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=28C97D22-6EB8-4A09-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...'
__________ Information from ESET NOD32 Antivirus, version of virus
signature
database 4047 (20090430) __________
The message was checked by ESET NOD32 Antivirus.
http://www.eset.com
__________ Information from ESET NOD32 Antivirus, version of virus
signature database 4047 (20090430) __________
The message was checked by ESET NOD32 Antivirus.
http://www.eset.c
__________ Information from ESET NOD32 Antivirus, version of virus
signature database 4048 (20090501) __________
The message was checked by ESET NOD32 Antivirus.
http://www.eset.com
For answers to frequently asked questions about this list visit:
http://www.jaws-users.com/help/
For answers to frequently asked questions about this list visit:
http://www.jaws-users.com/help/
__________ Information from ESET NOD32 Antivirus, version of virus
signature database 4048 (20090501) __________
The message was checked by ESET NOD32 Antivirus.
http://www.eset.com
__________ Information from ESET NOD32 Antivirus, version of virus
signature database 4049 (20090501) __________
The message was checked by ESET NOD32 Antivirus.
http://www.eset.com
For answers to frequently asked questions about this list visit:
http://www.jaws-users.com/help/
For answers to frequently asked questions about this list visit:
http://www.jaws-users.com/help/
__________ Information from ESET NOD32 Antivirus, version of virus
signature database 4049 (20090501) __________
The message was checked by ESET NOD32 Antivirus.
http://www.eset.com
