[blindLaw] Windows computer Suggestions

Matney, Angela R. AMatney at reedsmith.com
Thu Jan 11 20:06:31 UTC 2024 

Hi Sanho,

I'm not sure if this is the same issue or not. It sounds similar, but the behavior you describe below wasn't exactly what I experienced. Still, in case it is helpful, the solution was to disable the Waves MaxxAudio service. More info is at https://www.perkins.org/resource/dell-computer-and-jaws-bug/. I'm pasting excerpts below as well. I thought this had also been addressed in JAWS, but it could be that this is the culprit related to what you have experienced.

Dell Computer and JAWS Bug
Does Windows become sluggish, applications close or crash, or virtual memory errors appear on your Dell computer?
Freedom Scientific Technical Support shares about this bug and a work-around solution.

Short Description
On Dell computers, Windows becomes sluggish, Virtual memory errors appear, or applications unexpectedly close or crash when Waves MaxxAudio Service is running.

Problem
If your Dell PC or laptop uses the Waves MaxxAudio Service for its onboard audio chipset, problems may occur the longer you use the computer. Windows may become sluggish. Applications such as JAWS or Microsoft Teams may close or crash unexpectedly. Virtual memory errors might occur.

See the Detailed Description section link below before continuing to the Solution if you wish to have more background information.

Solution
To disable or enable the Waves MaxxAudio Service Application:

Open Task Manager (the shortcut is CTRL+SHIFT+ESC).
Press the TAB key once. If this navigates to More Details, then press the SPACEBAR to show more details. 
Navigate to the Startup tab. 
Navigate to the list of items table. 
Type w to navigate to the items starting with the letter w. 
Press the DOWN ARROW key, if needed to navigate to Waves MaxxAudio Service Application. If it is not in the list, then this is not the cause of the problem. 
With Waves MaxxAudio Service Application selected, press ALT+A to disable it. 
Restart the computer.
Use the computer for a few hours or so, without rebooting, until you are convinced the performance issues no longer exist. This may take several sessions. 
If the problem persists and you want to reenable Waves MaxxAudio Service Application, follow steps 1 through 8 but in step 8, press ALT+N to enable it. 
Note: The only real downside to disabling the Waves MaxxAudio Service Application is that the PC will no longer dynamically respond to plugging in a different output audio device. For example, if you plug in headphones, the computer will not use them until rebooting. 



Angela R. Matney, CIPP/US (Angie)
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-----Original Message-----
From: BlindLaw <blindlaw-bounces at nfbnet.org> On Behalf Of Sanho Steele-Louchart via BlindLaw
Sent: Thursday, January 11, 2024 2:58 PM
To: Blind Law Mailing List <blindlaw at nfbnet.org>
Cc: Sanho Steele-Louchart <sanho817 at gmail.com>
Subject: Re: [blindLaw] Windows computer Suggestions

External E-Mail - FROM BlindLaw <blindlaw-bounces at nfbnet.org>

Angie: 

You said an audio driver issue's been fixed. Did you mean the memory leak? If so, can you say more? I just replaced my personal Dell and am helping multiple clients with this ongoing issue. 

Sanho 

> On Jan 11, 2024, at 2:41 PM, Matney, Angela R. via BlindLaw <blindlaw at nfbnet.org> wrote:
> 
> Hi Syed,
> 
> Good points—the software used by a particular firm can definitely contribute to the frequency of screen-reader crashes. I use a Dell also. A couple years back, there was an audio driver issue that caused many JAWS crashes. That has since been resolved. There are settings you can tweak to address the spacial audio mode on Dell machines—I can post more info about that if anyone is interested.
> 
> Best,
> 
> Angie
> 
> 
> Composed in Braille on a mobile device 
> ________________________________
> From: BlindLaw <blindlaw-bounces at nfbnet.org> on behalf of Syed Rizvi 
> via BlindLaw <blindlaw at nfbnet.org>
> Sent: Thursday, January 11, 2024 2:33:27 PM
> To: Blind Law Mailing List <blindlaw at nfbnet.org>
> Cc: Syed Rizvi <syedrizvinfb at gmail.com>
> Subject: Re: [blindLaw] Windows computer Suggestions
> 
> External E-Mail - FROM BlindLaw <blindlaw-bounces at nfbnet.org>
> 
> I used a Lenovo X1 Carbon in a pre law summer internship at a firm 
> before law school. It worked so well that I bought one for law school 
> and it’s been a beast. At the firm where I am currently headed to, 
> they use Dells, and they are absolutely terrible. Dells have this 
> notorious spatial audio issue and it’s just horrible. I only use JAWS. 
> There’s something about firm laptops though that just makes them 
> glitch out. I think it probably has something to do with all of their 
> extra software applications running on them for security and stuff. 
> I’d suggest avoiding a Dell and if they’re paying for it, maxing out 
> the capabilities can only help with handling the load of terribly designed assistive programs.
> 
>> On Thu, Jan 11, 2024 at 2:24 PM Sanho Steele-Louchart via BlindLaw < 
>> blindlaw at nfbnet.org> wrote:
>> 
>> For those of you using screen-readers on Windows machines who are 
>> experiencing frequent crashes, do you happen to have a Dell? Certain 
>> Dell machines are infamous for a memory leak that causes constant 
>> sound to crash the operating system after some time. The 
>> screen-reader works fine, then crackles, lags, and eventually gives 
>> you the modern equivalent of the blue screen of death.
>> 
>> Sanho
>> 
>>> On Jan 11, 2024, at 2:17 PM, Teresita Rios via BlindLaw <
>> blindlaw at nfbnet.org> wrote:
>>> 
>>> Hi Page,
>>> I use a Mac but a new firm prefers Windows. I told them my bad
>> experiance with Windoes and ZoomTex and Fusion and they still ask for 
>> a Windows alternative. So here I am trying to figure out the windows world.
>>> 
>>> My Mac has only glitched like twice in the three years I had it.
>>> I use Zoom with Spoken Content at the same time. This combination is
>> pretty much  ZoomText. It reads what is underneath the cursor and 
>> what you type.
>>> However, sometimes for some reason a webpage or PDF is not being 
>>> read by
>> Spoken Content. But in such a case I just turn on VoiceOver. 
>> VoiceOver, is controlled by the keyboard (not the cursor)  can also 
>> be used with zoom on a Mac. and you have essentially Fusion.
>>> 
>>> Warmly,
>>> Teresita
>>> 
>>> 
>>>> On Jan 11, 2024, at 2:02 PM, Paige via BlindLaw 
>>>> <blindlaw at nfbnet.org>
>> wrote:
>>>> 
>>>> Hi!
>>>> 
>>>> I’m using a 32GB ram, i7 processor, and not sure what type of video
>> memory.
>>>> 
>>>> My system is constantly crashing, but I use Fusion. I got the same
>> response from Freedom Scientific.
>>>> 
>>>> Does anyone who uses Apple/Voiceover have these issues?
>>>> 
>>>> Thank you,
>>>> Paige
>>>> 
>>>>>> On Jan 11, 2024, at 11:56 AM, Capelle, Michael C. via BlindLaw <
>> blindlaw at nfbnet.org> wrote:
>>>>> 
>>>>> I am running a 16 GB system with a core I 5/12 General processor, 
>>>>> 512
>> GB of hard drive, with no issues whatsoever. My laptop is running 
>> four gigs of ram, a core three, and a 256 GB hard drive, with no issues at all.
>>>>> Sent with Mike’s iPhone 14 promax.
>>>>> 
>>>>>> On Jan 11, 2024, at 12:39 PM, Teresita Rios via BlindLaw <
>> blindlaw at nfbnet.org> wrote:
>>>>>> 
>>>>>> Dear all,
>>>>>> 
>>>>>> I called Freedom Scientific for suggestions of what computers 
>>>>>> would
>> not constantly crash with their software. and they gave me a list of 
>> speks like 32 GB of ram and large Cache video memory. I asked what is 
>> a good number and what Cache is. But they were not helpfull stating 
>> “large vvideo rendering memory is all you need” and that they could 
>> not give me more specifics.
>>>>>> So if I am overwhelmed by the number of Windows computers out 
>>>>>> there,
>> I humbly request aid by providing a starting point. I have several 
>> questions.
>>>>>> Do you use Zoomtex, JAWS or Fusion?
>>>>>> if yes,
>>>>>> How often does your computer crash?
>>>>>> if not very often
>>>>>> What Windows computer are you using? what are the specs?  RAM and 
>>>>>> SSD
>> and other memory internal things.
>>>>>> 
>>>>>> Does anyone know what is a good amount of cache or how to check 
>>>>>> for
>> that on a computer?
>>>>>> 
>>>>>> Thank you all!
>>>>>> Teresita
>>>>>> 
>>>>>> _______________________________________________
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>> tmail.com
>>>>> 
>>>>> 
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