Dear Simon, If you hear no sound when pressing fn+f6, that is consistent with your keyboard setup. My first set of instructions assumed that you had the standard default keyboard settings, and that you needed to press FN+F5 to start VoiceOver. If you have checked the box to use the software setting for the function keys when they are pressed, then you should hear no boing sound when pressing FN+F6 --- you'll only hear this when you press F6.
So let us assume that your keyboard is set up as you left it before the Leopard install, and that your VoiceOver will work, if only we find the sequence to start it up. I'm sorry about sending you to check the F6 num lock setting, but when you are using the default setting for function keys, that is the likeliest source of problems. As I mentioned before, in general the likeliest reasons for not hearing the VoiceOver prompt, if VoiceOver has been turned off and you have done some system work are: 1. The keyboard has the num lock setting turned on (this is a toggle setting done with the F6 key -- or in your case, with the FN+F6 key). When num lock is on, the righthand keyboard keys of a laptop can be used like a number pad for entry, and the keys on the left, including the command key you press for starting VoiceOver, do not generate the expected signals. 2. Volume (hardware) of the computer is turned down too low to hear the VoiceOver startup or prompts. 3. Volume (software) of the default VoiceOver voice is set too low to hear the VoiceOver startup or prompts. Volume up is controlled for the macbook hardware setting with the F5 key (or, if you've swapped hardware and software functions for the function keys, with the FN+F5 key). On the VoiceOver voice, you can adjust rate, pitch, and volume with the keyboard. David's suggestion was that we also try to adjust these volumes to hear whether VoiceOver has started correctly. Finally, it is possible, although far less likely, that one of your preference files has been corrupted. If the file under your account name in Library/Preferences/com.apple.systempreferences.plist has been corrupted, it is possible that your sound volume has stopped working. The solution then would be (for someone else) to delete this file. You would then be able to start up your system again with the default values. (Perhaps with the default keyboard Function key behavior, too). I think we can just try to work through combinations of efforts based on the above hypotheses. Option 3, trying to set the temporary VoiceOver volume up, can be a little tricky, as David says, because your starting adjustment (rate, pitch, or volume) will depend on what was last adjusted. So you might have to cycle through all combinations in using Control-Option-Command-Right Arrow to go to (rate, pitch, volume) without know which of these you are set at, and then try to press Command-Up Arrow to increase the value. This could leave you with a very high ptich, very fast, and very loud voice when it comes on (smile). Does this make sense? We can guide you through a sequence of checks. Cheers, Esther On Dec 13, 2007, at 12:22AM, Simon Cavendish wrote: >Dear Esther, > >I hear no boing sound when pressing fn+f6. The only fundction keys that >produce a sound is f9 f10 and f11 without pressing the fn key and f11 will >produce a boing sound with or without pressing the fn key. > >I've tried starting vo presentation by presssing control+option+shift f8 but >that hasn't started anything either. I've tried messing about with the >control+option+command left/right arrow and then arrow up but to no avail. > >I still haven't been able to find anybody who could look at the screen for >me. A friend promised he might be able to call later on this afternoon if I >haven't resolved the issue. I'm sorry to be such a bore. I've been using >computers for over 10 years, and here I am feeling like a silly child. Bear >with me, guys. > >Simon >----- Original Message ----- >From: "Esther" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> >To: "General discussions on all topics relating to the use of Mac OS X by >theblind" <[email protected]> >Sent: Thursday, December 13, 2007 1:07 AM >Subject: Re: SOS: can't get mu VO to work after upgrading to Leopard > > >> Dear Simon, >> >> Let's assume that you have a working VoiceOver installation, and >> that your Function keys are turned on to use software function instead >> of hardware function. If your volume is turned up (from pressing >> FN + F5) then when you press F6 you should hear a kind >> of "boing" sound (I think they call it "funk"). Press FN+F6 once. >> You should not hear any sounds at all. Now try pressing Command >> and F5. Does VoiceOver come on? If not, press FN+F6 a second >> time and try Command + F5 again. >> >> The "funk" sound occurs whether or not you have VoiceOver running. >> Please believe that it is unlikely you could have done anything to >> the VoiceOver installation. It's just a question of getting it properly >> started. And nothing that you've done isn't something someone >> else hasn't already had problems with already. >> >> Cheers, >> >> Esther >> >> On Wednesday, December 12, 2007, at 02:31PM, "Richie Gardenhire" >> <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: >>>The one thing I learned from that experience, to try those steps >>>Esther outlined; Leopard has audible cues that will indicate when >>>VoiceOver is turned on, given all things have been tried. Thanks >>>again, Esther. Richie Gardenhire, Anchorage, Alaska. >>>On Dec 12, 2007, at 3:18 PM, Esther wrote: >>> >>>> Dear Simon, >>>> >>>> Is it possible that you pressed FN+num lock by mistake? The most >>>> likely things are: (1) you don't have the volume up high enough to >>>> hear the VoiceOver voice or (2) you accidentally managed to >>>> press the num lock (F6) key so that your keyboard is not sending >>>> the characters you expect. (Item 2 happened to Richie Gardenhire, >>>> and is a particular problem to be aware of if you press keys while >>>> VoiceOver is not running). >>>> >>>> If you switched hardware and software functions for the Function >>>> keys. I think you need to press FN+F6 to toggle the num lock. >>>> >>>> I'm sure there is no problem with your VoiceOver install. I think >>>> it is one of the two problems I mentioned above. Make sure you >>>> (now) use FN+F5 to put your MacBook at maximum speaker >>>> volume before you try anything else. >>>> >>>> Cheers, >>>> >>>> Esther >>>> >>>> >>>> On Dec 12, 2007, at 02:10PM, Simon Cavendish wrote: >>>>> Dear Esther, >>>>> >>>>> Tried it all to no avail. Before installing Leopard, I had changed >>>>> the >>>>> keyboard setting to desktop to avoid having to press the FN key all >>>>> the >>>>> time, and that setting seems to have been kept by leopard. I know >>>>> that >>>>> because when I press FN with the functions keys, I hear various >>>>> funny noises >>>>> which I recgonise as changing volume or brightness. I've tried >>>>> hitting the >>>>> f6 key but I don't know now whether it's on or off. I've tried >>>>> various >>>>> combinations and VO is still silent. Does it sound serious to you? >>>>> >>>>> Simon >>>>> ----- Original Message ----- >>>>> From: "Esther" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> >>>>> To: "General discussions on all topics relating to the use of Mac >>>>> OS X by >>>>> theblind" <[email protected]> >>>>> Sent: Wednesday, December 12, 2007 11:54 PM >>>>> Subject: Re: SOS: can't get mu VO to work after upgrading to Leopard >>>>> >>>>> >>>>>> Hi Simon, >>>>>> >>>>>> Remember that on a Macbook you need to hold down the FN key as >>>>>> well as >>>>>> the Command and F5 keys to get VoiceOver to start up. You may >>>>>> also want >>>>>> to hold down the F5 key on the Macbook for a while before turning on >>>>>> VoiceOver, since I think it's the hardware Volume up key on the >>>>>> Macbook. >>>>>> (The top row should be Escape, F1, F2, F3, F4, F5. ) >>>>>> >>>>>> The other possible gotcha if your VoiceOver was not turned on >>>>>> before your >>>>>> friend left is that you hit the F6 (num lock) key on the keyboard >>>>>> instead >>>>>> of >>>>>> F5. If so, try to press F6 again to toggle num lock off, and >>>>>> issue your >>>>>> command >>>>>> of FN+Command+F5 to turn on VoiceOver. >>>>>> >>>>>> Hope this helps. >>>>>> >>>>>> Cheers, >>>>>> >>>>>> Esther >>>>>> >>>>>> >>>>>> On Wed December 12, 2007, at 01:42PM, Simon Cavendish wrote: >>>>>>> Dear All, >>>>>>> >>>>>>> I've just installed Leopard on my new Macbook. it turned out that >>>>>>> it came >>>>>>> with Tiger installed, and leopard on a CD. So I've just had it >>>>>>> installed >>>>>>> with sighted assistance, as I'm not that experienced in VO yet. >>>>>>> All went >>>>>>> smoothly and my friend has gone now. But when I tried to get my >>>>>>> VO to >>>>>>> start with the usual combination of keys Command+f5 so that i >>>>>>> could use my >>>>>>> Macbook, nothing happens. Does anyone know what might have >>>>>>> happened? This >>>>>>> command worked perfectly well in tiger. >>>>>>> >>>>>>> S O S from desperate simon! >>>>>>> >>>>>>> >>>>>> >>>>> >>>>> >>>>> >>>>> >>>> >>> >>> >>> >>> >> > > > >
