Cache - Temporary storage of information that a computer can use to rapidly access data instead of recomputing the original data. Browsers use a cache to store web pages so future access time is shortened.

Capacity - The amount of information that a hard disk drive can store once the drive has been formatted. The majority of hard drive companies calculate disk capacity based on the assumption that 1 megabyte is equal to 1000 kilobytes and 1 gigabyte is equal to 1000 megabytes. Therefore, the real capacity of a hard disk drive is normally less than what is specified on it.

CD R/W - Compact Disc Recordable/Rewritable.

CD-ROM - Compact Disc Read-Only Memory is an optically read disc designed to hold information like music that is accessible by a computer. A typical single CD-ROM can hold close to 640 megabytes of data.

Chat - Any type of a direct 1-on-1 text-based communication over the internet.

Clean Room - Refers to an environment that has a low level of ecological pollutants (e.g. dust, airborne microbes, aerosol particles and chemical vapors).

Cold Boot - Restarting a computer by turning on the power.

Compact Flash - A small flash memory module. The memory chips are enclosed in a plastic case and retain data after they are removed from the system. The most common uses for these are in pagers, handheld computers, cell phones, digital cameras, and audio players.

Computer - A machine for manipulating information according to a list of instructions.

Computer File - A piece of data that is available to a computer program, usually based on some type of durable storage.

Computer Forensics - The recovery, authentication, and investigation of electronic data, believed to be involved in a cybercrime.

Cookie - Text sent by a server to a web browser and then resent back unchanged by the browser each time it accesses that server. HTTP cookies are used for tracking specific information about users and their computer activities.

CPU - Central Processing Unit, also known as processor, is a critical part in a digital computer that interprets computer program instructions and processes data. The CPU is essentially the brain of the computer.

Crash - Hardware or software failure that causes data to be lost and the computer to malfunction. Many times a crash can cause permanent, irreversible damage to a computer.

Cyberspace - Slang for the Internet.

Data - A synonym for information.

Data Recovery - The retrieval of data stored on damaged/inaccessible media

Database - Structured collection information stored in a computer so that a program can use it to answer queries.

Default - The pre-defined setting assigned to a computer program outside of user intervention. Normally, the defaults can be altered to reflect personal preferences.

Desktop - The central directory of the user interface. Desktops normally contain icons that represent links to the hard drive (“My Computer”), a network, and a trash/recycling bin for recently deleted files. In many cases, users create shortcuts of frequently used applications, as icons in the desktop.

Desktop Computer - An independent personal computer, as opposed to other forms of PCs, such as a notebook.

Directory - A listing of files stored in the computer.

Disk Reformatting - Refers to the reinitializing of a hard disk, which erases all previous data on it.

Domain - Represents an IP (Internet Protocol) address or a set of IP addresses that consists of a domain. The domain name appears in URLs to classify web pages or in email addresses. For instance, the email address for data recovery enquiries is sales@restoringdata.ca, “restoringdata.ca” being the domain name. Each domain name ends with a suffix that indicates what “top level domain” it belongs to (“.com” for commercial, “.gov” for government, “.org” for organization, “.edu” for educational institution, etc.) or the country where the domain is registered. Each domain is unique, thus, two parties can never hold the same domain name.

Donor Drive - An identical drive to the faulty one used for parts.

DOS - Disk Operating System, specifically refers to the operating system dominated the early IBM-compatible PCs between the years of 1981 and 1995.

Download - The process of transferring data from a remote system such as the web to the computer.

Drive Interface - A standard specifying a set of functional characteristics, common physical interconnection characteristics and signal characteristics for the exchange of signals or data (e.g., SCSI or USB).

Drop-Down Menu - Menu window, which pops up when clicking an item in a GUI, offering a list of context-related options.

DSL - Digital Subscriber Line, a technology that connects to the Internet via a local telephone network. DSL connection provides users with a much higher speeds than modems and it does not interfere with telephone use.

DVD - Digital Video Disc that is capable of storing and playing both audio and video.