Category: Geeks r Us
As some of you may remember, I bought a Nexus 7 several months ago. I asked questions and received many helpful tips from eager users. But it didn't work out for me. Now that I have tried it, I can honestly say that I do not, at all, like the touch interface, with its gestures, taps, and complicated manoeuvres just to do simple things, like change screen reader settings, navigate the internet, etc. I prefer a solid keyboard with intuitive commands, or at least decent menus without all the clutter and headaches. So the Nexus has basically become a storage device and a hobby when I want to play with new applications.
I then decided to get something else relatively modern, namely a Windows 7 machine. After much searching and comparing, I settled on an HP Elitebook 2540P, which is what I'm using now. While learning 7 was fairly straight forward, it took about a week for me to get used to certain things, and I still don't like several of them. I downgraded Wordpad to a Vista version that I found online, because I hated the ribbons in 7. But sometimes, when I go to save files, NVDA won't always read the location where I'm saving them, or I'll get stuck somewhere. In XP, there was the box that showed things like hard drive, my documents, etc. But when I hit tab, there was another one, which showed the files in the current folder to which I was saving. If I hit backspace, I would be taken to the previous folder. So if the misc folder was in my documents, backspace would take me out of misc and to my documents. Now, hitting tab or shift tab often doesn't read anything except in the drive letter box or when I get to the file name. If I try to use the arrows to show the contents of the folder, it says things like "a h" or "q z". So I have to open a document in the folder where I want to save, delete the contents, paste the new file in, and then save it with the new name! It's worth noting that this doesn't just happen with Wordpad but whenever I need to save a file, say, with Firefox or Songr. I also don't like the search box, since it doesn't let me choose criteria and also doesn't display all of the files with a given word, even though when I go into the folders where I know they're located and open said files, the word, phrase, etc. is in them. I hate permissions, where I can't access various folders or install certain programs without having to go through extra nonsense. I also have an issue with Java, where it keeps asking me if I will allow it to run or update on my system. It's a security notification, similar the kind that I get when installing a program. I say yes, but every time I reboot, it asks me the same thing!
But the two worst problems are that the speech keeps shutting off and NVDA loses focus and says "task switching" or "unknown". In the first instance, the speech stops suddenly, as well as the beeping sound when I hit the capslock key and the sound that I usually hear when I reach the end of a document in Wordpad. But the rest of the sound remains oon. One time, I was listening to a song, and it continued, while NVDA stopped working! When I try to restart NVDA, nothing happens, so I have to reboot by holding down the power button. One or two times, I have been able to restore sound by touching the so-called buttons on the touch strip at the top of my machine. So I am wondering if this is some kind of issue with the built-in software. Regardless, it's making me more frustrated than I have ever been in 17 years of computing!
In the second instance, I'll usually be working with Firefox or Cometbird and NVDA will lose focus. This happens in Gmail, and on Facebook and Ebay, when it keeps saying "unknown" as I hit tab. Sometimes, when I'm in GMail and hitting f to move between checkboxes, I'll hear "unknown" or "f" instead of the relevant materials. Many times, when I try to switch windows, it again loses focus and when I hit NVDA-t to get the title, it just says "task switching" and nothing else happens when I try to use the given program. The only way for me to get the computer to work normally is to do a system restore. Then, all the problems go away for a few days, at the most, though they may return very soon after the restore.
I tried to install a demo of Supernova, to see if this is, in fact, an NVDA issue, but it keeps saying something about compatibility and tells me that, in order to fix it, I have to go to group settings or something similar. I am really disgusted and am seeking an alternative, which I will be writing about in another post. For now, can anyone give me advice on how to check or change settings, or what I can do to work around these issues? Can a 64 bit system be downgraded to 32 bit XP or is there a 64 bit version? Thanks.
Here is the topic for the alternatives that I mentioned earlier. Basically, I'm trying to decide if I should get a mainstream PDA or a Notetaker. If you wish to recommend one, please read the following link.
https://www.zonebbs.com/boards.php?t=28753
If you think that a change of operating system would suit me best, or can help me deal with this one, please post in the current thread. Thanks.
I will just say shortly, all these issues are easy solved. I'm not an NVDA user however, and many aren't problems with Jaws.
I posted someplace here settings for windows 7 for screen readers. Maybe search that out.
sounds like you might wanna get with people that use NVDA.
in answer as to if you can downgrade to Windows XP, that depends.
If you have Windows 7 Pro installed, you can downgrade without a problem. If not then you will need to do a clean install of XP.
I was intending on a clean install. When I said downgrade, i merely meant putting an older operating system on a newer machine, not the technical process of downgrading and keeping my programs, documents, etc. I just want to make sure that I could get sound drivers and whatnot.
hmm. i hadn't thought of that.
i'd check into that before i did my clean install.
this might help. how old is this computer ?
as in what year was it mnade. do you know?
I'm guessing maybe four-years-old. It's an HP Elitebook 4520P, if that helps.
i think XP will run fine on it, but i'd check into that if i were you.
Correction. It's 2540p.
i think XP will run fine on it, but i'd check into that if i were you.
i was gonna say if it ran windows 7 pro than XP would be even more l likely to work.
if i were you, i'd try to fix that windows 7 first.
it sounds like a lot of it is NVDA and not knowin how to make that work.
I forgot that HP has such good technical support! Here is the page, and yes, they do have drivers for XP Pro!
http://h20565.www2.hp.com/portal/site/hpsc/template.PAGE/public/psi/swdHome?sp4ts.oid=4138627&ac.admitted=1395284984243.876444892.492883150
XP should run fine. i'd do the downgrade option and not the clean install, if you decide to go with XP.
heres a URL for you to look at:
http://h20565.www2.hp.com/portal/site/hpsc/template.PAGE/public/kb/docDisplay?javax.portlet.begCacheTok=com.vignette.cachetoken&javax.portlet.endCacheTok=com.vignette.cachetoken&javax.portlet.prp_ba847bafb2a2d782fcbb0710b053ce01=wsrp-navigationalState%3DdocId%253Demr_na-c02068850-2%257CdocLocale%253D%257CcalledBy%253D&javax.portlet.tpst=ba847bafb2a2d782fcbb0710b053ce01&ac.admitted=1395285174345.876444892.492883150
Testing 123. Does this work?
This unknown and lack of focusing is getting worse. I hope I don't have some kind of virus. I'm using the latest version of NVDA. On this site, for example, when I try to tab through the posts or post something, it keeps saying unknown, and when I hit f to get to the form field, it just says the letter f. The arrow keys won't read anything. Ebay and Facebook do the same. Can someone please tell me how to properly install Supernova so that I can figure out if it's NVDA? I guess I could use JFW or Windoweyes, but I know the former loads all sorts of things on the system and whatnot. I would try Thunder, but it's too basic and has no option to not load at startup. I'm now using Firefox to see if it's any better. It seems to be, but now, I'm gettting an error that says I can't post due to an error in my sql server. I have no clue what that means, but I'm guessing it's on the side of The Zone.
Out of curiosity, why is it better to downgrade than to do a clean install?
That's really strange! I cannot write the word unknown inside of quotes or with quotes and a comma on on the outside! It triggers an error. It doesn't work in quicknotes either.
better to do that cause if you should ever want to upgrade to 7 again you can do so, and it all uses the same key.
i'd contact HP about this if you really want to do it.
Hey--have you tried using system access as a screen reader? It's free.
and it's way better than nvdA as a primary screen reader.
correction: it's free, but you can also buy it so that you don't have to be online to use it.
The free version of system access can be accessed via your web browser.
Just go to
www.satogo.com
Make sure you turn NVDA off before you start up system access. if you don't, both screen readers will freeze. system access rarely frezes, if at all. and you can get it to talk with the eloquence systhesizer.
by the way, it's really, really, really bad for your computer to power it down with the manual on/off button regardless of NVDA freezing. if you need to shut down. press alt plus f4 a few times, then press the windows key and m, then alt f4 again. that brings up the shut down screen wherever you may be. then hit enter and you're going to shut down. that should wor anyway.
In any case, give system access a shot. I swear by that screen reader and not many people know about it.
Yes, I should look into this. I might very well downgrade if this continues. I really can't stand it and just want something that works!
I thought only SA To Go was free, and that it required an open web browser. No matter. That's basically where I want to test it. But I couldn't use it as my main option, because I need Greek support. This is just for the test. It would also be interesting to see if the sound cuts out with it as it does with NVDA.
saToGo is the thing that's free, and it does run from your web browser as I've stated in my previous post. but SaToGo is a full screen reader. it will work outside of your browser as long as you keept he saToGo window pen.
let me see if i can get somebody to help with your NVDA issues.
i didn't think of SA2go as i honestly forgot about that one.
Stupid me! I'm sorry, write away. I accidentally hit tab before I finished reading your previous post! Now that I have, I see that you explained things nicely. Again, more complicated nonsense just to turn off a machine, but thank you for explaining the steps so that I now know them.
Since I can use Eloquence with SA To Go, maybe I can use ESpeak or another Greek-speaking synthesizer. That would be nice. I have never had these problems with NVDA and have been using it exclusively for several years now.
JH_Radio, thanks so much for the help with NVDA. For now, at least, switching to Firefox seems to have helped. I really like this screen reader and greatly admire the team for the amazing work they've done. I deeply wish that ESpeak could work with the polytonic system, but NV Access has no control over that. *sigh*
You can use ESpeak with system access, certainly. I've used it to read Pollish text with the Pollish version of ESpeak
You did buy a used machine, so you may have purchased it's bugts as well. Have you tried to clean it up, meaning, run a quality virous and such cleaner?
You see, all your complaints are easy handled with windows 7, and I know people that even use NVDA as well, so your issues might be due to your not knowing the os well yet, plus the machine.
A downgrade is also better, due to drivers and such staying in place. It is less work.
Remember however, XP will soon not be supported.
I just had the oh-so-common loss of speech, while I was in the middle of writing something. I tried to save it, but of course, it didn't save. After I rebooted, I opened Wordpad and purposefully exited from NVDA. I was able to hear both the beep when hitting capslock and the ding when reaching the end of the document. I can do neither of these when the speech goes out. So I don't think this particular issue is with NVDA, but rather, with my computer. I wonder if I can disable the touch strip and if that will solve the problem?
Suppose your restore that machine back to factory settings? When you do this, you clean it completely, so it is as if you purchased it new?
Someone in your family can help with this.
First, makes sure it was originally built with Windows 7, by having someone read the tags on the side. If so restore it.
From what I understand NVDA works fine, and I chat with another blind lady that uses Windows 7 and NVDA all day everyday, and loves it.
She's about to purchase a new computer with Windows 7 even.
Again, I really don't think you have a problem as to Windows 7. You either have a machine that needs adjustment, or you need to learn the O S.
I might have a friend help me restore it. My family is hopeless when it comes to computers. They just use them for the absolute basics. But since I'm intending on selling a few of my machines, I am curious. If I restore, either in XP or in 7, will this securely wipe my drive clean or can someone still access the files if they're a good enough hacker? What about a clean install on my XP machines? Those I know are native to that system.
I have to agree with wayne here, stay away from xp or you will have to deal with the lack of updates. Honestly, when it comes to your nexus7 as I stated before I highly doubted you came and asked me or any long time android user on this sight. Just my two sense here.
if you do a clean install. i its a clean install. period. this works f for XP, 7, 8.1.
your souned card could be going out?
If so it be the mother board. The card would be on the board, so.
New laptops are so low priced right now, or one with that kind of power, I'd not fool around unless it was $100 maybe 150.
I honestly think it has something to do either with the sound driver or with the touch strip. Sometimes, I'm able to get the sound back by tapping on a certain part of it. Whatever it is, it's very annoying. This is a very nice machine, and extremely fast, with a decent amount of ram. It's a shame that it does this.
well uninstall and reinstall the sound drivers with sited help and see how that works out.
Well yes, but she could update them as well. In windows 7 there is a way to see if they are updated.
Of the top of my head, this is how you'd get there,.
You'd go to computer, press windows key, move down one past the search box and typ the letter C until you hear computer.
Next open this and open the OS.
In the OS find drivers. In there you can look for the sound drivers.
You can also do it by searching for the sound card, and allowing the site to update it if need be.
I tried what you said and couldn't find it that way. I opened computer and got things like hard disk drive, local disk c. Do you mean that I should go into the c drive and the Windows folder?
i have windows 7 now tiff s tried to find whare the drivers are and couldn't do it.
although when i started typing sound drivers into the search box of the start menu, one option was update device drivers. i didn't go in there to see what i could find but maybe ll all this wil help you.
I said that.
Yes you open the C drive and arrow down, but as John explained again, using the search box will get you there too.
You are after updating the drivers so.
You know another thing I forgot.
The screen resolution might need to be set back to defaults. I was working on a windows 7 computer yesterday, and it matters as to how your screen reader sees things.
You adjust this same method, by using the search box.
lower res never hurts wayne, right?
Depends on what you are doing. Default is always best, but some programs created for screen readers, such as Sonar require a change to work best.
If you're not using anything specific the default for the size screen you have is the better setting.
wel when you install 7 , it is set to default I assume, right?
if it aint broke....
Is there still a help section in windows 7? As much as I hate it, "help" has saved my bacon many times.
Bob
Yes there is.
however things are more self-explanatory without the need of help too.
I agree with the last poster, all of the computers which are both macs currently run windows7.