ITGlossary
Glossary: PC terms explained simply
Talk about computer maintenance and technical words start popping up. Here they're explained one by one, in clear language, the way you'd explain them to a parent. They're the same terms that appear inside TurboFix.
Where the PC keeps its data
Temporary filesFiles that programs create "on the fly" to do their work and should delete on their own, but which often stay behind taking up space. They're the first ones TurboFix suggests removing, in complete safety.
CacheA stash of data the PC keeps "within reach" to run faster (web pages you've already visited, for example). Every so often it needs emptying because, as it swells, it takes up space for nothing.
Recycle BinThe folder where deleted files end up. They stay there until the Recycle Bin is emptied: until then they still take up disk space and can be recovered.
SSDThe modern kind of drive, with no moving parts. It's far faster than a traditional disk: if the PC has an SSD, it boots and opens programs in a few seconds.
HDD (hard disk drive)The "old-style" disk, with a spinning platter inside. It's cheap and holds a lot of data, but it's slower and more vulnerable to knocks than an SSD.
RAM (memory)The temporary working memory, the one the PC uses for the programs open right now. The more there is, the more programs can stay open together without slowdowns. It empties when the PC shuts down.
Disk spaceHow much free room is left for your files and for Windows. When it gets too full, the PC slows down and updates fail: TurboFix helps free it up without risk.
Paging file (pagefile)A hidden file Windows uses as "spare RAM" on the disk when the real memory isn't enough. It's normal for it to exist: it prevents freezes when too many things are open at once.
Why the PC runs fast or slow
Startup programsThe programs that launch on their own every time the computer starts. Too many startup programs are the number one cause of a PC that's slow to boot: in TurboFix they're switched off with one click.
ProcessA program (or part of one) while it's running. Dozens are running at any moment: some belong to the programs you have open, others to Windows and work behind the scenes.
CPUThe computer's "brain", the part that does the calculations. When the CPU runs flat out for too long, the fan spins hard and the PC becomes slow to respond.
Usage (load)The percentage of a resource that's busy right now (CPU, memory, disk). Usage stuck at 100% is the sign that something is working too hard.
Boot (startup)The whole sequence the PC goes through from power-on until the desktop is ready to use. A fast boot is the first sign of a healthy computer.
DriverA small program that lets Windows talk to a piece of hardware (printer, graphics card, Wi-Fi). Old or faulty drivers cause malfunctions and blue screens.
Understanding how the PC is really doing
SMART (disk status)A self-monitoring system built into drives that gives early warning when a disk is starting to fail. TurboFix reads this data to warn you before a disk dies and takes your data with it.
Temperature / sensorsThe degrees at which the CPU, graphics card and disk are running. Temperatures that are too high make the PC slow down to protect itself and, over time, shorten the life of the components.
Windows event logThe "logbook" where Windows records errors, warnings and important events. It helps you find out what went wrong when something freezes.
Health scoreAn overall, easy-to-read grade that sums up the state of the computer by combining disk, memory, temperatures and startup. It's TurboFix's way of saying "all good" or "look here" without technical jargon.
BSOD (blue screen)The famous blue screen Windows throws up when it stops dead to protect itself from a serious error, often tied to a driver or to memory. If it happens often, it's a problem not to ignore.
The delicate parts of Windows
RegistryA large archive where Windows keeps all its settings. It's delicate: it must be handled with care, which is why TurboFix only makes known, safe changes.
Restore pointA "snapshot" of the system settings at a given moment, so you can go back if something stops working. Creating one before major changes is always a good idea.
BitLockerThe disk encryption built into Windows: it makes data unreadable to anyone without the password, especially useful on laptops that can be lost or stolen.
Antivirus / DefenderThe program that scans the PC for viruses and dangerous files. Windows already has a good one built in, Defender: what matters is that it's always on and up to date.
UAC (User Account Control)The little window that asks "Do you want to allow this app to make changes?". It's there to stop programs that want to change important things without permission: it's a defense, not a nuisance.
Never lose your files
BackupA copy of your files kept somewhere separate: if the PC breaks or a file gets deleted by mistake, you get it back. It's the most important thing of all: there's a complete guide on the backup page.
System imageA complete copy of the entire disk, Windows and programs included, not just your files. If the computer stops booting, the image brings it back exactly as it was.
Previous Versions (shadow copies / VSS)A Windows tool that keeps safety copies of a file as you change it, so you can go back to yesterday's or last week's version.
NASA small device with drives inside, connected to your home network, that acts as the central store for files and backups, reachable from every PC.
Incremental / differential backupWays of copying only what has changed instead of copying everything every time: they save time and space. Incremental saves what's new since the last backup, differential what's new since the last full backup.
3-2-1 ruleThe golden rule of backups: 3 copies of your data, on 2 different media, with 1 kept off-site (in the cloud, for example). That way no single failure takes everything.
Put it into practice
Once you know the words, the rest is simple. TurboFix reads the PC's health, explains every item in language like this and only suggests safe actions. It's free and works entirely locally, sending nothing over the network.
To dig deeper there's the features page, with details on every tool, and the tips for keeping the computer in shape.
Keep reading.
The other guides, all in plain English and all free.