This may or may not be true in all cases however I have run in to
problems from the drivers on the Windows Update site and have heard of
many techs reporting similar complaints in this area. No
finger-pointing at Microsoft here, this is just behind the scenes
heresay, but I'd personally recommend the device manager method first.
If your computer is a store-bought machine like an HP or Dell or
something similar, then go to their site and use the model number on the
support or downloads section to locate up-to-date drivers. If it is a
custom-built machine, then use your device manager to locate each
component (video card, sound card, Etc) separately. Often components
are bundled on a motherboard as built-in components or otherwise known
as "on-board" components, in which case the motherboard manufacturer's
site will often have everything you need. There is a really good
utility called Everest which you can get to help identify components.
I'm sorry I can't be more clear, pc-design can vary widely depending on
the situation and it is difficult to predict what you have. If you got
your computer from a store or ordered it from Dell or HP or someone like
that, then refer to their sites or support. If your system is
custom-built, the following information should give a general
rule-of-thumb for determining whether you have on-board motherboard
components or not. Looking at the back of your computer tower, at the
top you should find a square vent which may or may not have a rather
large switch on it where your power chord connects, that is your power
supply and the switch is a direct cut-off of power to the rest of the
machine. Below that you'll have a rectangular panel which sometimes is
indented or will have a tactile border around it which you could almost
think of like a picture-frame which will usually have keyboard and mouse
connectors at the top of it beside each other (these are round and
approximately half-an-inch across), and below these you will often have
things like where your Ethernet chord connects (the large
telephone-style jack), the video port (which looks like a d-shaped
connector with a bunch of little holes in it and is where your screen
connects), the USB connectors, and usually your Audio connectors which
will be where your speakers plug in. Below this rectangle you'll have a
bunch of slots running left to right which will go to the bottom of the
case. Anything that connects in the rectangular frame part is part of
your motherboard and is considered to be on-board, in which case you
would get the drivers from the motherboard web site. Anything that is
in the slots going left to right is add-on cards on your motherboard and
you would get separately. I know this is probably confusing, but is the
best way I can think of to explain it. If you have a custom-built
computer then a program like Everest is really your friend, it'll really
break it all down for you and usually is really good at figuring out
what types of hardware you have in the various categories.
One last tip. As previous stated, sometimes updating sound drivers
may lose you access to speech if you're updating the sound card drivers
which Window Eyes is talking through. In this case a USB headset is a
really good thing. If you're using a USB headset then the speech will
be routed away from your sound card and to that instead. It's what I
use when working on machines which may not even have their sound cards
functioning.
HTH,
Cory
On 19/06/2011 7:35 AM, Chris Hill wrote:
There are programs, but many either cost money or try to convince you
to do things that don't need done and can cause more harm. The best
way is to check the optional windows updates when you check for
updates, they often have drivers. Failing that, your best bet is to
look in device manager to find the make and model of the device, then
check the manufacturer's website for a newer driver. Realtek, for
example, at www.realtek.com.tw has been updating its hd audio drivers
regularly for the last six months or more, and I think the sound loss
is becoming less frequent. The big problem with updating sound
drivers this way is that the computer may stop talking during the
process if you don't have an external synthesizer.
On 6/18/2011 12:10, meadowlark77 wrote:
How do we update drivers? Is there an accessible Program we can use?
Take care,
Brenda
At 04:46 PM 6/17/2011, you wrote:
As I mentioned in a previous post sound loss when I encountered it was
for both we and win7. Since updating all drivers including realtek hd
I have only experienced 1 loss in a month. So I suggest if your
computer is over 1 or 2 years old you make sure all drivers are up to
date.
By the way running win 7 32 home prem with 4 g ram.
On 6/17/2011 9:25 AM, Pat Ferguson wrote:
Hi Everyone,
I hate to say this, but this thing with Window-Eyes not speaking some
times, is really getting worse. I wish that Microsoft would fix
Windows so this wouldn't happen. It happens with System Access, as
well.
I don't have enough fingers on my hands to count the times, I had to
restart Window-Eyes with the control-altW this morning. lol. I was
going down a list of files in a folder, and it just kept stop
talking. No matter what I did. Even the insert backslash didn't work.
Also I loose my sounds atleast once a day, and sometimes more.
I know that my computer isn't locking up, as I'm able to shut down
without speech.
Is Windows Seven 64Bit more stable than Windows Seven Home Premium 32
Bit?
I do know that the folks at GW Micro are doing their absolute best to
fix this problem. <smile>
Thanks much.
Blessings,
Pat Ferguson
If you reply to this message it will be delivered to the original
sender only. If your reply would benefit others on the list and your
message is related to GW Micro, then please consider sending your
message to <mailto:[email protected]>[email protected] so the
entire list will receive it.
GW-Info messages are archived at
<http://www.gwmicro.com/gwinfo>http://www.gwmicro.com/gwinfo. You can
manage your list subscription at
<http://www.gwmicro.com/listserv>http://www.gwmicro.com/listserv.
If you reply to this message it will be delivered to the original sender
only. If your reply would benefit others on the list and your message is
related to GW Micro, then please consider sending your message to
[email protected] so the entire list will receive it.
GW-Info messages are archived at http://www.gwmicro.com/gwinfo. You can
manage your list subscription at http://www.gwmicro.com/listserv.
If you reply to this message it will be delivered to the original
sender only. If your reply would benefit others on the list and your
message is related to GW Micro, then please consider sending your
message to [email protected] so the entire list will receive it.
GW-Info messages are archived at http://www.gwmicro.com/gwinfo. You
can manage your list subscription at http://www.gwmicro.com/listserv.
If you reply to this message it will be delivered to the original sender only.
If your reply would benefit others on the list and your message is related to
GW Micro, then please consider sending your message to [email protected] so
the entire list will receive it.
GW-Info messages are archived at http://www.gwmicro.com/gwinfo. You can manage
your list subscription at http://www.gwmicro.com/listserv.
