Bulletin Type: FAQ

Date Posted: 12/17/2003

Product Name: JAWS

Version: Any

Category: Tips

Question:

Automatically starting JAWS interferes with some functions. How do I set up a shortcut to manually start JAWS?

Answer:

Perform the following to assign a shortcut key to the JAWS desktop shortcut.

1. Press WINDOWS Key+M to minimize all windows and move to the Windows Desktop.
2. Press J, the first letter of the JAWS desktop shortcut. You may need to press J several times in order to select the correct shortcut.
3. Press ALT+ENTER to open the Properties dialog box.
4. On the Shortcuts tab, press ALT+K to move to the Shortcut Key edit box.
5. Press J to assign CTRL+ALT+J as the shortcut key that starts JAWS. You can press INSERT+UP ARROW to hear the shortcut key.
6. Press ENTER to save your changes.

You can also put a shortcut for JAWS in the Startup folder that is located in the Start menu. This allows you to start JAWS right after your system starts.

1. Press WINDOWS Key+M to minimize all windows.
2. Press J until you select the desktop shortcut for JAWS.
3. Press CTRL+C to copy the shortcut.
4. Open the Start menu and choose Programs.
5. Select the Startup folder. Press the APPLICATIONS Key and then press O.
6. Press CTRL+V to paste the JAWS shortcut into the Startup folder.

Note: If you use this method to start JAWS, you will not have speech for the login screen or CTRL+ALT+DELETE Windows Security dialog box.

The following issues can often be corrected by either loading JAWS manually or turning off the Automatically Start JAWS option. This is because JAWS may
load utilities and drivers in an order that causes other programs to not function as expected.

JAWS dialogs not speaking highlighted or selected items, or list box items such as INS+F7.
JAWS help is not working when JAWS is run as a service under Windows 2000, service pack 3 or 4.
After installing JAWS 4.5, JAWS 3.5x through JAWS 4.0x will not read the start menu using Run JAWS First/Automatically Start JAWS
Some Windows system sounds don't play as expected.