L-M

Last Known Good Configuration

The configuration settings that existed the last time the system booted successfully.

Lmhosts file

A simple text file that contains IP addresses followed by the name of the host, similar to a TCP/IP hosts file.

Loadstate.exe

The Loadstate.exe utility is one of two methods used by administrators to transfer user configuration settings and files from systems running Windows 95 or later to a clean Windows XP installation. It is used in conjunction with Scanstate.exe.

local area network (LAN) card

An adapter card that is used to connect the computer to a network.

locale

A collection of system settings that reflect regional and cultural conventions.

localized language versions

In Windows XP Professional, the non-English versions of the operating system.

local print provider

A service that receives print jobs, spools them to the hard disk, and keeps track of job information while the job is in the print queue.

logical drive

A disk storage area that you create within an extended partition on a basic Master Boot Record (MBR) disk. Logical drives are similar to primary partitions, except that you are limited to four primary partitions per disk, whereas you can create an unlimited number of logical drives per disk. A logical drive can be formatted and assigned a drive letter.

logical printer

The software configuration that is created in Windows and displayed in Printers And Faxes.

loopback address

An address used for testing TCP/IP configuration and which cannot be assigned to individual devices on a TCP/IP network. Normally it is 127.0.0.1.

Master Boot Record (MBR)

Also referred to as the Master Partition Boot Sector. A file located at the first sector of the disk that contains a Master Partition Table describing how the hard disk is organized. This table includes information about the disk’s size, as well as the number and locations of all partitions on the disk. The MBR also contains the Master Boot Code that loads the operating system from the disk’s active partition.

MBR

See Master Boot Record (MBR)

memory leak

A process that occurs when a program requests memory for use but does not relinquish the allocated memory when finished.

Microsoft Magnifier

An accessibility tool used to enhance the readability of the screen.

migration DLLs

Migration DLLs instruct Windows XP Setup on how to handle the Registry and program file differences between the operating systems during the upgrade.

modem

A device used to modulate and demodulate signals between remote systems.

mounted volume

A new volume to be grafted to a folder within an existing volume, rather than assigned a drive letter.

MUI

See Multilingual User Interface (MUI) Pack.

Multilingual User Interface (MUI) Pack

An add-on to the International English version of Windows XP Professional. It supports multiple UI languages.