This article describes how to troubleshoot computer issues when your Windows 95-based or Windows 98-based computer is configured to use software or hardware for the visually impaired (such as screen reader speech synthesis programs). This information may be useful if you need to use your screen reader program after you start your computer in Safe mode.

Screen reader speech synthesis programs typically use one of the following types of speech synthesizers:

• Hardware-based synthesizer
• Software-based synthesizer

Hardware-Based Synthesizer

If you are using a hardware-based synthesizer, you may be able to start in Safe mode and still use your speech synthesis program if real-mode drivers for your hardware-based synthesizer are installed. To try to start in Safe mode and still use your speech synthesis program, use the appropriate method:

Using the Keyboard to Create a Shortcut:

1. Create a shortcut to your speech synthesis program, and then assign a keyboard shortcut to this program. To do so, use the following steps:
   
   
   1. Press CTRL+ESC, press UP ARROW to point to Settings, press RIGHT ARROW to point to Taskbar (or Taskbar & Start Menu), and then press ENTER.
   2. Press TAB until the Taskbar Options tab is selected, press RIGHT ARROW to select the Start Menu Programs tab, press TAB until Advanced is selected, and then press ENTER.
   3. If the Start Menu folder is selected, skip to step D. If the Start Menu folder is not selected, press TAB until the Start Menu folder is selected.
   4. Press DOWN ARROW to select the Programs branch, press RIGHT ARROW to expand the Programs branch, and then press DOWN ARROW to point to the folder that contains your speech synthesis program's shortcut.
   5. Press TAB until a shortcut in the right pane of Windows Explorer is selected, and then press UP ARROW or DOWN ARROW until your speech synthesis program's shortcut is selected.
   6. Press ALT+F, press R, press TAB until the Shortcut Key box is selected, and then press the keyboard combination you want to use. For example, you can press CTRL+ALT+V if this shortcut is not already assigned to another program.
      
      NOTE: If the shortcut you choose is already assigned to another program, you must choose a different shortcut.
   7. Press TAB until OK is selected, press ENTER, and then press ALT+F4.
2. Start your computer to a command prompt. To do so, use the appropriate method:
   
   Windows 98:
   
   Restart your computer, press and hold CTRL until your hard disk is inactive for about 10 seconds, and then press SHIFT+F5.
   
   
   Windows 95:
   
   Restart your computer, press F8 until your hard disk is inactive for about 10 seconds, and then press SHIFT+F5. Note that when you press F8, you may hear one or more beeps indicating a keyboard error. You can safely ignore these beeps, although you may need to begin tapping F8 after the beeping starts.
3. At the command prompt, type "win /d:m" (without quotation marks), and then press ENTER.
4. Wait until your computer's hard disk is no longer active, and then press ENTER.
5. Press the keyboard combination you created in step 1 to start your speech synthesis program.

Using the Mouse to Create a Shortcut:

1. Create a shortcut to your speech synthesis program, and then assign a keyboard shortcut to this program. To do so, use the following steps:
   
   
   1. Click Start, point to Settings, and then click Taskbar (or Taskbar & Start Menu).
   2. Click the Start Menu Programs tab, and then click Advanced.
   3. Double-click the Programs branch to expand it, and then double-click the folder that contains your speech synthesis program's shortcut.
   4. Right-click the shortcut to your speech synthesis program, click Properties, and then click the Shortcut tab.
   5. Click the Shortcut Key box, press the keyboard combination you want to use, and then click OK. For example, you can press CTRL+ALT+V, and if this shortcut is not already in use, you can then click OK.
      
      NOTE: If the shortcut you choose is already assigned to another program, you must choose a different shortcut.
2. Start your computer to a command prompt. To do so if you are using a Windows 98-based computer, restart your computer, press and hold CTRL, and then choose Command Prompt Only from the Startup menu. If you are using a Windows 95-based computer, restart your computer, and when you see the "Starting Windows 95" message, press F8, and then choose Command Prompt Only from the Startup menu.
3. At the command prompt, type "win /d:m" (without quotation marks), and then press ENTER.
4. Wait until your computer's hard disk is no longer active, and then press ENTER.
5. Press the keyboard combination you created in step 1 to start your speech synthesis program.

Software-Based Synthesizer

Because of the requirements of software-based synthesizers, it is not possible to start your computer in Safe mode and then start your software-based speech synthesis program. To start your computer in Safe mode and then start your software-based speech synthesis program, the following requirements must be met:

• All sound card drivers must be loaded.
• Your software-based speech synthesis program must be running.
• The "drivers=mmsystem.dll" line must exist in the System.ini file.