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Unattend.txt

The generic name for the Windows Setup answer file. In the CD boot installation method, Unattend.txt must be named Winnt.sif.

unattended Setup

An automated, hands-free method of installing Windows. During installation, unattended Setup uses an answer file to supply data to Setup instead of requiring that an administrator or end user interactively provide the answers. See also Setup.

Uniform Resource Locator (URL)

A naming convention that uniquely identifies the location of a computer, directory, or file on the Internet. A URL also specifies the appropriate Internet protocol, such as Hypertext Transfer Protocol (HTTP) or File Transfer Protocol (FTP). An example of a URL is http://www.microsoft.com.

universal group

A security or distribution group that can contain users, groups, and computers from any domain in its forest as members .

Universal security groups can be granted rights and permissions on resources in any domain in the forest.

See also domain; forest; security group.

Universal Naming Convention (UNC)

A convention for naming files and other resources beginning with two backslashes (\), indicating that the resource exists on a network computer. UNC names conform to the \\ servername \ sharename syntax, where servername is the server s name and sharename is the name of the shared resource. The UNC name of a directory or file can also include the directory path after the share name, by using the following syntax: \\ servername \ sharename \ directory \ filename .

universal serial bus (USB)

An external bus that supports Plug and Play installation. Using USB, you can connect and disconnect devices without shutting down or restarting your computer. You can use a single USB port to connect up to 127 peripheral devices, including speakers , telephones, CD-ROM drives, joysticks, tape drives , keyboards, scanners , and cameras . A USB port is usually located on the back of your computer near the serial port or parallel port. See also Plug and Play.

upgrade

When referring to software, to update existing program files, folders, and registry entries to a more recent version. Upgrading, unlike performing a new installation, leaves existing settings and files in place. See also install; registry.

user account

In Active Directory, an object that consists of all the information that defines a domain user, which includes user name, password, and groups in which the user account has membership. User accounts can be stored in either Active Directory or on your local computer.

For computers running Windows XP Professional and member servers running Windows Server 2003, use Local Users and Groups to manage local user accounts. For domain controllers running Windows Server 2003, use Active Directory Users and Computers to manage domain user accounts.

See also Active Directory; group; member server.

user class

An administrative feature that allows DHCP clients to be grouped logically according to a shared or common need. For example, a user class can be defined and used to allow similar DHCP leased configuration for all client computers in a specific building or site location. See also Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol (DHCP); lease.

user profile

A file that contains configuration information for a specific user, such as desktop settings, persistent network connections, and application settings. Each user s preferences are saved to a user profile that Windows uses to configure the desktop each time a user logs on.