[Trainer-Talk] Windows 10 virtual cursor weirdness

[Deborah Armstrong]

I updated my JAWS to 18.0.2530, the latest. I also updated my laptop from Windows 7 to Windows 10 and worked through the webinar archive on Windows 10 basics. I have Version 1607 of Windows 10.

I had no trouble with JAWS, except for needing to repair the installation because the upgrade clobbered the video intercept driver, but I figured that out and JAWS is working with my applications just fine now.

But there are instances in Windows 10, where it seems I should have a virtual cursor and where one does not appear. The easiest place to explain this are the Cortana cards and notebook. If I press the start button the search box appears.

>From reading books on Windows 10 I know I can use the notebook to adjust Cortana preferences and read the cards that pop up. I can sort of read these cards with the tab key but I can't move through any of this information with a virtual cursor.

There are several other places in Windows where the same thing is happening. For example, if I press the Windows key with the letter I to call up Settings, press Enter on System, arrow down to About and tab over to the "about" information, I can hear JAWS speaking my computer name, type and Windows version. But I can't access this with a JAWS or invisible cursor and I can't step through it with a virtual cursor either. If I read the current line, it shows a selected button labeled "rename PC".

I've set Internet Explorer and not Edge to be my default browser so shouldn't it handle the HTML-based content that appears throughout Windows? How can I get a virtual cursor to turn on?

--Deborah Armstrong