JAWS – Start menu is not read out when activated

JAWS – Start menu is not read out when activated

Problem

A JAWS user is unable to read content of the Start menu when it is activated.


Applies to

  1. JAWS

Resolution

Use either method below to fix the problem.

Method 1 - Disable Accessibility driver

  1. Press JAWSKey+F2 and arrow down to Settings Centre and press ENTER.
  2. Press CONTROL+SHIFT+D to open the default configuration.
  3. Then type the word Accessibility into the search box and arrow down to the option: Use Accessibility Driver For Screen Capture.
  4. Then press down arrow to locate this option in the list.
  5. Then press SPACEBA to uncheck this setting.
  6. Press TAB until the Apply button and press SPACEBAR on it.
  7. Then press ENTER to dismiss the window.

Method 2 - Update registry settings

If using Windows 11 and the Start menu and the Windows Settings app and Calculator app doe not speak as well use the method below to apply updated registry settings to the PC..

1.       Open Notepad.exe and then copy/paste the text below into it:

Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\System]
"ConsentPromptBehaviorAdmin"=dword:00000005
"Enable LUA"=dword:00000001
"PromptOnSecureDesktop"=dword:00000001

2.       After copying in the text choose File > Save As.

3.       Click Save As Type and choose All files *.*

4.       Then choose Windows Desktop or another easy location on the computer.

5.       Then enter the name as “EnableUAC.reg”.

6.       Move the location where the file has been saved and double click to run the file.

7.       Authenticate through UAC to allow the file to run, it will make changes necessary to the registry to fix the issue.


(Deprecated) Method 3 - Change JAWS Settings Centre option

This method is no longer suggested as being helpful and is deprecated, but is included here for reference.

  1. Press JAWSKey+F2 and arrow down to Settings Centre and press ENTER.
  2. Press CONTROL+SHIFT+D to open the default configuration.
  3. Then type the word Start into the search box and arrow down to the option: Start Menu Access Out Of Process
  4. Press SPACEBAR to turn this checkbox on.
  5. Then press TAB to reach Apply, press spacebar and then press ENTER to dismiss the dialogue.