Category: Geeks r Us
My Windows 8.1 machine has no speech. To make a long story short, I think it might be starting in safe mode due to an improper shutdown, though why it's doing that now, after I've shut down that way several times before, is beyond me. Anyway, is there a way for me to start it in normal mode and/or to get Narrator or NVDA running? I've tried everything, including removing the battery and cord and then plugging it in and turning it on, hitting enter, hitting the arrows and enter, etc. Hopefully, if I have to do this with Mom, it's a very easy fix.
I must say, I am beyond impressed with Mom! The most I've ever asked her to do technology wise was to turn up the sound on a machine when I had no way of doing so. But she actually stayed with me, and it's looking like we solved the problem! Apparently, it was going not into safe mode, but into automatic repair mode. We tried system restore, but that didn't work. She checked the date we wanted and then it just said move or close. So now, we're doing a refresh, and that seems to be working properly. Go Mom!
Well people that aren't "into technology" can be best described as intimidated by it. So, when something is rather straightforward they can not only help us by looking at the screen, but also feel empowered and independent themselves just a bit.
Mom's very pleased and considered it a learning experience. When we talked about updating the machine (it's back on 8.0 now) and I said I didn't want to ask Joanie, she immediately stepped in and offered to help. Then, she said "if something goes wrong, I'm right here." So all in all, it turned out to be a good experience for both of us. That said, I lost all of my files and settings, which was not supposed to happen in a refresh. Thankfully, I have everything saved, except a few extras that I was hoping to get from this machine. But it wouldn't let me log in with my GMail account, so I had to use my Hotmail one, which I only use for Messenger. We also had to enter the internet account information, which, again, wasn't supposed to happen. I went into users and only saw my new account, not my old one. So I guess those files really are gone. But if nothing else, I do have a portable machine. I might try the regular updates, but I'll hold off on the 8.1 update from the store until my other machines come, as that took a day to complete last time.
Eleni/Tiff , why didn't you sync those important things to 1Drive? they give you 15 GB of storage for free... you didn't have 15 gb of stuff that you found important that you didn't back up right?
No. With a total refresh you lose it all.
Gmail is not a Microsoft account, so yes, you'll use outlook mail.
But, remember, you don't have to sign in that way at all. When you start the machine it offers to use your Microsoft account, but you can chose local and not have to sign in at all on start.
I explained that once.
I suspect your computer had the problem it had, due to a glitch in something you tried to install.
Oh, and "go, go, mom! Smile.
What type of "new" machines did you get?