Glossary

access control entry (ACE): An entry in the DACL used to determine which security principals have access to a resource.
ACE: See access control entry (ACE).
Active Directory: A distributed database of user and resource information that describes the makeup of the network. It is also a method of implementing a distributed authentication process. This structure replaced the domain structure used in earlier versions of Windows NT and helps to centralize system and user configurations, as well as data backups on servers in Windows 2000 and Windows 2003 networks.
active partition: The disk partition that the system is directed to boot from.
adapter card: A printed circuit board that is added to a computer to provide additional capabilities.
Add Printer Wizard: A wizard used to install printers.
administrative shares: Shares created automatically for administrative access that cannot be unshared through conventional shared folder administration.
Advanced Configuration and Power Interface (ACPI): An open industry specification that defines power management on a wide range of mobile, desktop, and server computers and peripherals. ACPI provides for the OnNow industry initiative that allows system manufacturers to configure a system that will start at the touch of a keyboard. ACPI design is essential to taking full advantage of power management and Plug and Play.
Advanced Options menu: The menu displayed during the Windows XP boot-up process. This menu is generated by the Boot.ini file’s Boot Loader Menu file. Options in this menu include the variety of operating systems installed on the computer. If no selection is made from this menu after a given time, the default value will be selected.
advanced permissions: Permissions that allow the assignment of specific, and potentially unusual, levels of permission.
Advanced Power Management (APM): An advanced Plug and Play that is designed to work with portable computers only, supporting battery status, suspend, resume, and autohibernate functions.
Advanced RISC Computing (ARC) pathname: The path found in boot.ini that is used to load Windows XP.
allow permissions: Permissions that grant a permission to a resource.
APIPA: See Automatic Private IP Addressing (APIPA).
application events: Events defined by software developers within their applications. Application events can provide information about how an application is functioning, and they vary greatly depending on the application that is generating them.
attended installation: The Windows XP installation process used when a person is actually present and involved in the installation of the operating system.
ATX form factor: The layout and shape of a system board or computer case that meets the ATX standard.
Automatic Private IP Addressing (APIPA): A method of automatically assigning an IP address to a computer when either no address is assigned or no DHCP server is available.
Automated System Recovery (ASR): A tool that enables you to back up and restore the system state information and all files stored on the system volume.

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