Glossary
R RA File extension (.ra) used for RealAudio, a streaming audio file format.
radio button One of a group of round buttons that can either be blank or contain a dot, usually appearing in a dialog box.
RAID Redundant Array of Independent Disks, in which data is stored on multiple fault tolerant disks.
RAID-5 volume Volume in which the data is stored on three or more disks in alternating stripes, so that retrieval speed isn't limited to the speed of one disk (a type of striped volume).
RAM Random Access Memory, the memory chips used for the short-term memory of a computer. Also a file extension (.ram) used for RealAudio files.
read-only file File or folder whose Read-Only attribute is selected, so that the file cannot be accidentally deleted or modified. Shared disks and folders can be designated read-only.
real-time chat See chat.
Recording Control window Window with volume and balance controls for playing and recording sound.
Recovery Console Command-line interface you can start up in when Windows will not start properly.
Recycle Bin Special folder in which Windows stores files and folders you have recently deleted.
Recycled folder Folder that contains part or all of the Recycle Bin.
refresh Redisplay a window using updated information.
REG file See registration file.
Regedit Registry Editor utility for displaying and editing the Registry.
regional settings Windows settings that control how numbers, dates, times, and currency amounts appear and what languages are installed.
registered file types See file association.
registration file File with the extension .reg, created by exporting part or all of the Registry.
Registry File in which Windows stores a database of program and system setup information.
remote access server Computer to which you can connect remotely, by dialing in from another computer or by connecting over the Internet, and which allows the remote computer to use its resources.
remote administration Facility in Windows XP Professional, 2000, and NT (but not Windows XP Home Edition) that allows someone (usually a network administrator) at one computer to change the Windows settings on another computer. For information, see Windows .NET Server: The Complete Reference, by Kathy Ivens, published by Osborne/McGraw-Hill.
Remote Assistance New feature of Windows that allows you to invite someone at another PC to take control of your PC to help solve software configuration problems.
Remote Desktop Windows feature that enables you to have access to the desktop of one computer while you are running another.
remote computer Computer attached to the computer you are using over a local area network, Internet, or other network.
remote node Computer that is attached to a LAN via a dial-up connection.
remote storage Storage device that stores files that are used infrequently. Windows XP Home Edition and Professional do not include the Remote Storage service that comes with Windows 2002 Server.
removable disk Disk that can be removed from its disk drive (unlike a hard disk). Floppy disks and Zip disks are removable.
Removable Storage service Component of Windows that manages removable media, usually backup tapes.
repartitioning Change the layout of partitions on a hard disk.
repeat delay Delay between starting to hold down a key and when the key begins repeating.
repeat rate How fast a key repeats once it starts repeating.
RepeatKeys Accessibility setting that enables you to change the way keys are repeated.
resolution Number of pixels (dots) your screen can display, expressed by a vertical and horizontal count. Standard screen resolutions include 640 0xd7 480 (640 dots across and 480 dots high), 800 0xd7 600, 1024 0xd7 768, 1152 0xd7 864, and 1600 0xd7 1200.
resource Hardware, software, or data that can be shared by users of a network. See also system resources.
restarting Windows Shutting down and reloading the Windows program.
Restore button Button in the upper-right corner of a window that is clicked to restore the window (display the window within window borders).
restore point "Snapshot" of your Windows and program files, stored by the System Restore program.
restored window Window that appears within window borders--not maximized or minimized.
Restricted Sites zone Security zone that includes the computers you have told Windows not to trust.
return receipt request Tag attached to an e-mail message that requests a receipt so that the sender knows that the recipient has opened the message.
RGB Numerical way of describing a color by its red, green, and blue components.
Rich Text Format See RTF file.
right-clicking Clicking with the right mouse button (unless you have configured your mouse to swap the functions of the buttons).
right Security setting for groups of user accounts that allow members of that group to perform system-wide tasks (such as installing programs or shutting down Windows). See also permission.
RJ-11 jack U.S. standard telephone connector.
RJ-45 connector Connector used to connect network interface cards to Category-5 cables in a star topology LAN.
RMI File extension (.rmi) used for MIDI-format music files.
roaming profile User account profile that is stored on the server rather than on the user's computer. Roaming profiles are available only on domain-based networks.
root, root folder, or root directory Main or top-level folder (or directory) in a hierarchical file system.
router Specialized computer used to connect multiple segments of networks; for example, to connect a local area network to the Internet.
RSA Data Security Web site (at http://www.rsa.com) with information about using certificates for data security.
RSACi Recreational Software Advisory Council for the Internet, an organization that rates Web sites regarding topics that people might find offensive so that your browser can screen out possibly offensive sites.
RTF file Rich Text Format, a portable format for storing formatted documents, defined by Microsoft. WordPad can read and write RTF files, which have the extension .rtf.
RV File extension (.rv) for RealVideo, a streaming video file format.
