Category: Geeks r Us
Hi all,
So, Windows 10 has been out for a while, and my Windows 7 machine
keeps pestering me to upgrade to it. I'm not so concernned about the
learning curve. I learned much of 8.1 without too much trouble after
transferring from XP. But is it worth it? I have partial vision, and I use
JAWS and Magic on a regular basis. I used to use NVDA, but my last 2
computers, one running 7, and one, 8.1, don't seem to work with NVDA
much, and I can't figure out why. I didn’t like 8.1 because it tried to be a
tablet, but I’ve heard 10 has brought the good parts of 7 and 8 together.
My biggest concerns are program compatibility, and especially accessibility
with current access tech. For the record, I’m using JAWS 16, but have an
SMA for 17. Please, share your Windows 10 woes and wonderments with
me. One thing. I really liked windows 8.1’s built in reformatting capabilities.
That alone almost makes me want to upgrade to 10, if 10 has it.
You do need JAWS 17 if you're going to upgrade. Any lower versions are no longer compatible. That said, I tested JAWS on my current Windows 10 setup, and I found that NVDA outperformed it by far. With JAWS, there was a noticeable lag in the start menu, and a bit more lag in Explorer than there is in NVDA. It also doesn't do as well with reading the new toast notifications. now, i'm not saying that NVDA is perfect, it has this annoying bug where sometimes menus refuse to become focused when you click on an item in the system tray, and it sometimes crashes for no apparent reason, although this was fixed for the most part in the latest version.
If you're used to the way JAWS runs, I don't see why you'd have a problem with it. I can't really help with the low vision aspects of your question, perhaps someone else can chime in about that.
As for actual performance improvements and so on, this is a highly debated topic. In my case, I did notice faster boot times, and better responsiveness of programs in general. It's true that some programs are no longer compatible with 10, but I've found that they're few and far between, and unless something that you absolutely rely on isn't compatible, I'd say it's safe to upgrade. There are, of course, privacy concerns as well, and while I think they're legitimate, you can minimize the data collection that 10 performs.
It's up to you, basically. Some people will probably say that their experience with upgrading has been horrible, and to run far, far away, while others will rave about the desktop/tablet hybrid combo as if it's the best thing since sliced bread. me, I tend to fall somewhere in the middle.
I also tend to avoid some of the new innovations, like built-in apps (in fact, i've uninstalled pretty much all of them), so I can't speak to how accessible any of that stuff is.
I use it on my desktop, but I eventually turned Cortana off. She would interrupt during my Skype calls and search for the darndest things. The idea of the total reset option is a nice one, though I've never actually had to use it. I upgraded totally without sight.
I have windows 7 as well, but I haven't upgraded yet.. I need to upgrade to JAWS 17. I currently have 16. If I upgrade though, will I lose all my stuff on my computer? Should I back things up, or will it keep all the information?
I’ll agree with post 2 that I’m in the middle.
Where I have no lag or anything, I have learned the reason why others might.
Jaws and the latest magic are totally compatible, and the late version of Jaws has fixed some issues.
If I were upgrading, I’d install it clean. You are offered an option to keep your programs, apps, or ditch everything.
I have done it both ways, and I find ditching everything yielded the best and smoothest results.
If you need programs/documents, or what have you, save them someplace and you can always put it back.
It does work well even if you opt to keep everything, but I have found others have more problems when they do.
Being you are coming from Windows 7, you might experience this.
The problems are minor, but might be a pain depending on how you feel about it, and if you’re willing, or able to fix them.
From a visual stand point, you’ll find things in different places, but it isn’t all that major.
So, saying all this, upgrade, but for best results, do it clean as Microsoft would, then add things you need.
Remember, and this is true were you live too.
You can go back if you hate it if you do it soon.
Microsoft will support you totally.
You can take your machine to a Microsoft store, or get phone support and they’ll fix it for you if you run in to problems.
I've updated without problems, though I'm not particularly wowed by Windows
10. JAWS 16 was updated to work with Windows 10 prior to the release of
JAWS17, but I don't know if subsequent Windows 10 updates mean you need 17
for best results. Depending on whether you use a desktop Twitter client, you
may find that some of your global hotkeys have either changed in the case of
Chicken Nugget, or will no longer work in the case of the Qube.
As other users have said, JAWS 16 works with windows 10 as well, not just JAWS 17. Now, JAWS 17 works better, but it's not accurate to say that JAWS 16 doesn't work at all with windows 10.
As I've said on a previous post in another topic, any lag that you might be experiencing might be either your computer's fault or the fact that you upgraded without doing a clean install. I have no lag on any of my machines while running JAWS with windows 10 whatsoever in any of the menus.
Now, as to the all-important question of whether or not you should upgrade, I say definitely. It is a very good version of windows. It has a lot that needs to be worked out for sure, but aside from the lack of accessibility in the Microsoft app store (which I never use), as well as the inaccessibility of edge (again which I never use anyway) the operating system is pretty smooth for the most part.
Oops, that was my fault. The latest build of Jaws 16 does indeed work with Windows 10. I had forgotten about that, because I use NVDA exclusively, except for when I installed JAWS 17 alongside it for testing purposes.
Sure, but when telling people to upgrade, if you say Jaws 16 and they don't get the best results, it is a "Windows 10 issue" and it sucks.
So, Jaws 17 latest version please.
Laughing.
Well, upgrading to 17 won't be a problem. I simply haven't done so yet,.
That's good to know about the clean installation though. I would not have
done that normally.
I use windows 10 in VMware fusion on my mac, and have no lags at all, use NVDA as well.
I have a del running win10 and no lag what so ever. Running win10 and jaws 17.
I forgot to add the latest NVDA is good as well.
Get the latest screen readers, and you do well.
I just upgraded, but I can't access the start menu. When I hit the start button, it just says start, and the arrows do nothing.. Anyone know why this is happening?
Couple things.
The computers in tablet view, or if not it needs resetting.
The way I've fixed that issue was to reinstall the screen reader fresh, or just Windows.
Reinstalling Windows clean is the fastest way in my experience to fix this.
You are able to use the computer just fine, but not get to the start.
Reinstaling Windows is as simple as redownloading it, or under backup if you can get to that.
If you have sighted help, maybe they can set it so it is in desktop view.
Also, I'd be highly interested if someone has a different fix.
Is there a way I can go back to windows 7? lol I thought about it, and I think I want to. The start menu works with NVDA, but not JAWS. So, I think I do need JAWS 17.
Try a clean reinstall of JAWS 16 before you switch back to windows 7 and see if that works. By a clean install, I mean download the latest version from freedomscientific and install that rather than using your installation DVD or CD.
I agree with that. The latest version of 16 should work your start.
It will have a couple things lacking, but not much.
You can go back depending on how long you've had 10 installed easy.
Past that time you can still go back, but you'll need to reinstall 7 completely.
Also remove Jaws before you install it again completely.
See if these links work.
Going back to Windows 7 or Windows 8.1
If it’s been less than a month since you upgraded to Windows 10, you can go back to your previous version of Windows by going to Settings > Update & security > Recovery and selecting either Go back to Windows 7 or Go back to Windows 8.1. This won't affect your personal files, but it will remove any apps you installed after the upgrade to Windows 10. Learn more.
If it’s been more than a month, this option won’t be available in Settings and you’ll need to use a different recovery option.
No they didn't.
Go to this page.
This isn't a link so copy it.
http://windows.microsoft.com/en-us/windows-10/windows-10-recovery-options
seven will be supported until 2020, so I'm keeping it until then. Just got it less than two years ago.