Category: Geeks r Us
I've tried the unattended option, where you create a reboottable disk with all the windows settings and information on it, and that didn't work. Is there any other way that anybody know of to reformat and re-install Windows without sighted help? The computer is working, but barely, and only sometimes.
if that didn't work than I dout it. that's the only other way i've hurd of doing it without sited help. this is when a braille display would be nice, if that would even help out at all
run the installer on the disc while you're logged into windows, it is access friendly I think.
Hi,
If you followed all the instructions from the guide that you used to create the unattended setup of windows xp, and it doesn't work, then the most likely problem is that in the bios, the boot order may be set to boot from the hard disk first, not enabling you to do a clean install.
Change the boot order in the bios to boot from cd-rom first, that way you will be able to do a clean install.
If your bios can, I'd recommend you install windows xp from an external hdd or flash drive since it would go much faster than the cd root. however, if you're comfortable doing it the cd way which you followed in your guide that's equally fine, just letting you know that there are also other methods of installing.
Regards,
clarification...
While my previous post refered to windows xp, which was my mistake, My guess as to why your unattended disk didn't work stands true for any version of windows that supports unattended installs.
Regards,
i do believe that even if you start the reinstall process within windows its still not full accessible as it has to restart at some point. This is definately one area where the mac has a leg up on windows as you can do full reinstall with voice over on.
yes, you are correct. it's why i'm saving up for a mack now becuase i'm tired of using the sam old o s that i've used for years, no matter what version it is.
If the mac is souped up well enough, you can use VMWare and install Windows in a Virtual environment, fix problems with it, do everything you need, with zero use of photons.
i'm ordering a mac today!
i'm so tired of using jaws and windows that keeps on hanging on me...
and not be able to reformat on my own...
i hope i will not be disappointed with mac!
you won't be, unless you find reasons to be, and i mean that by you hunting them down
Well, I went for the Mac race too and wasn't all that thrilled. Yes, what they say about installing on your own is true. It also has a great voice and there are one or two things, like posting to Youtube, that the Mac can do that you simply can't do with Windows and a screenreader. But you also have to consider that it's a very different system from the one you're used to. There's something called interacting, which can be extraordinarily annoying, especially when trying to select text from a webpage and paste it into Text Edit, which doesn't even save in standard ascii text, only rtf. This probably won't matter to you, but I've also found that when I saved a Greek text with the Mac and then tried to read it in a Windows machine, it simply couldn't do it. The English, however, works fine. If you don't like VoiceOver, the built-in screenreader, you're screwed, because it's the only thing that will work with the Mac. While there are several free or decently-priced packages for the Mac, most are not free and cost a good amount of money. You also can't go and buy just any hardware. It has to be Mac-compatible. My USB Skype headset is a perfect example but there are others to be sure and some of these can be very expensive when compared with their Windows equivalents. Even the adapter for a Macbook is about $60. Then, there's the size of the thing. If you don't mind a computer that's 13 inches across with a huge palm rest, you're okay. But if you like real portability, they don't make anything smaller. The Macbooks, at least, also don't come with a full set of ports, only usb, headphone and line-in/out. And, if I remember, the line-in jack doesn't work. That is, you can't plug in a standard pc microphone and use it, though they may make special ones. I'm not sure. The newer ones don't even have cd rom drives. Mine kept breaking down, but it could be the machine itself. Then, there's Safari, which, for me at least, keeps saying "busy, busy" ever since I switched to Snow Leopard.
But there are some advantages. For one, the tech support and service at Apple is wonderful. They speak English and really listen to your concerns. When they say they'll fix your computer quickly, they're not kidding! But do keep in mind that these are made in china, so will probably break down more than ones when compared with systems from Japan, America or Europe. Mine had to be sent in at least four times. The battery life on the Macbooks is truly wonderful for a modern machine. I got at least five hours out of mine before it needed charging. I don't think that there's an enhanced battery but I could be wrong. While you can't change screenreaders, you can change synthesizers if, for whatever reason, you don't like Alex or if, like me, you need to install another language. That said, I don't know of any free synthesizers for the Mac, so be prepared to spend at least $100. Macbooks also come with a built-in camera called ISight and an excellent program for making videos called Photobooth. The only thing that I've found for Windows that's as easy to use for that is Debut Video Capture Software, which is also free. ITunes is a pain, and I personally never touched it, since I like simply copying and pasting in all of my music. But it's there for those who like it and there's always VLC Media Player, which is free, for those of us who don't. Skype is way better on the mac. I wish they'd follow a similar model on Windows. You've also got another free program called Adium which allows you to connect to a bunch of messenger accounts at once. I still haven't found anything even remotely close to it for Windows. I've heard of Miranda but it always gave me problems.
Really, it depends on what you want. If you want a new machine, which may cost alot, with a different os, go for a Mac. But if you just want a new os I'd say try Linux or one of the modern versions of DOS if you're not afraid of the command line. I know that some of you are looking at me as if I have three heads, being that I just recommended Linux, and you all know I refuse to use it. But I've got my own reasons and they have nothing to do with the os being a bad one. In fact, I've heard nothing but good things about it. It just sounds very complicated to me. But if you've got the patience to learn the mac and want to go a bit deeper, it shouldn't be a problem. It's free, some versions have a built-in screen reader, which, if I remember correctly, talks uring install, and it's got alot of blind support. DOS does, but the blind user base is often difficult to track down. There's a list called Blind-L full of them that I just joine a little while ago, and FreeDOS (one of the modern varients) has at least one or two on their forums. Most software for it is either freeware, shareware or new so may cost a tiny bit to help the manufacturer with the costs of programming etc. But it's nothing like buying things for Leopard or Windows. The only thing with DOS is that you'd need a hardware synthesizer and certain things might be more difficult to do. As with Linux, it takes alot of study. Good luck in whatever you choose.
you are obviously referencing a mac thats afew years old and isn't exactly true about the current line up of mac books on the market. Oh and the only mac without acd rom drive is the macbook air
To be fair, mine is from December of 2008. But it's been upgraded with Snow Leopard. What kinds of changes have they made since then? And I thought that the newer Macs no longer have a cd rom. I was unaware that it was still just the Air. Thanks for the correction. Mine has the plastic case and the drive.
hmm! lerning is good!
i'm willing to give mac a try atllese i could say that i tried all my options before settling to a sistem that works best for me.
i think alex of voice-over sounds nice.
over the years i have used windows i tried using windows 98, xp, vista, and windows7.
and for the screen readers.
i tested hal, SATOGO, NVDA, window-eyes and jaws.
i even tried vinux vertual in linux...
you clearly haven't used the latest lineup of mac computers. they still have CD drives, heck, full out DVD drives not that can burn and read almost any type of media. I've never had any problems with safari, in fact i kine of like it more over anything else i've used on the windows side. As for the mac not being portable, i think you're crazy. i can scoop up my macBook and walk out the door, no chance in the world i could do that with my windows laptop.
To rusty81: Good for you. Learning is always a good thing and I wish you luck on your adventure.
To rat: I never use dvds and hardly ever use cds, so tend to call the drives cd roms out of habbit. But, of course, you're right in that they play all that stuff. I like Safari when it actually gets it's act together and works. The Mac is certainly portable and thin but large. True, my IBM Thinkpad X32 is 12.1 inches, so near the same size, but it doesn't have a huge palm rest to take up space or a big mouse button/whatever that thing is to constantly get hit, and for some reason, it just seems alot more compact. But I was mostly referring to things like the netbooks. I had a blue Acer Aspire One that was 8.9 inches. I later learned that the quality was terrible but the Mac could never match it's size and lightness. That's portability!
its a bit unfair to compare a netbook to a full size laptop in terms of portability. If you want that kind of portability get a dell mini 9 and a copy of snow lepoard and build yourself a hackinTos. You may even be able to find them pre configured on ebay. the 13" macbook pros now have usb and firewire and a card reader i believe the audio jacks are standard headphones and microphones but could be wrong .. Did you turn on the quick nav functions in snow leopard? I hear its supposed to make using voice over and all that interacting stuff a little easier not sure how though asi i haven't messed with voice over since Panther or Tiger.
True, and if I were to ever consider getting another Mac, it would almost certainly be a Hackintosh. I didn't know that they now include card readers. That's cool, only I'm betting that they're probably only sd cards and not compact flash. Yes, the headphone and microphone jacks are standard. You can use a regular pair of headphones but not a regular microphone.
Okay so we've decided that one should probably have a Mac and a PC, but back to the question. No you can't do it without sighted help, but I wonder why your computer got in the state it is and even if it really needs reformating? Office Depot offers an inexspensive repair clinic. Maybe call them and take it over.
I don't think I'd want to use VoiceOver without a trackpad. Now they even sell the trackpad for the Mac Mini if you want. To me, it seems the VoiceOver reader is really designed for touch interfaces.
As to whether you'll be disappointed or not, that depends on the job you need to do with it. A home user? probably not. Have to plug it in someplace and use proprietary software at an office, Probably, but that's the Mac not their reader. And almost any PC hardware peripherals work on the mac now.
the original poster of the topic didn't specify a Mac...the exact title was, "how to reformat computer without sighted help"? so, the question still stands: does anyone know how to stay on topic and actually give her some answers?
Read posts 2 through 7. I believe they answer the question as well as can be expected. Yes, we got offtopic, but there really wasn't much to say after that point.
SD Cards are kind of the standard now and however you can get converters that convert some of the other card formats to sd cards so u can read them in an SD card reader. As for microphones if you are saying its non standard cuz it doens't have and xlr or 1/4 inch mic jack well no laptop does or desktop for that matter you usually have to buy an audio interface specifically for that. Last time i checked the macs had an 1/8" headphones and mic jack which is standard affair on both sides. And i am sorry for re hashing the religious wars between mac and pc, it wasn't my intention as i was simply pointing out that there wasn't a way to really format aPC withouth sighted assistance however it could be done on a mac.
Actually, I meant standard as in the size of the plug on a pair of headphones for a walkman. The only place where I've seen the large plugs on microphones is professional and on some home recording equipment, never computers. But on my Mac, a mic designed for a computer usually won't work unless it's Mac-compatible, which is why I couldn't use a standard headset but had to get a usb one.
I've got a ready made .nrg file of xp pro, with answer file built in to the cd immage. I know this particular immage of xp does in fact work, and is genuine, because it passes the genuine advantage tool that windows update installs. Get back to me privately, and I can tell more.
to tifanitza: i've come across different years of different macs. they all take 3.5MM jack (which is the most standard one for computers/notebooks/netbooks/and many portable devices). i've used standard normal earphones microphones, headphones, headsets never have problem using it on macs.
to original of this topic, i believe you can't do it without any sighted help, unless you can change your bios setting to boot from your optic drive, (CD/DVD/BlueRay drive) instead of local hard disk. and insert your window disk when you boot your computer.
hope this help
good luck
Hi,
Just like to say, that newer motherboards these days have the bios to automaticly boot from cd-rom first.
In most older bios, you can change the boot-order, and really changing it is not hard and doesn't take long.
To the original poster, if you have any proboems in applying what I said in my earlier post then post bakc if you have problems and we'll try and help.
Just to say, my first answer file which I followed was from a website which was deditcated to offering scripts for jaws as well as applications that are accessible with it.
If it totally cant be done as many of you suggest, then why did they put that kit specificly on a site like that?
Try people, and you'll get somewhere.
To post 26, No offence, but I hope you get banned for posting such information.
But then again, maybe you're good friends with people and might just not get what you deserve.
Regards,
I hope he doesn't get banned. He's offering help and that's a good thing. People need to lighten up, seriously.
how is that grounds to get banned? you can easily create that yourself if you have a windows key, no problems at all.
Hi,
If I were to tell ocean dream, anything about the windows genuine advantage I wouldn't tell her anything private on how to pass it as passing it means that we are using a genuine version of xp where we put in our valid product key in the answer file and the genuine advantage tool ensuring that our copy of windows is legal.
Why take things private is my question?
more so, why even worry about the windows genuine advantage at all? worrying about it simply says I have a copy of windows xp with a product key or way to ensure that windows genuine advantaged is passed.
Well, if he does, that's certainly a reason to go private and if not, perhaps he simply didn't want to go offtopic and the like.
Honestly, based on the way he wrote it, all you can doo is *assume* and make a *judgement call* based on what you worked threw. At this point, You can't prove he's talking about something against the law. And those discs are easy enough to create so in all honesty, he could be intending to tell them how. I think you were just a little quick to start acting like a pissy twat but hey, I'm just makeing a judgement call, right?
Honestly, people get worked up overthe oddest crap on here.
Hugs to you. Good points. Glad someone else has their thinking cap on.
Hi,
Let's see.
"At this point, You can't prove he's talking about something against the law."
Ok, so it all started out by wanting to format a pc without sighted assistance. From what the poster did it was clear that an unattended file was used.
My question, what corralation does an unattended file have with regard to windows genuine advantage?
Again, can someone please remind me what the sole purpose of windows genuine advantage is created for?
:And those discs are easy enough to create so in all honesty, he could be intending to tell them how."
From what I read in post one, she does understand how to create the answer file. The problem is she doesn't know how to get the cd to boot.
That said, if she did take a copy from him, she would still be in the same problem if she did not try the suggestions given to her. why tell her again how to do it?
More so, is creating an unattended file so confidential that it needs to be taken privately? what about sharing ideas and information? I don't think that she would be the only person who wishes to do such a thing. so are we saying that everyone who wishes to do something similar should contact him privately considering they come across this board?
"I think you were just a little quick to start acting like a pissy twat but hey, I'm just makeing a judgement call, right?"
Whilst I must say it is not for me to decide whether he should get banned or not I would like to appoligise for my statement.
But if you saw my post previously, why would one need to talk about windows genuine advantage if all you doing is just creating a simple answer file?
I wouldn't have bothered about whether he would have taken it privately or not but the fact that he mentions WGA at all says something.
My advice to anyone creating an answer file, if you have a legal copy of windows have no fear for the WGA, its just an update that gets installed like any other update and so you shouldn't even give a hoot about it.
Regards,
well yes if u have one one those preconfigured xp images with the answer file then you can do your own unattended install of windows xp, however this only works for xp as it became a little trickier to do with vista and windows 7 and requires a different method all together. That beeing said u still have to boot from the CD rom drive to make this work and most modern PC has a way to get to the one time boot menu, For example i know on Dells its holding down F12 when first turning on the PC. If you have someone sighted watch the first screens carefully when you turn on any modern pc it will tell you what to press to get to set up (aka the BIOS) and the one time boot menu or its equvalent.
Hi,
Ashley kox was kind enough to do an audio tutorial on how to create an answer or unattended file for windows 7. check:
this
page for the download.
Regards,
Thanks all for your help.
Ocean Dream did you reformat on your own. If you did I'd like to know how?
Sorry this page could not be found! Please click one of the following links to navigate to a website:
this is what I get if I click that link nitrogen.
Raaj.
Hey. You forgot that they thanked you for visiting no page whatsoever at the end.
hahahha.
Please post the correct link. or I think some tutorials may be available with blindcooltech.com
Raaj
Hi,
At the time I posted the link, it sure was working. But if you know the internet, issues can occur.
Links can be up at one given moment, and the next, go down without any notice.
I linked to the tutorial page at the time, as if memory serves me correctly, think there were some files one needed to get.
However, here's the
link
to the audio file itself.
Maybe you can write or contact him about files if necessary.
Regards,
Hey take it easy man. I was just telling it isn't working. (the goal was not served). that's it. and thanks for the newer link. I'm downloading it, now.
Raaj.
@39 perhaps the previous 38 posts might hav given you a bit of a clue?
Quick tip for booting from cd's:
Sometimes, the boot order may be set so that the harddrive will boot before the cd, which proves problematic for us since the harddrive is nearly always going to boot before are custom install disks.
Solutions:
1: Deleet the partitions on the drive; this works every time. This can be done with in windows by using a program called "hdd lolevel format tool"; run it, select the drive that your booting from at the moment, let it get to around 1% then restart. Or, if your into hardware, just slave / usb the drive in another computer and deleet the partition through disk management.
2: On a desktop, as a last resort:
Disconnect the sata / ide cable from the drive, leaving one end connected to the mobo; don't disconnect the power cable.
Power on the machine and do the usual process of hitting enter until you hear the optical drive booting. Once you're sure that the setups loding, plug the sata / ide cable into the drive. This sometimes works but not always. Ideaily, you should just try the first method.