Category: Geeks r Us
Hi. Today I installed Windows 7, and so far I like it. I've been using the search box a lot because I don't know where things are. The volume settings are pretty cool also. I know they are in Vista, but I went from XP to 7. I'm using Thunderbird for my mail program because it seems to work better than Windows Live mail, and it makes a sound when new messages arrive. For some reason, WLM said there was a sound, but it didn't work. Plus the program was a bit hard to use. I'm using Jaws 10, so that might have something to do with it, and a few other things I'm finding out. Anyways, here are some questions as I think of them.
1. How do you add icons to the desktop? I see where you can add things like computer, and network, but there doesn't seem to be a way of selecting them.
2. My start menu has disappeared. I have the search box and all programs, but everything else doesn't show anymore. I must've messed something up?
3. Ok, now after I rote that, my message sound in Thunderbird stopped working. Strange. Another thing is, jaws keeps saying x-western in the message body.
4. When I start up and shut down, my screen flashes 1 or 2 times, and it takes it's time with logging in. Is that something with my computer. It started that last week.
I'll post more questions when I think of them.
I can answer your desktop question, I think. They try to discourage you from posting things to the desktop in 7, because they want you to use the taskbar instead. If you've ever used a Mac, the taskbar functions just like the Dock, and you can focus on it by pressing windows-T, and then use your arrows to select what you want, and press spacebar to launch it. You can also use your windows key in conjunction with the numbers, and launch aps that way. For instance, if Internet Explorer's your first ap on the taskbar, you would press win-1, and Explorer will launch.
Having said that, to add a program to the taskbar, focus on that program, right-click or press your applications key, and arrow down to "pin to taskbar".
1. How do you add icons to the desktop? I see where you can add things like computer, and network, but there doesn't seem to be a way of selecting them.
If you mean adding programs to yur desktop, go into your start menu, find the program, and press your applications key. Go down to send to, and press desktop create shortcut.
2. My start menu has disappeared. I have the search box and all programs, but everything else doesn't show anymore. I must've messed something up?
No, did you run CCleaner, or delete everything in your start menu? Did you go into taskbar and start menu properties and clear your programs list? Either way, you can fix this problem, by finding the programs that you want in your start menu, pressing your applications key, and clicking on pin to start menu.
3. Ok, now after I rote that, my message sound in Thunderbird stopped working. Strange. Another thing is, jaws keeps saying x-western in the message body.
This is the way that the message was written in. You don't have to worry about it. For instance, when I get messages from facebook or youtube, it will say x-unicode, or sometimes if I get a message from one of my email lists it will say Arabic. Its just the language that the message was written in. As for you sound, you might just have not gotten any new messages yet.
4. When I start up and shut down, my screen flashes 1 or 2 times, and it takes it's time with logging in. Is that something with my computer.
Do you have jaws set to start up when your computer starts up? Do you have it set to start at the log on prompt? My monitor will flash when I start up jaws. I don't have it set to start at log on though, but I don't think that it flashes if you have it set their.
Actually, The x western is a language detect that happens in TB for really no known reason. It doesn't really have much to do with mark up and it appears no where on the screen visually.
If you press insert v for verbosity while in a message and down arrow to language detect, and space bar to turn it off, it'll no longer report this. The draw back is, jaws will not switch language on the fly in TB, but if you don't really need this functionality, it'll get rid of the extra chatter.
Thanks for all your help!
I must've cleared out my start menu, so I'll put everything back.
I think it's because the Thunderbird sound is almost like some of the windows system sounds. I'm not used to them yet.
My screen flashed before I installed Jaws. I do have it start up at the log in screen though.
Ok, I hope I'm not being really annoying because I have more questions
1. What is the My Stationery folder in the documents folder. Can I delete it, or is there some program that relies on it?
2. I'm having a bit of trouble saving files to the location I want. I want to save to the desktop, and I select it, but it still goes into the default location, wherever that is.
3. I was pleasantly surprised that there was a generic sound driver with Windows 7. Can I use it for playback, and record using the driver I installed? I'm thinking of getting a USB sound device because my sound card sounds bad. It's an older one because the newer one made jaws crackle.
4. What are some settings that I can change? View settings, etc. So far, I disabled all the visual effects.
5. Can you get Jaws 10 to stop saying not selected in a folder?
6. Last one for now. Kind of related to the last one, when using the links list in crash explorer or firefox jaws says not selected, and I have to hit space a couple of times to select the link. Is that fixed in 11? Are most of the above jaws issues fixed in 11?
I can't answer all of them, but heres what I have.
2. I'm having a bit of trouble saving files to the location I want. I want to save to the desktop, and I select it, but it still goes into the default
location, wherever that is.
When you save something, you need to do the following.
When in the save as dialogue, shift tab until you hear jaws say treview or my documents. Then press your home key. It should then say desktop. This is your save in combo box in XP except they made it a treview now. When its on desktop, press enter, then press the save button.
6. Last one for now. Kind of related to the last one, when using the links list in crash explorer or firefox jaws says not selected, and I have to hit
space a couple of times to select the link. Is that fixed in 11? Are most of the above jaws issues fixed in 11?
Yes, most, if not all, of the problems are fixed in 11.0.746. I was one of the people who worked with the installation people at FS when I was having locking code issues to help fix them up.
Whoops, missed these.
1. What is the My Stationery folder in the documents folder. Can I delete it, or is there some program that relies on it?
Yes, any folder that you see in their you can delete. If a program needs it, it will just recreate it if needed. If it came with your installation of 7, chances are that nothing needs it though.
4. What are some settings that I can change? View settings, etc. So far, I disabled all the visual effects.
Have you gone into services.msc and stopped and disabled some services? Hvae you gone into msconfig and unchecked programs that you don't want starting at startup? I usualy disable themes in services for visual effects, as well as several others.
Wow. I am so computer illiterate. I don't even know what half of the stuff in msconfig and services are. There are some new things that XP didn't have. Is there a place where there are information?
Jaws is not reading my battery status. Come on state services. Give me my SMA.
I believe this might help you a great deal with understand 7. All the controls you were use to using with Vista, or even XP are mostly the same with 7. Try all you knew before. Now 7 is forgiving, in that if you mess something up simply go to accessories, system tools, the system restore. The check box checked in will be the last thing you did, so restore it and all returns. This is accessible. Last 7 is no different, so don't be so afraid of it. It's really forgiving. Use it like you own it. Smile.
Search the services that you don't understand on google. I know that spike gave me a website where he found a bunch of services that could be stopped and siabled and it would help out your cmputer. I'll ask him if he can come on here and post it.
Thanks.
I disabled a few things, and I think that messed up jaws. Now I'm getting the famous mirror display driver message, and it's telling me to activate otherwise it will run in 40 minute mode. I reenabled everything except the stuff ITunes put there, and that didn't fix it.
Apple mobile device
bonsure service (sorry about the spelling)
bluetooth support service
ipod service
adaptive brightness
windows biometric
windows media player network sharing
I can't imagine any of these being the cause.
Hi,
Here's the link for Windows 7 Services configuration. http://www.blackviper.com/Windows_7/servicecfg.htm
Be careful with what you disable, because as you've noticed, it has some side effects. Write down what you disable or set to manual. If something goes wrong, you can reenable the services 1 by 1 until the problem is fixed. Same for msconfig, write down what you uncheck in the startup tab for the same reason. Unless you have done it more than once and have memorized what to disable and what to leave alone for your particular system without any adverse side effects.
Awesome! Thanks for the site.
I guess I wont mess with system settings until I figure out htis mirror display thing. I repaired jaws, then completely reinstalled, and the driver is still missing. Oh yeah, and I uninstalled the mirror driver before the repair and reinstall hopping that it will be part of the instilation. What a mess.
if the mirror driver is still missing, go to programs and features, and remove the freedom scientific video intercept. Before restarting go up to the fs web site, and grab the latest video intercept. It'll be listed under downloads, jaws screenreader jaws 11.0 thumb driver version. Even though you are using 10 go ahead an install the latest intercept tool, this way you have the latest shared components. after you save the file reboot and run the fs video intercept what ever bit for your OS. this should square the mirror driver error.
I found that simply installing version 0746 fixes the niro driver and or the video intersept issue. These are basicly the same thing. I caused mine to get messed up by installing a music program that is not compatible with 7. Remember if you goof simply use the system restore feature to fix all your fixes. Smile. I personal find I don't need to disable any services on the machine I run 7 on to improve performance. This may be due to processor power and memory speed on this machine, but it is smoother then it was when I ran XP, so I've not disabled anything, but I understand why it might be useful. There is a program that will give you help also with these running services and such.
Oh and buy the way system restore can be moved back befor the recommended restore points as well, so you if you haven't had 7 installed over 28 days could restore it back to when you installed it. You can go back 28 days. That works if you have not removed restore points however. There is a feature that will allow you do remove them. I'll fine the program and post it, and I believe there is a price fore it. I have not had to use it, but did creat the nero issue by installing uncompatible stuff, and *sigh* I just wanted to play some tune on my cell phone. Lol. I have to use my Vista machine for this at the minute, so all good.
hmm, there's a new search board box in the boards now! O.O !
But ok, I came here to comment on a few things :)
I've never found a use for the my stationaries folder, so yeah, I believe it's ok to delete :)
Hmm. System restore can and will solve most problems :) I've used sometimes, but I turn it off because of the wapping disk space it can consume - any file you delete (even if perminantly delete) System restore cashes it in a restore point. I suppose that is useful when you accidentally delete a file, though. It really is a matter of preference if you wish to keep system restore on or off.
Regarding the mirror drivers, you would probably be better off updating them through the site posted above. I know that if you uninstalled them + JAWS, then reinstalled JAWS 10, you will have the problem haunting you again after your second restart. So yeah, just download the 32 or 64 bit version on the FS thumb drive page. Most likely, you will have a 32-bit version of Windows 7. :)
I hope that helps :)
-Tomi
It's a bit of a pain to go through the whole driver issue so I'll make sure I have enough time if I ever want to change anything.
I discovered the ready boost feature where you can increase ram by plugging in a flash drive, but I haven't noticed much difference. I'm using a 4 gb sandisk.
More annoying things have popped up in the last few days.
1. I'm trying to install the jaws 11 demo, and it gets stuck at 58%. this happened with 10, but only once. 11 wont install at all.
2. I can't get the calculator to work. I enter 2+2. It says equals not found, and same for clear. Are there different commands?
3. When windows explorer crashes, it takes a while to get it somewhat working before it crashes again. Finally I did a system restore, because it may had something to do with one of the zillions of Windows updates I've been getting.
4. I like to be able to pin the library to the taskbar. Is there a way to? Is there a limit to the number of items in the taskbar? I heard that you should be able to launch a program using windows + 1-9, but that conflicts with jaws shortcuts for Windows Live messenger.
5. The blinking screen thing is still bugging me. It does it when jaws is started, and when I exit it. Before it only blinked when starting up/exiting windows. Sometimes there's writing that I think is UAC, and jaws can't read it.
6. I have to reconnect to my wi-fi network every time I turn on my computer. I have it set to connect when it's in range, but it doesn't do that. My computer is a jerk sometimes.
7. Why does a command prompt window show up when installing something?
8. Something really cool, or maybe not depends on what needs to be running, is that there are only 20 processes running when I got to task manager. It used to be 50.
I think you have messed up period. Seems time to get out the Windows 7 disc and repair it. After you repair it be more careful. You have made many changes I did not expect when I suggested "use it like you own it." Do not take offence, but you'll need to take it slow with changes, because you are not up to task on the computer tech stuff, and if you need it to work correctly you'll have to do some reading and learning, or make one change or 2 at a time so you can remember what you've done to repair it if it's not working. It was suggested here that you write your changes down. When I suggested use it like you own it I meant only the things you normally use, and the controls, or keystrokes are pretty much the same, but all these changes, and some I think unnecessary, is why you have your issues. Get the Windows fixed, then learn what you are doing before you make drastic changes.
Peace.
Also calculator and the windows 1 through 9 were new scripts for j11. If your jaws is hanging at 60% do some alt tabbing and make sure you're not getting hung up on the driver signing message from microsoft. Also, if you have UAC turned on, try turning it off until jaws is installed and then reenable.
1. I'm trying to install the jaws 11 demo, and it gets stuck at 58%. this happened with 10, but only once. 11 wont install at all.
Most likely its the driver thing issue. Alt+tab around and you'll hit a dialogue saying windows driver something and press alt+I.
5. The blinking screen thing is still bugging me. It does it when jaws is started, and when I exit it. Before it only blinked when starting up/exiting
windows. Sometimes there's writing that I think is UAC, and jaws can't read it.
The jaws issue happens with me too, don't worry about it. You'll know if its UAC because windows will make a sound, and everything around the UAC dialogue box will go dim. Why don't you just turn it off? its pointless anyway. Its under control pannel>user accounts. Put the slider at 0.
I think you have messed up period. Seems time to get out the Windows 7 disc and repair it. After you repair it be more careful. You have made many changes
I did not expect when I suggested "use it like you own it." Do not take offence, but you'll need to take it slow with changes, because you are not up to
task on the computer tech stuff, and if you need it to work correctly you'll have to do some reading and learning, or make one change or 2 at a time so
you can remember what you've done to repair it if it's not working.
I think she's doing fine, these aren't major things that she is messing with. Maybe she wants to learn about this kind of stuff so she doesn't have to keep reparing her installation every damn few days because she changed one thing. You don't need to use the repair disk, you are fine. Everything that you've done is correct.
I'm conservitive when it comes to changes. I find this practice is good for me as a blind user, so that is why I suggest going back to square. If she gets back to square then makes her changes she'll know exactly what works, and what doesn't and trouble shooting is easier instead of so many issues at once.
Because I agree that she'll not want to be getting her windows disc out every few days, not using restore all the time. To much work. Smile.
Peace.
That's a bummer about the calculator. It would be nice to find a way to use the calculator files from jaws 11 in 10. I could possibly try to do my work in 40 minutes, but not gonna happen.
I did find the driver signing dialog box. I have UAC on 33 percent because I heard it can be useful in some cases, but it is a personal preference.
i'm glad I'm not the only one with the blinking screen. I guess that's what it does when it loads the driver for Jaws.
I'll be connected to another wireless network over the weekend, so I'll find out if it's my computer, or the network. Nobody else in my house is having the same issue.
My deceptive task manager shows 18-23 processes but there are really 50. I found out by virtualizing jaws. Oh never mind. I got it to show all of them. I could delete this part but...oh well. :)
I undid all except some of the itunes related stuff from post 11. Oh and the windows media sharing thing. I'm not sharing anything so why have it running?
Take the fun out of messing with sstuff? Nah. That's how you learn. :) don't worry, I do pay attention to what I change. I pretty much got everything set for now.
I burned my windows instalation to a DVD. It was so easy. I had a .exe file, and an immage file. just click on the immage file and there it goes. Uh wow. Over 140 views? I'm done babbling for now.
Kick it! Girl! Burning that image. I did the same, but haven't had to use it yet. *cross fingers* Smile. No I don't suggest you stop messing with things, but as you said pay attenchen to what your messing with. Lol.
I'll stick my neck out on the Windows media thing as you call it. *smile* Okay first I say read about all the features, and what Windows Media can do for you. It is fabulous in Windows 7, in my opinion. In media player there is a button called play to. That button if you have devices connected via Windows media will send say a play list, a movie, songs, games you name it to that device, say your home entertainment center in the basement, or to another computer, music system in another room, so that is why the sharing thing runs just incase you want to send it, so to speak. So maybe you not sharing now, but Windows is ready. *smile. Devices, such as televisions, Blue Ray players, AV amps,speaker systems designed for the house, and you name it are now or have been for a time, having this connection feature built righ in. You can even devide the strems, say music to this device, video to that device, so you have one computer that is the main source of your media pleasure. Get a TB drive, so ram, maybe 8 GB on a 64 bit system, some heavy processor power, and you can be media queen or your empire. Sure there is more to it, and their are articles, so.
Peace.