first copying or cutting.


Dragging and Dropping are also forms of using cut, copy and paste. When dragging and dropping a file from one physical media to another, the data will be copied. When the process is performed and both the original location and destination location are on the same physical media, the data will be moved (cut and pasted).


For the most part, data is "copied" from one device to another  as long as the original device retains the original file. Moving data is almost the same as copying, but the data no longer remains at the original location.


CD and DVD-ROMs are what's known as optical disks. Optical disks have their own terminology due to the laser that is used. Writing data to an optical disk is known as "Burning" because the laser physically etches ones and zeroes onto the surface of the disk. Transferring data from an optical disk is often referred to as "ripping". This is not to be confused with the installation process that happens when you insert an optical disk and run a program from the disk itself.

Installing, Uninstalling, and Deleting

Installing and Uninstalling is when a program is put onto or removed from your computer. This differs from copying and moving in that most installation and un-installation processes involve moving files from multiple locations.  

Think of it as luggage. When you come home from a trip, you may have several items in your luggage, but they don't all go to the same place. Some may go to the dresser, others to a closet, toiletries to the bathroom etc. Installing a program is the same concept. There are files that may need to go to Program Files, others to the system folder, and others to the desktop. That is installation, and during the installation a record is kept of what was put where.


When you uninstall that same program, you use that list of where everything was put to find those items that you put away, but instead of putting them back in the luggage, you throw them away. 

On the other hand, if you just try to delete something, you may throw away a few drawers of stuff but forget the toiletries in the bathroom. Those items that are left over are taking up unnecessary space at best, and at worst could cause a lot of confusion for your computer.


Part three of the terminology will cover internet colloquialisms such IM, email, bookmarking, favorites, RSS feeds, Twitter, toolbars and search providers.