Thanks John. As you could probably have guessed by my last message that my focus was on learning Vinux and paying as little attention to the emulator as possible. Now I can focus on Vinux again.

Don Marang


----- Original Message ----- From: "Jon C. Pierson" <joncpier...@comcast.net>
To: <blind-computing@jaws-users.com>
Sent: Saturday, May 02, 2009 8:48 AM
Subject: Re: [Blind-Computing] Microsoft Virtual PC software


Hi Donald,
You may want to set the "return to Windows keystroke to the other offering
which is "control plus shift plus alt".
You can do this in the Vm-ware main window by going to:
Preferences with control plus p and you will find it on the "Hot keys" page
of the dialog.

Jon


-----Original Message-----
From: blind-computing-boun...@jaws-users.com
[mailto:blind-computing-boun...@jaws-users.com] On Behalf Of Donald Marang
Sent: Saturday, May 02, 2009 1:33 AM
To: blind-computing@jaws-users.com
Subject: Re: [Blind-Computing] Microsoft Virtual PC software

For anyone using Vinux in an emulator and can get to the username prompt:
The only account I am aware of in this distribution when first starting is
"vinux" (all lowercase) for both the Username and Password. I just tried it twice. The first time it would give a beep when I typed each character and the second time it did not provide any feedback. Perhaps this was because I had Magic running the first time. By the way, There is a big Ubuntu spelled
across the login screen.

Do not expect to hear the letters when entering either the Username or
Password.  The guy that packaged the Vinux distribution says there is
currently no way around this limitation.

After a few seconds the Vinux desktop appears and Orca starts speaking!

It is useful to know that the left Alt + F1 key takes you too the Vinux
menus at the very top of the screen.  It contains an Applications, Places
and System menus. Programs like Open Office an Firefox can be launched from the Applications menu. I was disappointed that all of the drives that were mounted automatically and available in the Places menu with the Live CD were
not configured here.  Look in the Vinux folder for text files describing
most of the key bindings. The System menu allows you to set preferences and
shutdown.

The applications key, like in Windows, often provides useful options.

I have trouble remembering that the Enter key on the keypad is not the same
as the Return key on the main keyboard.  The Enter key instead announces
where you are!  Somewhat like a more verbose version of the JAWS + Tab
function.

With the VMWare Player I found the following:

1.  When I first start the program I get a dialog telling me there is an
update to VMWare Player.  So far I have just pressed Tab to get to the
Cancel button and activated it.

2. Then I get a dialog that does not work with the JAWS PC cursor. It lets
you select a new file by browsing, picking a recently opened file or
downloading a new distribution. I use the JAWS cursor to find Vinux in the recently opened section and clicking on it. I believe the first time I had to use the browse button. I may be able to create a shortcut on my desktop
that passes the filename on the command line.

3. Then a dialog appears to explain how the hardware is shared between the
emulator and Windows.  So far I have just pressed Enter.

4.  Vinux now starts booting in the window.

5. To turn control of the keyboard to Vinux (or any other operating system
in VMWare Player), press Control + g.

6.  to switch back to windows, press Control + Alt together.  This is a
strange combination, since they both are just modifier keys. I would think
that would limit any Control + Alt + any other key combinations from being
used in Vinux. I have not seen any such combination needed yet. I have had
a slight problem where either the Control or Alt key gets stuck after
returning to Windows and JAWS. I normally press Escape afterwards to check
if either key is stuck.  If it is, I press the right Control and Alt keys
again to release the stuck key.

Hope these tidbits help.

Don Marang


----- Original Message -----
From: "Jacob Kruger" <jac...@iburst.co.za>
To: <blind-computing@jaws-users.com>
Sent: Friday, May 01, 2009 5:49 PM
Subject: Re: [Blind-Computing] Microsoft Virtual PC software


Ok.

Downloaded it and tried it out, and it seems to work Ok, except that
again, after I hear Orca saying I must enter a username and password,
nothing seems to happen, but will test it a bit more, etc.

Also did stop jaws once I told it to start, but should maybe stop it
before even trying to open it as well - will test it a bit more.

Stay well

Jacob Kruger
Blind Biker
Skype: BlindZA
'...fate had broken his body, but not his spirit...'

----- Original Message ----- From: "Donald Marang" <donald.mar...@gmail.com>
To: <blind-computing@jaws-users.com>
Sent: Friday, May 01, 2009 6:49 PM
Subject: Re: [Blind-Computing] Microsoft Virtual PC software


Hi Jacob,

Have you tried the virtual machine at the Vinux site?  It is called,
"Vinux_Virtual_Edition_1.4.exe" and is configured for Vinux.  Read the
accompanying text file for details.  Go to the  downloads page at:
http://vinux.org.uk/


Don Marang

PS I hear a new exciting distribution of Ubuntu, the Linux variant on
which Vinux is based has just come out!  It is Ubuntu 2.0.  I have heard
great things from several PC experts.  I wonder if a Vinux 2.0 will be
available soon?
----- Original Message ----- From: "Jacob Kruger" <jac...@iburst.co.za>
To: <blind-computing@jaws-users.com>
Sent: Friday, May 01, 2009 7:07 AM
Subject: [Blind-Computing] Microsoft Virtual PC software


Has anyone tested MS's own VMWare product?

It's called Microsoft Virtual PC FWIW.

It's free, and the configuration wizard etc. seem pretty usable, but
will
have to either try find a valid VPC image that's already had an OS
installed, or maybe get a sighted person to try help me, for example,
install something like Vinux, or an older MS Os so I can see if I can,
for
example, try out their screenreader utilisation, but I think it should
work
since in my first test run, I could tell it the new VPC I was
configuring
would think it had a sound blaster card etc.

Anyway, here's the details/download page:

http://www.microsoft.com:80/downloads/details.aspx?FamilyId=28C97D22-6EB8-4A
09-A7F7-F6C7A1F000B5&displaylang=en

FWIW, once I start up my virtual pc machine, I do need to use the jaws
cursor to get to some of the activity menus, but not really a problem.

Ok, while typing this message, I realised I was being stoopid, so I
started
the VPC, and told it to mount the Vinux live CD image and then told it
to
restart/reboot, and it did seem to be virtually booting up from the CD
image
since I heard the sound prompt to hit enter to make it start running in
live
mode, so will have to test it a bit more - LOL!

For those who don't know, Vinux is a modified/tweaked version of Ubuntu
linux that automatically makes things like the Orca screenreader start,
and has also, apparently, had it's whole user interface tweaked to suit
us better.

Stay well

Jacob Kruger
Blind Biker
Skype: BlindZA
'...fate had broken his body, but not his spirit...'


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