Dallas Computer Repair | Computer Repair Terms "I"

Impact Printer- Any typed of printer that impacts an embossed character onto a ribbon that leaves a desired character on paper.

Industry Standard Architecture (ISA)- The bus structure used in IBM personal computers where the PC and XT uses and 8-bit bus while the AT uses a 16-bit bus.

Infrared Data Association (IrDA)- A data transmission standard using infrared lights and ports that supports data-transfers at about the same speed as traditional parallel ports, however, the devices must be no further than 3 to 6 feet apart and they must have an unobstructed line of sight between them.

INI Files- Text files that hold initialization information in the configuration settings and originally formed the basis of Windows 3.x operating envioronments but most were replaced in Window 9x and later OS by the registry structure, however, some still exist.

Initialization- A process that supplies startup information to a device, peripheral, software application or applet.

Ink-jet Printer- A printer that produces an image by spraying a special type of ink onto paper producing a high-resolution symbol or graphic illustration.

Input Device- A peripheral device such as a keyboard, mouse or joystick that generates input data.

Instruction Word- A class of binary coded words that tells the system what function to perform and where to get any data needed to perform the function.

Integrate Circuit (IC)- Generic term for a chip.

Integrated Drive Electronics (IDE)- Also known as AT Attachment interface, it is a manufacturing method where all the controller circuitry is located on the device rather than on a separate controller card.

Integrated Services Digital Network (ISDN)- A digital communication starndard that carries digital data at higher speeds over special telephone lines rather than standard analog telephone lines.

Intelligent Controller- Generally refers to an IC or series of ICs with microprocessor capabilities that are dedicated to controlling a peripheral device or process; single chip controllers are sometimes known as smart chips.

Interface- Joining dissimilar devices where they operate in a functional, complimentary manner.

Interlaced- The method of rewiting the monitor screen by scanning alternative lines and then returning to the other lines to scan them.

Internet- Networks of networks joined together, establish by the U.S. government, and has grown to include the entire world.

Internet Printing Protocol (IPP)- The protocol that allows users to sort printers on the internet according to their attributes, allows print drivers to be installed, view printing queues from a web browser and allows to print to a certain URL.

Internet Protocol (IP)- The protocol on the network layer that is assigned logical addresses.

Internet Protocol (IP) Address- A 32-bit network address assigned four sets of numbers separated by dimal ponts that identifies a unique device on the network. Every IP address contains two parts, the network address and the host address identifying an intelligent device such as a router, server or workstation.

Internet Service Provider (ISP)- Companies that provide the gateway to the internet connecting users and individual networks together.

Interrupt- A signal sent from the interrupt controller or software program that stops the microprocessor and is usually transmitted when an input or output command is required.

Interrupt Controller- A programmable IC that coordinates and prioritizes interrupt request from I/O devices where the micropocessor can service the interrupting device while allowing execution of active programs.

Interrupt Request (IRQ)- Request lines in hardware that sends commands to the microprocessor and it responds to the request (IRQ) stopping its current command, storing that information then going to the next routine in line, executing that command, then returning to its original execution for a device.

Intranet- A private organizational network built on TCP/ICP protocol that allows authorized users to share information.

I/O (Input/Output)- A data transfer between the microprocessor and a peripheral device so an output from one device becomes an input to the other.

I/O Port- A port such as a USB port, parallel or serial data connections that interface with a peripheral device.

IO.SYS- The bootstrap loader finds and moves this hidden, read-only file into RAM to manage the boot process and after bootup it manages the input/output devices.

IPCONFIG- The TCP/IP network utility that determines the IP address of a local router, server or workstation.

IPX/SPX- A proprietary network protocol developed by Novell for the NetWare operating system and stands for Internetwork Packet Exchange/Sequential Packet Exchange Protocol. Responsible for routing, the IPX is connectionless and a network layer protocol. The SPX protocol is the connection based transport layer protocol managing error checking. These protocols primailrily found on local networks with NetWare servers.