What do you do once you have set up your computer? Before you can truly begin to use it, you may want to download either JAWS or NVDA. Of course you could use Narrator exclusively, but that isn’t the topic for today. For now, I want to help you get up and running with either JAWS or NVDA.
What will I need to do this?
The great thing about this is that once you have set up Windows, you already have everything you need to get this done. You only need Narrator and the Microsoft Edge browser.
Let’s get started
If Narrator isn’t talking, you’ll need to run it by pressing CONTROL+WINDOWS+ENTER. If starting Narrator for the first time, you may get some messages about scan mode and new keyboard commands. If you encounter these, just press the Space Bar to dismiss them. The next step is to run Edge so that we can navigate to the download areas for Freedom Scientific and NVAccess. Start the Edge browser by pressing the WINDOWS key and type the word “Edge.” You don’t need to worry about typing capital letters. As you begin to type the word “Edge,” you’ll probably hear, “Microsoft Edge.” Once you hear that, press the ENTER key. You should hear, “Search or enter web address.” If you don’t hear that message, press CONTROL+L so that you can type in the website that you want to go to.
Download JAWS
To download the JAWS screen reader, perform the following steps:
Type “freedomscientific.com” and press ENTER.
Press the TAB key until you hear “Downloads” and press ENTER.
Once you hear “JAWS,” press ENTER.
Tab to the latest version of JAWS and press ENTER.
Edge will begin downloading the file. You may hear a notification from Edge about the download. If prompted, choose to keep or run the file.
Once the JAWS setup program begins talking, you can close Narrator with CONTROL+WINDOWS+ENTER and continue using the JAWS setup program.
Download NVDA
To download the NVDA screen reader, perform the following steps:
Type “nvaccess.org” and press ENTER.
Tab until you get to the “Download” link and press ENTER.
Make sure Scan Mode is on by pressing CAPS LOCK+SPACE BAR or INSERT+SPACE BAR.
Look for the download button and press ENTER or SPACE BAR on it. NVAccess may ask for a donation first. I would encourage you to consider a donation to NVAccess at some point, as they’re constantly improving NVDA, making a difference to computer users who are blind all over the world, and all at no cost.
If prompted for an email address, you can enter one or skip it.
Edge will begin downloading the file. If prompted, choose to keep or run the file.
Once the NVDA setup program begins talking, you can close Narrator with CONTROL+WINDOWS+ENTER and continue using the NVDA setup program.
FAQ
Do I need anything besides what comes with Windows?
No. Narrator is built into Windows and Edge is the default browser. You have everything you need right out of the box.
What if I can’t find the download link on the website?
Websites get updated from time to time, so the exact tab order may change. If you get stuck, try pressing CONTROL+F to open the search bar in Edge and type “download” to find the link.
Can I use a different browser instead of Edge?
You can, but Edge is already installed and works well with Narrator. If you prefer Chrome or Firefox, you can download those later once you have JAWS or NVDA running.
How do I start Narrator again if it stops talking?
Press CONTROL+WINDOWS+ENTER. This toggles Narrator on and off.
Finish
Setup for the screen reader of your choice should now be done. Please refer back to my walkthrough of getting started with NVDA and the JAWS startup wizard for more helpful articles.
As always,
Qapla!
I don’t know if you planned this, but you have covered everything a user needs to get started with a new computer, from installing Windows (and now installing a screen reader) to an in-depth look at the start screens! Like next time I get a new laptop, I could just break out my phone, come here, and use your blog posts to get everything up and running! Very cool! :)