Ask Me Help Desk - Software

I'm trying to learn as much as I can about computers and how they work, I'm getting a little knowledge about computer hardware but totally in the dark when it comes to computer software. What is .txt .com .dll and all these files mean? And things like fat32 etc... etc...

Thank you

Ronnieca55

Hi,
Here is a good link:

http://www.webopedia.com/

Just scroll down about 1/4 the way, and under the heading "Search", type in what you want to find, such as .dll. It will show you the explanation, with other links for words used in the explanation.
There are "Computer Terms and Definitions" paperback books out also, about 600 pages, that can be helpful.
Searching online is one of the best ways to learn about software terms.
For example; here is a very good definition and explanation of .dll files:

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/q87934/

Quote:

Originally Posted by ronnieca1955

I'm trying to learn as much as I can about computers and how they work, I'm getting alittle knowledge about computer hardware but totally in the dark when it comes to computer software. what is .txt .com .dll and all these files mean? and things like fat32 etc... etc...

thank you

ronnieca55

Computer software is simply the instructions that make computers do things. A computer is essentially a mass of switches that are either on or off. The software reads those switches and performs some action depending on whether the switch is on or off.

On a Windows machine most files have a 3 character extension. Those three characters denote the type of file. Files fall into two categories; programs and data. Of the three formats you mentioned one is data (txt), the other two are programs. Most extensions are data files. Programs are usually EXE, COM, DLL, and BAT. EXE files are the main program files. COM are usually operating system commands. DLL stands for Dynamic Link Library and are code modules called by other programs (EXEs). BAT is short for BATCH and are small files that you can create to run Command line commands.

FAT stands for File Allocation Table and is what the OS uses to tell where files are on a drive. The 32 refers to 32 bit.

I tend to use whatis.com for looking up computer terms and file extensions

This is a very large subject, as I'm sure you can appreciate. I would suggest to you to get an A+ certification book. I used the one by Mike Meyers:

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/007...lance&n=283155

And found it to be excellent. The A+ exams cover hardware and software and are an ideal place to begin at (you don't have to do the exams, unless you are thinking about a career in IT maybe).