DragonDictate and XP
Does anyone know how to get DragonDictate to work in Windows XP?
Thanks in advance.
Share: 
While I can't help you as I don't have Dragon Dictate, it may help others if you provide a little more context as to the problems you are experiencing with the software.Jon Gibbins, dotjay.co.uk, accessibility.co.uk wiki.
Share:
DragonDictate used to work in XP (after my brother made some modifications to Windows XP). Unfortunately, Microsoft has been updating their software, and as a result, DragonDictate no longer responds when spoken to. I now use Dragon Naturally Speaking, but it isn't as easy to use for me (I have disarthritic speech). In addition, DragonDictate was more user-friendly for disabled people such as me.
Your turn...
Share:
It sounds like you've updated to the latest version of Internet Explorer (version 7) and Dragon Dictate doesn't work very well with it. From what I have read, Naturally Speaking 8 and 9 suffer some compatibility issues with IE 7 as well, but a patch should be available in the near future.
If you are finding that the problems are only experienced when using Internet Explorer, you may like to try an alternative browser, like Firefox.
It could be that the problem is deeper and that the update to IE 7 has caused problems in areas other than Web browsing as well.
If you are really having problems with this, I can only think of two things that you can do. One would be to contact Nuance and/or Microsoft support, but I'm not sure you'll get anywhere. The other option may be to uninstall IE 7 and revert to IE 6. I think this can be done in Control Panel, then Add and Remove Programs, then remove Windows Internet Explorer 7.
Edit: It seems like you are not alone:
Installing IE7 makes dictation and commands flaky in ALL APPLICATIONS
Software Compatibility - Internet Explorer 7
Changes in accuracy after downloading IE 7
It doesn't look hopeful:
| Quote: |
| Nuance will likely not release an update to support IE 7 for DNS 9 until it is ready to release a full update to support Windows Vista. It simply isn't that critical to fully support IE 7 right now. |
This is quite annoying as I have recently updated to IE 7 and am waiting for Naturally Speaking to arrive at my front door after buying it last week.
Jon
Jon Gibbins, dotjay.co.uk, accessibility.co.uk wiki.
Share:
Nuance isn't a very cooperative company. Simply to ask a question costs money.
Share:
I still have Internet Explorer 6. I use Firefox.
Share:
| Questionable wrote: |
| I still have Internet Explorer 6. I use Firefox. |
However, I believe that if you install IE 7, the new installation controls more than simply your browser - the underlying engine is embedded in Windows. So, to get Windows to behave, I think you would have to uninstall IE 7 and roll back to IE 6.
Of course, I could be completely wrong. Ben (Cerbera) might be able to give us an insight here - he seems to know more about Windows than I.
Jon Gibbins, dotjay.co.uk, accessibility.co.uk wiki.
Share:
What Microsoft software updates are you talking about, if not Internet Explorer 7?
Perhaps you should ask your brother, since he seems to know what "modifications" Windows XP requires to work nicely with Dragon Dictate.
To be honest, I don't know any more about this issue and dotjay. Probably less, in fact! Understanding what changes have been made to your machine prior to Dragon Dictate going wrong might help identify the cause. Once identified, it would be easier to find a solution to it.
The first step to solving a problem is finding out what caused it.
Share:
Once in a while, Microsoft has automated updates to Windows XP.
And the change to my system was the fact that my computer had a fatal hard drive error (the hard drive had to be replaced). As a result, everything had to be reinstalled.
Share:
Ah, that means the modifications your brother did have probably been lost? I think he must know a lot more about getting it to work than we do.
Share:
The problem is that he did everything that he had before, but now the tweaks don't do the trick anymore. Help me!!!
Share:
If IE 7 is installed on your new Windows installation, Dragon software will not yet work with it correctly. It's unofficial, but a patch is supposedly due to fix the problem when Windows Vista is released (in the New Year?)
If IE 7 (a major Windows update) has not been installed, the problems may be caused by a different Windows update, but minor updates really shouldn't affect your software compatibility.
If IE 7 is installed, I can only suggest uninstalling it. Otherwise, I really don't know what else to suggest other than asking Microsoft support whether any recent updates (other than the obvious IE 7 update) might have caused a problem. It sounds as though contacting Nuance is not an option.
Jon Gibbins, dotjay.co.uk, accessibility.co.uk wiki.
Share: