gloss_W

W

Wide Area Network (WAN) Protocol.

A network protocol that supports network communications over great distances. WANs can also be used to connect different local area networks together.

Windir.

A system variable that specifies the location of the Windows folder.

Windows Catalog.

A searchable database of hardware and software products that have been tested on Windows XP, located at http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/pro/howtobuy/upgrading/compat.asp.

Windows File Protection.

A Windows XP feature that identifies and tracks critical application and system files, providing the ability to automatically restore them if necessary.

Windows Hardware Quality Lab.

An organization that evaluates drivers and hardware submitted by vendors to ensure that they operate as described on Windows XP.

Windows Installer Service.

A Windows XP service that manages the life cycles of Windows applications, including their initial installation, upgrade, and removal.

Windows Media Player.

A Windows XP application that plays CDs and DVDs and provides the ability to listen to and view streaming audio and video from the Internet.

Windows Messenger.

A Microsoft instant messaging application that supports sending and receiving instant messages, as well as audio, video, and application sharing.

Windows Script File.

A script that uses XML to combine two or more different scripts written in different script languages into a single script with a .wsf file extension.

Windows Script Host (WSH).

A powerful scripting environment with an object model that provides scripts written in languages such as VBScript and JScript with direct access to many Windows resources.

Windows Task Manager.

A utility that displays performance information regarding applications, processes, system performance, network performance, and user activity.

Windows Update.

A Windows XP service that assists in keeping the operating system up-to-date by checking for and applying updates from Microsoft's Windows Update Web site.

Windows XP 64-Bit Edition.

A 64-bit version of Windows XP that is designed to run on Intel's Itanium processor.

Windows XP Home Edition.

A version of Windows XP targeted at the home consumer that provides most of the features of Windows XP Professional except for the ability to participate in a Windows domain-based network.

win.ini.

A system file supported by Windows XP to provide backward compatibility with older Windows applications that require this file to store devices and software drivers.

Winnt.exe.

A command that initiates the Windows XP setup process on a computer running MS-DOS.

Winnt32.exe.

A command that initiates the Windows XP setup process on a computer running Windows 98, Me, NT, or 2000 operating systems.

Windows Internet Naming Service (WINS).

A name resolution service used on domain-based networks to provide IP address to computer name resolution.

Workgroup.

A small peer-to-peer network made up of two to ten computers.

WScript.exe.

A Windows Script Host script execution engine that provides scripts with the ability to communicate with the user by displaying pop-up graphical dialogs.

WSH Core Object Model.

A component of the WSH that provides access to Windows objects in order to allow WSH scripts to interact with resources such as the registry, the desktop, and the file system.