JFW on kiddo's netbook?

Category: Geeks r Us

Post 1 by Smiling Sunshine (I've now got the bronze prolific poster award! now going for the silver award!) on Thursday, 20-Dec-2012 0:39:30

Hi there.
I've always gotten good advice here so I'm back for more.

My son is getting a netbook for Christmas. I want to install JFW on it because I want to be able to have access should I need to do maintanence and so I can help him troubleshoot issues as he learns.
I don't want it to start automatically because he doesn't need it and I don't want it to slow down the machine. Other than checking the box in the set-up wizzard that says don't start Jaws, is there anything else I need to do.
A friend of mine said it would slow down the machine even if it isn't running so I wanted to confirm or put that theory away.
Thanks in advance.

Post 2 by Shadow_Cat (I've now got the silver prolific poster award! wahoo!) on Thursday, 20-Dec-2012 2:30:39

Someone correct me if I'm wrong, but here's what I know. All you have to do is make sure the run JAWS first box is unchecked. I'd look at that a couple times, and restart a couple times, just to make sure that's the case. I do not believe it slows down the machine when JAWS is not running. At least sighted friends who have used my computer without JAWS haven't mentioned that. I have also installed JAWS on friends' computers so I could use them, and those friends have never complained of slower machines, either. I know JAWS is a resource hog when it's running, but it shouldn't be doing that when shut down. So I think you'd be fine. But I'd be interested in hearing other experiences.

Post 3 by Smiling Sunshine (I've now got the bronze prolific poster award! now going for the silver award!) on Thursday, 20-Dec-2012 8:23:03

That's what I'm thinking as well.

Post 4 by Miss M (move over school!) on Thursday, 20-Dec-2012 11:29:50

Find out what the minimal spec requirements are for JFW and compare them to the netbook, first. Netbooks are so small because they have limited capabilities compared to a laptop.

Post 5 by forereel (Just posting.) on Thursday, 20-Dec-2012 16:35:12

Sister Dawn is correct. Also the Net Book should have 1 GB at least, so even running Jaws will be fine.
Last if you use the insert space and the letter S turns off the speech, so if you've got Jaws running, but only want it gone temp, because you are helping him back and forth at the start use that feature until he's up and going completely, then use the Windows r to run Jaws when you want it to go.
If the computer has Windows 7 hit the windows key to get to the start, then arrow once down past the search box, or you'll do the run thing and it won't work.
If Windows 8, it will be a piece of cake.

Post 6 by Smiling Sunshine (I've now got the bronze prolific poster award! now going for the silver award!) on Thursday, 20-Dec-2012 21:38:24

Thanks. He's pretty darn profficient on a computer, especially for a kiddo a week shy of his 9th birthday. He was using my desktop the other day to prepare a project using Power Point. Hell, I don't even use Power Point. lol
The only time the computer will have JAws running will be when I need to check something out. It's got W7 and 2 gb ram so I think we'll be good to go.
I'm using JFW on my own 3 and a half-year-old netbook and it runs fairly well with only 1 gb ram. It'd be doing a whole lot better if I could figure out how to repair my corrupted video drivers. That's going to take going into recovery mode though which doesn't work with JFW so for now, it'll do. But that's another story. lol
Anyway, thanks for all the tips and info.

Post 7 by forereel (Just posting.) on Friday, 21-Dec-2012 16:03:26

Find out what your video card is, or what brand. Go to the website and install the latest drivers for it. Problem fixed, or in my experience anyway.
Your computer manufactor also should have a page of driver updates for your system.

Post 8 by hardyboy09 (I'm going for the prolific poster awards!) on Friday, 21-Dec-2012 22:23:57

I thought netbooks were no longer made.

I think the more ram you have, the better. 2 gigabytes should suffice though.

Post 9 by forereel (Just posting.) on Saturday, 22-Dec-2012 0:01:52

You can still buy one. That has nothing to do with your drivers however.

Post 10 by JH_Radio (I've now got the silver prolific poster award! wahoo!) on Saturday, 22-Dec-2012 12:06:53

I used to have 2GB on here before I upgraded the ram to 4GB. jaws ran fine.

Post 11 by hardyboy09 (I'm going for the prolific poster awards!) on Saturday, 22-Dec-2012 21:00:24

Huh, and no, I know it has nothing to do with Video drivers.

Post 12 by Smiling Sunshine (I've now got the bronze prolific poster award! now going for the silver award!) on Wednesday, 26-Dec-2012 0:47:01

Well, he got it today and everythig seems to be going well. He didn't get to spend a ton of time using it because we were out and about doing family stuff but he seems to be very happy with how it's running so far.
Yay! I've got one happy kidlet over here.
Thanks again, yall.

Post 13 by forereel (Just posting.) on Wednesday, 26-Dec-2012 18:50:36

Swizzle! Smile.