PC question for the blind. How do you guys update your BIOS, since we obviously can't access it with a screenreader or similar software? I was recommended to update it in order to fix an issue. I got told it was quite out of date, which can surely be the case. Any help on this would be greatly appreciated.
This week's In-Process is out. Featuring all the news on NVDA 2025.2, info on the upcoming NVDA 2025.3, a recap on restarting after updating (no we're not about to enforce that!) and a look into the namesake feature of Microsoft Windows... and just how complicated ARE the Windows+arrow key commands? (Very, but we break it down for you!) All that and more, available now: nvaccess.org/post/in-process-2…
Can anyone recommend good resources (books, websites, other) for someone who needs to manage #Windows machines for family? I'm fairly competent generally, but have only used #Linux for the past 20 years.
My parents recently got a new desktop, and my wife needs a new laptop shortly. I will be providing #IT for both, and don't expect my experience with #WindowsXP will get me very far at this point
Excited to share that Bottles has been selected by the NLnet Foundation as part of the February 2025 NGI0 Commons Fund. One of only 40 projects supported in this round. Full announcement here: nlnet.nl/news/2025/20250804-an…
Native Schannel TLS stack of #Windows was so unreliable it got axed from #curl: * Never worked reliably under real‑world loads. * Quirky, cumbersome API/architecture that broke integrations. * Zero developer interest—nobody tested or maintained it. * Pure maintenance drag with no real benefit.
So #Microsoft again shipped a built‑in that nobody uses, and projects ditch it entirely in favor of better third‑party alternatives.
I hope that by now most readers of my blog have understood that curl, and libcurl specifically, is an architecture with a transfer core with a set of different backends plugged in. Backends powered by different third party libraries.
***Attention! If you miss MSN/Windows Live Messenger, AIM, and/or ICQ, this is for you! If you use a screen reader and want a 100% accessible messenger client, this is also for you.* This works with Windows XPthrough 11, and I'm logged into it as I write! It's called Escargot, and it revives Windows Live/MSN Messenger. This is the original software, but it has been patched so that it connects to the escargot.chat server and not the Microsoft one. It is 100% free and accessible with NVDA and I'm sure JAWS as well. They also have projects for AIM (AOL Instant Messenger) and ICQ, including for Android and IOS, and are working on a web client for MSN. (I don't know if AIM or ICQ are accessible with screen readers, as I have never tried them). Anyway, if you're over twenty-one (my personal request), have read my profile here, and wish to add me, I am dandylover1@escargot.chat. You can find everything here.
Note: If you already have Windows Live/MSN Messenger on your system, you will still need to download their version and create an account. Your Microsoft, MSN, or Hotmail one won't work for signing in. Also, remember to click on RUN_AFTER_INSTALL.exe, in order to patch the program to the Escargot server.
A Windows sysadmin tool that more people should know about is the Magic Number Database at magnumdb.com
This database is great for pasting weird Windows hexadecimal errors into and finding out what they might mean.
Example from today, I got 0x80d02002 during a Windows update. Magnumdb tells me that this result corresponds to DO_E_DOWNLOAD_NO_PROGRESS, so now I know it's probably because an update server isn't responding.
I was suggested to uninstall #WhatsApp beta for #Windows to get back the UWP app and that worked for some time, now the infamous web interface is back. #Accessibility
Ever since I switched to #GNU #Linux in my private life, using #Windows at work gives me near-daily headaches. I have full admin rights, yet I constantly fight the system: forced updates, inconsistent behavior, sluggish UI, weird errors buried in the registry.
I used to think this was just how #computers worked. But after experiencing the #freedom and clarity of #FOSS, Windows feels more like an obstacle than a tool.
Before you advocate #Linux as an alternative for #Windows, it has to be fit for purpose first. This requires understanding and empathy for your (potential) users, which I am not sure a large chunk of the community is capable of.
I did it! Today I switched from #Windows 10 to #Ubuntu on my Surface Pro and it mostly works. I still have to work out a few kinks, but I'm really happy. I also managed quite a feat at work and, thanks to a random internet person, learned that there's something called PMDD. Overall, it was a pretty successful day.
Here is a list of events where you can get help with Linux. You can also look for places that provide help more regularly. Please note that the information here is submitted by the organizers themselves and is not evaluated by the campaign.
Dear apple. Please comply with the EU so I can continue to use your amazing products and serveces, and not be forced to switch to inferior products and services from companies like google and microsoft. #accessibility #apple #android #blind #google #microsoft #windows
@NVAccess Hi everyone, hope all is well! Quick question for those using NVDA on Windows. I’m trying to help someone by remotely controlling their computer using the built-in NVDA Remote feature. But when I press F11, I can’t seem to control the other computer. Any ideas or tips? Appreciate the help! We are on the latest update of NVDA.
Listen, oh listen, o you great city of #Lyon! Or even better: écoute, ô écoute, ô toi la grande ville de Lyon ! Cet article est en anglais, mais tu peux le traduire si tu veux, y a des moyens. chacun de ceux et celles qui repostent le grand hourra de » À Lyon on abandonne #Windows et #Microsoft #Office pour #Linux » doit lire ceci. Chacun qui prône la soit-disante liberté de Linux et de l'open-source doit clairement avouer : on ne veut pas de gens handicapés, aveugles, âgés, «pas assez smart ». Nous sommes exclus de votre fête de la vie. Si une solution est libre, open-source mais pas accessible, c'est une mauvaise solution. fireborn.mataroa.blog/blog/you… #Accessibility #Accessibilité #EAA
At work I've been making sure our client's site works correctly with JAWS. I learned that JAWS can be very expensive and that there are OTHER screen readers.
People who USE screen readers: Is JAWS worth the money and worth being on #Windows for?
Is Orca decent?
What about the "multiplatform" System Access To Go? Does it do the job decently enough?
Hi there #Blind techy folk. I have a question for you. Outlook's been driving me up the wall lately so I'm on the lookout for a nice, simple, #Accessible #Windows email client. Does such a unicorn exist, or should I just brave Gmail in my browser? Thanks for any advice you can give.
The #Zed text editor (zed.dev) finally opened early access program for their #Windows builds. I suggest everyone from the #Accessibility dev community to sign up for it, hopefully (maybe!) we will be able to shape its accessibility. Many sighted people from the Apple land praise it for speed and amount of useful functions. I won't quit using #VSCode of course, but why not to have another tool in the box?
#WhatsApp beta: "Don't close this window. Your messages are downloading." and that's it. Very nice. I actually hate this new interface, to be honest. #Accessibility #Windows
Do you use the Windows 7 sounds that are available in the media folder on Windows 10/11 for your sound scheme? Because I liked how Windows did this in the past, I have this pole running for 3 days. #Windows #Sounds
I use them regularly (0%, 0 votes)
I've tried this before (33%, 2 votes)
I haven't tried this before (33%, 2 votes)
I haven't thought about trying this. (33%, 2 votes)
Microsoft Build 2025 brought bold updates in AI agents, secure development, and developer tooling across Windows, Azure, and GitHub. I put together a detailed overview for those who missed the keynotes and announcements. Read here: taylorarndt.substack.com/p/mic… @microsoft@mastodon.social #Build2025 #AI #Microsoft #Windows #Azure #OpenAgenticWeb #DeveloperTools
If you have managed to delete your C:\inetpub folder following the recent #Windows security #patch for #cve202521204 then you can re-create it using the following PowerShell script:
This script recreates this empty folder with the correct TrustedInstaller and SYSTEM privilages.
It does nothing to prevent the creation of HardLinks to this folder of course.
You could remove the SeCreateSymbolicLinkPrivilege (via secpol.msc for example) from a user account to prohibit creation of SymLinks but you would need to check in a test envoiroment to see what effects might have that have and what might break 🤔🤷♂️
This is the kind of thing that should be banned. It is time to realize that indiscriminate data collection and profiling is harming our society. techcrunch.com/2025/04/24/perp…
But what if you could make your current one fast and secure again?
If you bought your computer after 2010, there's most likely no reason to throw it out. By just installing an up-to-date GNU/Linux operating system you can keep using it for years to come.
Installing an OS may sound difficult, but you don't have to go it alone! With any luck, there are people in your area ready to help!"
Hey @NVAccess do you know anybody that got executable applications and python to run on this? I can’t tell how far they are, but it is Lennox under the hood, but is trying to be an open source version of Windows. ReactOS 0.4.15 released | ReactOS Project reactos.org/project-news/react… #Windows #OpenSource
@rootcz to tu (zatím) nesdílí, tak to nasdílím já. Kdo ještě neodešel od #Windows, tak tohle je dost zásadní důvod, proč to udělat. Abyste se dostali do vlastního počítače, musíte se ověřovat někde v tramtárii. A když si #Microsoft usmyslí, tak vám ten účet zablokuje.
Jo, i dřív byl tlak na to, aby se místo lokálního účtu použil ten microsoftí. Ale postupně ubývají možnosti, jak zůstat u lokálního účtu. Mimochodem, i s lokálním účtem a s vypnutím všech volitelných šmírovátek se do Redmondu pořád odesílá docela dost informací.
„Odstraňujeme skript bypassnro.cmd, abychom vylepšili zabezpečení a uživatelský komfort systému Windows 11. Tato změna zajišťuje, že všichni uživatelé ukončí instalaci s připojením k internetu a účtem Microsoft.“
Windows 11 při instalaci požaduje vytvoření účtu Microsoft. Dříve bylo možné použít skript bypassnro.cmd, který vytvoření účtu Microsoft přeskočil a byl…
Reboost ♻️ plz: In light of increased uncertainty on the reliability on the US, European democracies should strengthen their strategic autonomy: this also includes autonomy from #Microsoft #Windows in the public and private sector.
eu-os.gitlab.io proposes to develop together a Community-led Proof-of-Concept for a free/libre replacement of Windows. Follow us on Mastodon and join the Matrix chat at matrix.to/#/#eu-os:kde.org to receive updates and help.
So this evening, #Windows update installed the wrong #AMD video driver update for my Framework 16. Using #narrator, I was able to boot into recovery mode, enter my bitlocker key to decrypt the effected drive, find my system restore point, and restore it to just before the bad update. The entire process was fully #accessible: all of my sound devices worked, my external keyboard worked, the screen reader read every screen, etc. The only thing that wouldn't work was my Braille display.
First, they shut down the Basic HTML site, forcing many of us to switch to clients such as Thunderbird. Now, they're using qr codes which are not only inaccessible to the blind but also to those who don't use smartphones! This is ridiculous! Yes, they do still have the option to click whether it's you trying to sign in or not (which still requires a smartphone and a carrier, which they claim to be concerned about), but how long before they remove that, too?
and now that you talk about young people, in several places people are not even allowed to get a SIM card at all until certain age, so apps like Signal that depend on phone numbers are a non-go, while I have seen several people using DeltaChat with their children, ex:
Onboarded my 12yo niece to @delta@chaos.social yesterday. They were looking for a solution to chat with her peer group split between iOS and Android, many of whom don't have sim cards in their devices (+ parents rightly resistant to use big social ap…
