Windows XP Step by Step Tutorials

Following are step by step tutorials on adjusting accessibility options and using accessibility utilities in Windows XP. Instructions are provided for both mouse and keyboard implementation.

Accessibility Wizard

Using the Accessibility Wizard

• Set Options for People Who Are Blind or Have Difficulty Seeing Things on the Screen
• Set Options for People Who Are Deaf or Have Difficulty Hearing Sounds from the Computer
• Set Options for People Who Have Difficulty Using the Keyboard or Mouse
• Disable Personalized Menus

Adjusting Settings to Your Needs and Preferences

Adjusting Accessibility Options
On the Keyboard tab

• StickyKeys: Press One Key at a Time for Key Combinations
• FilterKeys: Ignore Brief or Repeated Keystrokes and Slow Down the Repeat Rate
• ToggleKeys: Hear Tones When Pressing Certain Keys
• Show Extra Keyboard Help in Programs

On the Sound tab:

• SoundSentry: Get Visual Warnings for System Sounds
• ShowSounds: Display Captions for Speech and Sounds

On the Display tab:

• High Contrast: Choose a High Contrast Color Combination to Improve Screen Resolution
• Choose the Width and Blink Rate of the Cursor

On the Mouse tab:

• MouseKeys: Control the Pointer Using the Numeric Keypad

On the General tab:

• SerialKeys: Use an Alternative Input Device Instead of a Keyboard or Mouse
• Turn Off Accessibility Features after Specified Idle Time
• Get Visual Notification When Turning a Feature On or Off
• Get Sound Notification When Turning a Feature On or Off
• Apply All Accessibility Settings to the Logon Desktop
• Apply All Settings to Defaults for New Users

Adjusting Display Options

• Use Large Icons
• Hide Underlined Letters for Keyboard Navigation Until ALT Key is Pressed
• Choose Screen Resolution
• Adjust Display and Appearance

Adjusting Mouse Options

• Reverse the Function of the Right and Left Mouse Buttons
• Adjust the Double-Click Speed of the Mouse
• ClickLock: Highlight or Drag Without Holding Down the Mouse Button
• Choose a Pointer Scheme
• Select a Pointer Speed
• SnapTo: Move Pointer to the Default Button in a Dialog Box
• Display Pointer Trails
• Hide the Pointer While Typing
• Show Location of Pointer

Adjusting Keyboard Options

• Adjust Character Repeat Rate
• Adjust Cursor Blink Rate
• Select a Dvorak Keyboard Layout

Adjusting Internet Options

• Ignore Colors, Font Styles, or Font Sizes Specified on Web Pages
• Format Web Pages Using a Custom Style Sheet
• Select Text and Background Colors of Web Pages
• Select Colors for Visited and Unvisited Links
• Select Hover Link Colors
• Select a Font Style for Web Pages that Do Not Have a Specified Text Font
• Always Expand ALT Text for Images
• Move System Caret with Focus/Selection Changes
• Turn On or Turn Off Smooth Scrolling
• Turn On or Turn Off Play Animations, Sounds, and Videos in Web Pages

Adjusting Sounds and Audio Options

• Adjust Computer Sound Volume
• Choose a Sound Scheme
• Assign a Sound to a System Event

Adjusting Taskbar and Start Menu Options

• Keep the Taskbar on Top of Other Windows
• Display the QuickLaunch Bar on the Taskbar
• Customize the Start Menu
• Specify the Classic Look and Behavior for the Start Menu

Adjusting User Accounts Options

• Choose Whether Users Need to Press CTRL+ALT+DELETE Before Logging On
• Turn On Fast User Switching

Adjusting Speech Options

• Choose the Text-to-Speech Playback Voice
• Choose the Rate of Speech for the Text-to-Speech Playback Voice
• Choose an Audio Device for Text-to-Speech Playback

Accessibility Utilities

Using Utility Manager

• Open Utility Manager
• Start Accessibility Programs Automatically When You Log On
• Start Accessibility Programs Automatically When You Lock Your Computer Desktop
• Start Accessibility Programs When Utility Manager Starts
• Start or Stop Accessibility Programs Using Utility Manager

Using On-Screen Keyboard

• Turn On and Use On-Screen Keyboard
• Select a Keyboard Layout
• Select the Font for On-Screen Keyboard Keys
• Keep On-Screen Keyboard Window on Top
• Use an Audible Click
• Use Clicking Mode
• Use Hovering Mode
• Use Scanning Mode

Using Narrator

• Turn On and Use Narrator
• Set Narrator to Announce Events on the Screen
• Set Narrator to Read Typed Characters
• Set Narrator to Move Mouse Pointer to the Active Item
• Start Narrator Minimized
• Set Narrator Voice Options

Using Magnifier

• Turn On and Use Magnifier
• Change the Position of the Magnifier Window
• Change the Size of the Magnifier Window
• Invert the Colors of the Magnifier Window
• Set the Magnifier Magnification Level
• Set Magnifier Tracking Options