hello,
the following is from blind-l, originating from artic tech support. the
lockup problem would seem to be of concern to any brand of screen reader
using a serial port. yet another example of microsoft's "concern" with
the disability community. as noted below, microsoft will not allow the
free distribution of the file needed to fix the problem, putting the
responsibility on the blind user to scrounge up the file on their own.
here is the message:
SUBJECT: Windows 95 Version "B" Screen Reader Lockups
Recently we have discovered that Windows 95 version "B" will
lock up when exiting an MS-DOS box which has a serial speech
synthesizer, screen Access program running in it. This is
especially so when a screen Access program for Windows 95 is
concurrently being used with the same speech synthesizer. The
problem does not occur with the original Windows 95 version "A".
The reason for this is that the software which handles
serial
port contention under Windows 95 version "B" appears to have a
problem within the code. With input from Microsoft's
Programmers,
our engineers found that a file called "VCD.VXD" taken from an
original Windows 95 version "A" distribution, and placed in
Windows
95 Version "B"'s "\WINDOWS\SYSTEM\VMM32" directory, will correct
this problem.
Below are step by step directions which you can follow to
correct this problem. Again, please keep in mind that you will
not experience this problem with the original WinDows 95 version
"A" installation.
If you have installed Windows 95 Version "B" in to a
directory
other than "C:\WINDOWS" you may have to modify some of the
examples
noted below so that they will work with your computer system.
Do to MicroSoft's Licensing agreements, we here at Artic
Technologies can not legally distribute the "VCD.VXD" file
separately
from the Windows 95 Version "A" distribution. It is up to you to
locate an original Windows 95 Version "A" CD or diskettes before
continuing with the steps noted below. We recommend contacting
your
local computer store or MicroSoft for assistants in obtaining an
original Windows 95 "A" version.
1. How do I know which version of Windows 95 is installed on my
computer? The following steps will help you discover which
version of Windows 95 is installed on your system.
A. From the Windows 95 "Desk Top" press (control escape).
This will bring up the Windows 95 start menu.
B. Now press the letter "S" to go to the "Settings" menu.
C. From the "Settings" menu type the letter "C" to access the
"Control Panel".
D. From the "Control Panel" press the letter "S" several Times
until you reach the "System" option.
Now press (enter) on "System".
E. Once you have pressed (enter) on the "System" option, a
screen
will pop up. Look on the screen for the following
information
as shown below. If you do not see the letter "B" as
apart of the message below, you do not need to continue
reading this reference document as this document covers
problems with the B version of Windows 95 and external
speech
synthesizers.
System:
Microsoft Windows 95
4.00.950B
F. Now to exit this screen, press your (tab) key one or more
times until you reach the "OK prompt and press enter. You
should be back at the "System" option in the "Control
Panel".
G. Finally, Press the ALT F4) key.
This should return you back to the Windows 95 "Desk Top".
2. Changes made to Windows 95 Version "B".
Below are the changes which you need to make to Windows 95
version "B". Read carefully through each step before
proceeding.
A. Locate a Windows 95 version "a" CD diskette and insert it in
to your CD-ROM Drive.
If you have instead, the Windows 95 Version "A" on diskette,
insert the diskette number "4" with the file called
"WIN95_04.CAB" in to your "A:" or "B" floppy drive.
B. Shut down Windows 95 and Re-start in MS-DOS before making
any
of the changes noted below. This is accomplished with the
following steps:
#1 From within Windows 95, hold down the (Control) key and
press
the (Escape) key. This will bring up the START menu.
#2 Type the letter "U". This will bring up the Windows 95 Shut
Down Menu.
#3 At this point, press the letter "M" and then press (enter).
The computer will re-boot to an MS-DOS prompt.
#4 From your "C:\WINDOWS " prompt, type:
CD\ (enter)
This will place you at the MS-DOS "C:\ >" root directory
prompt.
If you plan to run an MS-DOS screen access program such as
Business vision from Artic Technologies, and/or an MS-DOS Screen
Enlargement program such as Magnum GT/Deluxe, do it at this time.
C. At this point it is time to extract the "VCD.VXD" file from
the specific Windows 95 Version "A" cabinet file and place
it
in to the "\WINDOWS\SYSTEM\VMM32" directory. This is
accomplished by typing one of the following three commands
depending on media storage type:
#1 Example for extracting the "VCD.VXD" file from the
"WV95_04.CAB" file, found on Floppy Disk drive "A:".
EXTRACT /L C:\WINDOWS\SYSTEM\VMM32 A:\WIN95_04.CAB VCD.VXD
(then press enter)
#2 Example for extracting the "VCD.VXD" file from the
"WV95_04.CAB" file, found on Floppy Disk drive "B:".
EXTRACT /L C:\WINDOWS\SYSTEM\VMM32 B:\WIN95_04.CAB VCD.VXD
(then press enter)
#3 Example for extracting the "VCD.VXD" file from the
"WV95_03.CAB" file, found on CD-ROM drive "D:".
EXTRACT /L C:\WINDOWS\SYSTEM\VMM32 D:\WIN95\WIN95_03.CAB VCD.VXD
(then press (enter)
D. Once the file has been extracted, verify that the "VCD.VXD"
file has been placed in the correct directory. This is
accomplish by typing the following MS-DOS command:
DIR C:\WINDOWS\SYSTEM\VMM32\VCD.VXD
(then press enter)
If you are unable to locate this file, check the specific
command which you use to extract the file. Make any changes
to correct for drive and directory location.
E. Depending upon which serial communication port the speech
synthesizer is connected to, you need to add one of the
following lines to the "[386ENH]" section of the Windows
"SYSTEM.INI" file.
#1 For a serial speech synthesizer on "COM1:" add:
Com1AutoAssign=0
#2 For a serial speech synthesizer on "COM2:" add:
Com2AutoAssign=0
#3 For a serial speech synthesizer on "COM3:" add:
Com3AutoAssign=0
#4 For a serial speech synthesizer on "COM4:" add:
Com4AutoAssign=0
F. Now re-start Windows 95 by typing the following:
C: (enter)
CD\WINDOWS (enter)
EXIT (enter)
You will exit MS-DOs and return to Windows 95.
G. Now Shut down Windows 95 and turn off your computer. This
is
accomplished through the following steps:
#1 From within Windows 95, hold down the (Control) key and
press
the (Escape) key. This will bring up the START menu.
#2 Type the letter "U". This will bring up the Windows 95
Shut Down Menu. Press Enter to Shut Down Windows 95.
#3 Once there is no more hard drive activity, turn off your
computer.
The next time the computer is turned on, these changes will
take affect.
For your knowledge, Artic Technologies has developed
WinVision
95. It is a screen access system with speech synthesizer and
braille display support for Windows 95.
Also, Artic Technologies has developed and released Magnum
Deluxe 95. It is a screen Enlargement system for individuals
with
impaired vision who needs screen enhancement under Windows 95.
Telephone Artic Technologies at: (248) 588-7370 for Product
information, pricing and/or to order.
Remember, if you have installed Windows 95 Version "B" in to
a directory other than "C:\WINDOWS" you may have to modify some
of
the examples noted above so that they will work with your
computer
system.
Again, do to MicroSoft's Licensing agreements, we here at
Artic Technologies can not legally distribute the "VCD.VXD" file
separately from Windows 95 Version "A" distribution. It is up to
you to locate an original Windows 95 Version "A" CD or diskettes
before continuing with the steps noted above. We recommend
contacting your local computer store or MicroSoft for assistants
in
obtaining an original Windows 95 "A" version.
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Remember, all Trade Marks and/or Product Names are the legal
property of their respective companies.
Artic Technologies welcomes you to use the above
information,
but cautions that you do so at your own risk. Even though these
steps have been thoroughly tested, we cannot guarantee that they
will work in your specific computer environment.
This is an Artic Technologies Help Center reference
document.
You may share it freely with anyone as long as the document
remains
intact and complete, the information is not modified and no
charges
are levied for it.
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