Serious issue with NVDA not reading menus and totally silent in Firefox and Chrome
Mallard <mallard@...>
Hello all,
A friend of mine recently bought a HP laptop. She experiences some really weird behaviours with NVDA. When the Start key is pressed, no menu is read. But that can be bypassed by using the Start button on the bar. The main issue is that both Firefox and Chrome aer unreadable, and I-ve never seen anything like that in my life. I tried to help her via Teamviewer, as she lives in a different town, and I was shocked. How is it possible that NVDA doesn-t read browsers like that_ I-m not a techie at all, so have no idea of what to do and how to help her. she-s a teacher and, with the Covid/19 lockdown active here in Italy, she needs to teach online. Not easy under these conditions. any help will be greatly appreciated. Ciao, Ollie
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Jacob Kruger
Ollie, off-hand, does she have the windows 10 app essentials add-on installed - presuming she's using windows 10?
And, wouldn't expect it to behave that badly, but, that would be
my starting point. Jacob Kruger Blind Biker Skype: BlindZA "...resistance is futile...but, acceptance is versatile..." On 2020-03-18 12:53 PM, Mallard wrote:
Hello all,
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Chris
I don’t know if this will work but you can try the COM registration tool which can be found under the nvda tools menu
From: Mallard
Sent: 18 March 2020 10:53 To: nvda@nvda.groups.io Subject: [nvda] Serious issue with NVDA not reading menus and totally silent in Firefox and Chrome
Hello all,
A friend of mine recently bought a HP laptop.
She experiences some really weird behaviours with NVDA.
When the Start key is pressed, no menu is read.
But that can be bypassed by using the Start button on the bar.
The main issue is that both Firefox and Chrome aer unreadable, and I-ve never seen anything like that in my life.
I tried to help her via Teamviewer, as she lives in a different town, and I was shocked.
How is it possible that NVDA doesn-t read browsers like that_
I-m not a techie at all, so have no idea of what to do and how to help her.
she-s a teacher and, with the Covid/19 lockdown active here in Italy, she needs to teach online. Not easy under these conditions.
any help will be greatly appreciated.
Ciao,
Ollie
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Hareth <hareth4m@...>
Applying the "Com registration tool" might help fixing that.
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from NVDA menu then tools submenu, you'd find it there. If it didn't work Try to turn off NVDA and use narrator to "run NVDA as administrator" and see if that would work. If it does re install NVDA as admin by using the "run as administrator" on the NVDA installer file.
On 3/18/20, Mallard <mallard@...> wrote:
Hello all,
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Gene
That isn’t the starting point, though the add-on should be installed.
These are classic signs that certain dll files are not registered. Run the
dll registration tool in the tools menu.. If you don’t know how to find
it, ask.
Gene
----- Original Message -----
From: Jacob Kruger
Sent: Wednesday, March 18, 2020 6:25 AM
Subject: Re: [nvda] Serious issue with NVDA not reading menus and
totally silent in Firefox and Chrome Ollie, off-hand, does she have the windows 10 app essentials add-on installed - presuming she's using windows 10?
And, wouldn't expect it to behave that badly, but, that would be my starting
point. Jacob Kruger Blind Biker Skype: BlindZA "...resistance is futile...but, acceptance is versatile..." On 2020-03-18 12:53 PM, Mallard wrote:
Hello all,
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Tyler Spivey
Ultimately, if it's the issue I think it is, it's NV Access' responsibility to fix it once and for all. However, since they don't seem to be doing anything about it...
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My guess is this is an instance of #9039. To avoid a lot of back and forth, let's assume it is; if it's not, no harm done. 1. Run the COM Registration Fixing Tool, follow its prompts, and reboot just for good measure. If it fixed it, then great, nothing to worry about and you can stop here. However if that didn't fix it (which I doubt it would), please do the following, assuming you have an installed copy of NVDA 2019.3 or higher: 1. Press windows+r to open the run dialog. 2. Type nvda 3. Press control shift enter and answer yes to the prompt that appears to run as administrator. 4. When NVDA restarts, open the python console either with NVDA+CTRL+z or in the tools menu. 5. Paste this long line in and hit enter. If you're using teamviewer, I'm not sure how you get the clipboard across; maybe it does it automatically. import comtypes,ctypes;p=comtypes.typeinfo.LoadTypeLibEx(r"c:\windows\syswow64\oleacc.dll");ctypes.windll.oleaut32.RegisterTypeLib(p,r"c:\windows\syswow64\oleacc.dll", None) If it says traceback, then the line didn't work, and it may have been pasted incorrectly. In that case, come back here and we'll figure out why. 6. Restart NVDA. Things should work again. If they don't, try rebooting.
On 3/18/2020 3:53 AM, Mallard wrote:
Hello all,
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Mallard <mallard@...>
Thanks and blesings... I-m going to try.
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If worse comes to worse, I-ll send the lineto my friend and ask her to copy and paste it herself. I might be guiding her over the phone, instead of using Teamviewer, so we-ll be sure things don-t get mixed up more than they already are. Ciao, I-ll let youknow how it goes. Ollie
On 18/03/2020 13:01, Tyler Spivey wrote:
Ultimately, if it's the issue I think it is, it's NV Access' responsibility to fix it once and for all. However, since they don't seem to be doing anything about it...
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Mallard <mallard@...>
Hello guys,
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Thanks for all these suggestions. We alsotried Cliqz browser, which is a really nifty piece of software, by the way, withthe same result. I-ll call her and we-ll go through all your suggestions this afternoon. What would I do without this group___!!! Ciao, Ollie
On 18/03/2020 12:37, Gene wrote:
That isn’t the starting point, though the add-on should be installed. These are classic signs that certain dll files are not registered. Run the dll registration tool in the tools menu.. If you don’t know how to find it, ask.
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Ron Canazzi
Hi Mallard,
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For both Firefox and Chrome, there is a checkbox under settings that says: "prevent accessibility services from accessing your browser." This should be unchecked. I thought it would be unchecked by default, but apparently, your friend's system had this item checked by default. This would in effect render Firefox and Chrome inaccessible and useless to screen readers. The easiest way to undo this damage is to have sighted help. It's a simple matter of clicking tools, options, and unchecking this checkbox. Lacking that, I believe there is something you can type at the command prompt from the edit box for search/addresses. You would have to do this all in the blind, so it wouldn't be easy. I will look for the proper things to type in the blind, but as of now, I seem to have misplaced the information. Maybe someone else on list will have that information.
On 3/18/2020 6:53 AM, Mallard wrote:
Hello all, --
They Ask Me If I'm Happy; I say Yes. They ask: "How Happy are You?" I Say: "I'm as happy as a stow away chimpanzee on a banana boat!"
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Mallard <mallard@...>
Thank you Ron,
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My husband is sighted and is here, so he might help to at least we can look at it.... Ciao, Ollie
On 18/03/2020 14:25, Ron Canazzi wrote:
Hi Mallard,
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Try a complete reinstall of NVDA. This might help. All nvda related folders will need to be removed. Also if she has any add ons try uninstalling those then on the full reinstall of nvda reinstall the add ons one at a time to see if they still have the issue. Sarah Alawami, owner of TFFP. . For more info go to our website. to subscribe to the feed click here and you can also follow us on twitter Our discord is where you will know when we go live on [twitch.](http://twitch.tv/ke7zum] Feel free to give the channel a follow and see what is up there. For stream archives, products you can buy and more visit my main lbry page and my tffp lbry page YOu will also be able to buy some of my products and eBooks there. Finally, to become a patron and help support the podcast go here
On 18 Mar 2020, at 3:53, Mallard wrote:
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Gene
I don’t know about Chrome, it may be something new since I never saw it
when I looked at settings up to about a month ago. But for Firefox, if
this setting were on, you wouldn’t see anything with a screen-reader except the
title bar. Even pressing alt to open the menus would show nothing.
And the setting is off, as it should be, by default. This is definitely not the
probllem in Firefox. And I'm extremely doubtful that it is the problem in
Chrome, as I would expect the setting to allow accessibility devices to work
with Chrome by default.
Gene
----- Original Message -----
From: Ron Canazzi
Sent: Wednesday, March 18, 2020 8:25 AM
Subject: Re: [nvda] Serious issue with NVDA not reading menus and
totally silent in Firefox and Chrome Hi
Mallard, For both Firefox and Chrome, there is a checkbox under settings that says: "prevent accessibility services from accessing your browser." This should be unchecked. I thought it would be unchecked by default, but apparently, your friend's system had this item checked by default. This would in effect render Firefox and Chrome inaccessible and useless to screen readers. The easiest way to undo this damage is to have sighted help. It's a simple matter of clicking tools, options, and unchecking this checkbox. Lacking that, I believe there is something you can type at the command prompt from the edit box for search/addresses. You would have to do this all in the blind, so it wouldn't be easy. I will look for the proper things to type in the blind, but as of now, I seem to have misplaced the information. Maybe someone else on list will have that information. On 3/18/2020 6:53 AM, Mallard wrote: > Hello all, > > > A friend of mine recently bought a HP laptop. > > > She experiences some really weird behaviours with NVDA. > > > When the Start key is pressed, no menu is read. > > But that can be bypassed by using the Start button on the bar. > > > The main issue is that both Firefox and Chrome aer unreadable, and > I-ve never seen anything like that in my life. > > > I tried to help her via Teamviewer, as she lives in a different town, > and I was shocked. > > > How is it possible that NVDA doesn-t read browsers like that_ > > > I-m not a techie at all, so have no idea of what to do and how to help > her. > > > she-s a teacher and, with the Covid/19 lockdown active here in Italy, > she needs to teach online. Not easy under these conditions. > > > any help will be greatly appreciated. > > > Ciao, > > Ollie > > > > > -- They Ask Me If I'm Happy; I say Yes. They ask: "How Happy are You?" I Say: "I'm as happy as a stow away chimpanzee on a banana boat!"
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Gene
The message is unclear. The subject line refers to menus but the
first part of the message talks about the start menu. I strongly suspect
that that is what is being referred to, not that menus are not read in Firefox
and in Chrome. If, in fact, menus aren’t being read in Chrome and Firefox,
then Ron may be right about the accdcessibility settings, but I find it very
unlikely that both browsers would have this setting be incorrect in the default
installation and the user would be extremely unlikely to have changed
them. Therefore, without more information, I shall assume that the menus
work in both browsers and that the start menu is the menu referred to in the
subject line. Also, the description is that Firefox and Chrome are
unreadable. Nothing is said about menus.
Gene
----- Original Message -----
From: Sarah k Alawami
Sent: Wednesday, March 18, 2020 10:36 AM
Subject: Re: [nvda] Serious issue with NVDA not reading menus and
totally silent in Firefox and Chrome Try a complete reinstall of NVDA. This might help. All nvda related folders will need to be removed. Also if she has any add ons try uninstalling those then on the full reinstall of nvda reinstall the add ons one at a time to see if they still have the issue. Sarah Alawami, owner of TFFP. . For more info go to our website. to subscribe to the feed click here and you can also follow us on twitter Our discord is where you will know when we go live on [twitch.](http://twitch.tv/ke7zum] Feel free to give the channel a follow and see what is up there. For stream archives, products you can buy and more visit my main lbry page and my tffp lbry page YOu will also be able to buy some of my products and eBooks there. Finally, to become a patron and help support the podcast go here On 18 Mar 2020, at 3:53, Mallard wrote:
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On Wed, Mar 18, 2020 at 12:31 PM, Gene wrote:
The message is unclear.Perhaps a bit, but when I see, "When the Start key is pressed, no menu is read. But that can be bypassed by using the Start button on the bar," followed by, "The main issue is that both Firefox and Chrome are unreadable," I have no reason to believe that both statements are not accurate. I have no idea why you'd believe otherwise. Something's definitely off, but I suspect it is, like most issues, idiosyncratic to that machine. This behavior is so uncharacteristic I'd be starting with: Using SFC (System File Checker) and DISM (Deployment Imaging Servicing and Management) to Repair Windows 8 & 10 -- Brian - Windows 10 Pro, 64-Bit, Version 1909, Build 18363 Power is being told you're not loved and not being destroyed by it. ~ Madonna
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Hi, Or better yet, try running COM registration fixing tool, and if that and restarting the computer doesn’t make a difference, run SFC. Cheers, Joseph
From: nvda@nvda.groups.io <nvda@nvda.groups.io> On Behalf Of Brian Vogel
On Wed, Mar 18, 2020 at 12:31 PM, Gene wrote:
Perhaps a bit, but when I see, "When the Start key is pressed, no menu is read. But that can be bypassed by using the Start button on the bar," followed by, "The main issue is that both Firefox and Chrome are unreadable," I have no reason to believe that both statements are not accurate. I have no idea why you'd believe otherwise. Brian - Windows 10 Pro, 64-Bit, Version 1909, Build 18363 Power is being told you're not loved and not being destroyed by it. ~ Madonna
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Mallard <mallard@...>
BINGO!!!
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Tyler, our suggestion to paste the line in Pthon Console solved the problem... I had my husband do the job. He created a text file and sent it to my friend-s pc via Teamviewer, then copied and pasted the code in there. Copying and pasting without that intermediate step didn-t work, as you feared. Many thanks to you and all others who came up with suggestions. Now my friend is happy, and will be able to operate from home with her students. She asked me to thank you all on her behalf. Take caer all, stay safe. Ciao, Ollie
On 18/03/2020 13:01, Tyler Spivey wrote:
Ultimately, if it's the issue I think it is, it's NV Access' responsibility to fix it once and for all. However, since they don't seem to be doing anything about it...
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On Wed, Mar 18, 2020 at 01:07 PM, Joseph Lee wrote:
try running COM registration fixing tool, and if that and restarting the computer doesn’t make a differenceAgreed. I simply presume that once the same thing is recommended by multiple people it will definitely be tried first, moving on to other things only if it doesn't solve the problem. I tossed the SFC/DISM idea out as a "just in case the COM registration fixing tool doesn't work" idea. -- Brian - Windows 10 Pro, 64-Bit, Version 1909, Build 18363 Power is being told you're not loved and not being destroyed by it. ~ Madonna
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Mallard <mallard@...>
I strongly suspect you either didn-t read the whole message, or you simply didn-t understand it for your own reasons.
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In fact, the message was very well understood and acted upon by a good number of people, and eventually the problem was solved... Thanks anyway. Ciao, Ollie
On 18/03/2020 17:31, Gene wrote:
The message is unclear. The subject line refers to menus but the first part of the message talks about the start menu. I strongly suspect that that is what is being referred to, not that menus are not read in Firefox and in Chrome. If, in fact, menus aren’t being read in Chrome and Firefox, then Ron may be right about the accdcessibility settings, but I find it very unlikely that both browsers would have this setting be incorrect in the default installation and the user would be extremely unlikely to have changed them. Therefore, without more information, I shall assume that the menus work in both browsers and that the start menu is the menu referred to in the subject line. Also, the description is that Firefox and Chrome are unreadable. Nothing is said about menus.
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Mallard <mallard@...>
Addendum> No. No browser read a single thing when you opened it. All you got was "Unknown", Unknown, unknown, whatever you did...
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Anyway, it-s all in the past now. Issue solved. Ciao, stay safe, Ollie
On 18/03/2020 17:31, Gene wrote:
The message is unclear. The subject line refers to menus but the first part of the message talks about the start menu. I strongly suspect that that is what is being referred to, not that menus are not read in Firefox and in Chrome. If, in fact, menus aren’t being read in Chrome and Firefox, then Ron may be right about the accdcessibility settings, but I find it very unlikely that both browsers would have this setting be incorrect in the default installation and the user would be extremely unlikely to have changed them. Therefore, without more information, I shall assume that the menus work in both browsers and that the start menu is the menu referred to in the subject line. Also, the description is that Firefox and Chrome are unreadable. Nothing is said about menus.
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On Wed, Mar 18, 2020 at 08:01 AM, Tyler Spivey wrote:
However if that didn't fix it (which I doubt it would), please do the following, assuming you have an installed copy of NVDA 2019.3 or higher:Just curious if there's anything similar that would work with pre-2019.3 versions of NVDA to achieve the same end, since you explicitly specify 2019.3 or higher? -- Brian - Windows 10 Pro, 64-Bit, Version 1909, Build 18363 Power is being told you're not loved and not being destroyed by it. ~ Madonna
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