Glossary

U

UNC address Universal Naming Convention addresses, used when referring to files on some local area networks.

undeleting Reversing the action of deleting something.

Unicode Character codes that allow you to use characters from practically every language on Earth.

Uniform Resource Locator See URL.

uninstall program Program that uninstalls another program.

Universal Plug and Play Configuration system that allows Windows to detect new hardware and automatically install the necessary drivers.

Universal Serial Bus See USB.

UNIX Operating system widely used on Internet host computers.

UNIX shell account Type of Internet account that gives you access to a computer running the UNIX operating system, which you control by typing UNIX commands.

unshielded twisted pair cable Type of cable used to connect computers in a star topology LAN. Also called Category-5 cable.

unsigned file File for which you do not have a digital license. If you copy an audio file from an audio CD (which you presumably own), the file is signed.

upload Transfer a file from a PC to the Internet, other network, or mainframe.

UPS Uninterruptible power supply: a battery that can power your PC during a power outage.

URL Uniform Resource Locator, the address of a piece of information on the Internet, usually a Web page.

USB Universal Serial Bus, a standard type of connector for Windows computers.

USB hub Device that lets you connect several USB devices to one USB port on your computer.

Usenet Internet-based system of tens of thousands of newsgroups (discussion groups). Windows comes with Outlook Express, which lets you read and post to Usenet newsgroups.

user account Windows settings that are stored for use when you log into the computer. Each user's account can contain different settings.

user password Password you use when logging into your user account in Windows, or when switching from one user to another.

user profile See user account.

User Rights Assignment Group of settings that control which groups of user accounts can perform which types of tasks.

Users group Built-in group to which limited accounts belong.

utility Small program that performs a housekeeping or other useful task. Windows comes with many utilities.

Utility Manager Program that enables you to turn on and off accessibility features.

uuencode Method of encoding files for attachment to e-mail messages or newsgroup postings.