One Keyboard, Two Computers
There's no other major item most of us own that is as confusing, unpredictable and unreliable as our personal computers. Everybody has questions about them, and we aim to help.
Here are a few questions about computers I've received recently from people like you, and my answers. I have edited and restated the questions a bit, for readability. This week my mailbox contained questions about sharing a single monitor, keyboard and mouse between computers, Microsoft's malicious software removal tool, and backing up "favorites" in Firefox.
If you have a question, send it to me at
mossberg@wsj.com, and I may select it to be answered here in Mossberg's Mailbox.
Because of the volume of e-mail I receive, I can't routinely answer individual questions by e-mail, or consult on individual problems or purchasing decisions. I read all questions I receive and select three each week to answer in the column.
Q: Last week, you wrote that Windows users who bought Apple's new Mac mini computer could just unplug their monitor, keyboard and mouse from the Windows PC and plug them into the Mac. But is there a way to share a single monitor, keyboard and mouse between a Mac mini and a Windows PC?
A: Yes. It's called a KVM (Keyboard, Video, Mouse) switch, and it allows you to run two or more different computers from the same monitor, keyboard and mouse, switching between or among the computers at will. It not only works with a Mac mini (and some other Mac models) and a Windows PC, but it also allows you to hook multiple Windows machines, or multiple Macs, to the same screen, keyboard and mouse. One big maker of KVM switches is Belkin, at
www.belkin.com.A two-computer KVM switch has three sets of plugs, usually labeled Console, Computer 1 and Computer 2. You plug the monitor, keyboard and mouse into the Console plugs. Then, you connect the video, keyboard and mouse connectors of one of your computers into the Computer 1 plugs, and the ports from the second computer into the Computer 2 plugs on the KVM. After that, you just use a switch or button on the KVM to select which computer will be active on the central monitor, keyboard and mouse.
If you buy a KVM switch, make sure it has the right kind of plugs for your monitor, keyboard and mouse. Some use modern USB mouse and keyboard connectors (required on a Mac mini ); others use older PS/2 keyboard and mouse connectors. Some mix the two types of plugs. Most use standard VGA monitor ports, but some use the more modern DVI video connectors. Some KVM switches can also control audio, or allow the sharing of USB peripheral devices. Some come with cables, others treat them as an extra expense.
One caution: if you have a laptop or a desktop with a built-in screen, like Apple's iMac G5, you usually can't share the built-in screen with another computer, even via a KVM switch. In general, the shared screen, keyboard and mouse must be stand-alone components.
Q: How come Microsoft's new antivirus program removes only viruses already on your computer, instead of blocking new viruses from entering?
A: Microsoft hasn't released a full-fledged antivirus program, though it is reported to be working on one. So your criticism is unfounded. What you may be referring to is a different new, free program from the software giant, with a more limited purpose. It's called the "Malicious Software Removal Tool," and it's designed to find and remove eight of the worst viruses and similar damaging software from PCs running Windows XP and Windows 2000.
You can get this new tool from this Web page:
www.microsoft.com/security/malwareremove/default.mspx. Or you may receive it automatically if you use the automated Windows Update program. If and when Microsoft does bring out a complete antivirus program, I'd be amazed if it didn't include a feature to automatically block viruses from entering a PC, just like similar features from current antivirus firms.
Q: Last week, you explained how to back up Favorites in Internet Explorer. Is there a way to do the same thing in the Firefox browser?
A: Yes. In Firefox, go to the Bookmarks menu, and select the "Manage Bookmarks..." command. A new window, called Bookmarks Manager, will open. Next, go to the File menu in the Bookmarks Manager and select the "Export..." command. This will allow you to save your bookmarks in a single file called bookmarks.html anywhere on your hard disk or on an external disk or drive.
To restore your bookmarks, or transfer them to another computer, just import this same file into Firefox from the Bookmarks Manager window, using the "Import..." command in the File menu.
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Because of the volume of e-mail I receive, I can't routinely answer individual questions by e-mail, or consult on individual problems or purchasing decisions. I read all questions I receive and select three each week to answer in the column.
一个键盘，两台电脑
在我们大多数人拥有的大件电器中，再没有什么比个人电脑更令人费解、更变幻莫测的了。每个人或许都有些关于电脑的问题，而《莫博士信箱》将为您提供帮助。
本周我将回答如何利用一套显示器、键盘和鼠标控制两台电脑，以及与微软杀毒软件和复制Firefox书签的问题。
问：上周你在专栏中说，在购买了苹果电脑新出的Mac mini电脑后，用户可以将Windows电脑上的显示器、键盘和鼠标拔下来，直接插到Mac mini上就能用了。但是有什么办法能让Mac mini和Windows同时使用一套显示器、键盘和鼠标呢？
答：你可以使用一种名为KVM的切换装置，它能让你用同一套显示器、键盘和鼠标同时控制两台以上的电脑，并随心所欲地在它们之间进行切换。这种装置不仅适用于Mac mini（及其他Mac电脑）和Windows电脑之间，还能让几台Windows电脑或几台Mac电脑使用同一套显示器、键盘和鼠标。生产KVM切换装置的一家较大的公司是Belkin，公司网址为：
www.belkin.com。
一个可以控制两台电脑的KVM切换装置上有三套插口，通常会分别标明为：控制台、电脑1和电脑2。首先将显示器、键盘和鼠标接入控制台插口，然后将其中一台电脑的显示器、键盘及鼠标的连接线接入电脑1插口，将另一台电脑接入电脑2插口。之后，使用KVM上的切换按键你就可以选择要操作的电脑了。
在购买KVM时，要确认它的插口类型与显示器、键盘和鼠标相匹配。其中一些使用的是新式的USB鼠标和键盘接口（Mac mini就属此类）；一些使用的则是旧的PS/2键盘和鼠标接口；还有一些是两者兼备。多数KVM使用的是标准的VGA显示器接口，但有一些用的是更先进的DVI视频接口。部分KVM切换装置还能控制音频设备，或是共享USB外设。某些KVM附带连接线，但有的则需要另外付费购买。
有一点需要提醒，如果你使用的是笔记本电脑或是显示器为内置式的电脑，如苹果电脑的iMac G5，就不能与其他电脑共享显示器，即使是使用KVM也不行。通常而言，可以共享的显示器、键盘和鼠标必须都是独立的。
问：为什么微软新的杀毒软件只能清除电脑里已经存在的病毒，而不能阻挡新病毒的入侵？
答：微软从未发布过一种完整的杀毒软件，尽管有报导称它正在这方面加大努力。因此你对它的批评是没有因由的。你指的杀毒软件可能是微软提供的另外一种新的免费软件，它的功能有限。这种软件名为“Malicious Software Removal Tool”，专门用来寻找和移除对Windows XP和Windows 2000危害最为严重的8种病毒和类似的有害程序。
你能在以下网址找到这种软件：
www.microsoft.com/security/malwareremove/default.mspx。如果你开启了Windows自动更新程序，还会自动收到这个软件。如果微软推出的完整杀毒软件不具备阻断病毒进入的功能，肯定会让大家大跌眼镜。现在的杀毒软件都具备这样的功能。
问：你上周介绍了如何备份Internet Explorer中的“我的最爱”(Favorites)，那么是否能在Firefox网络浏览器中进行同样的操作呢？
答：可以。首先进入Firefox的书签(Bookmarks)菜单，然后选择“管理书签”(Manage Bookmarks)命令，一个名为“书签管理器”(Bookmarks Manager)的新窗口就被打开了。下一步，进入“书签管理器”的文件菜单，选中“导出”(Export)命令，这时就能将你的书签存放在一个名为bookmarks.html的文件夹中，并可以将其存放在硬盘或是外部磁盘中。
要想将书签存入或是转移到其他电脑上，只需利用文件菜单下的“导入”(Import)命令，将这个文件夹从“书签管理器”窗口导入到Firefox中即可。
