As far as enabling the service without speech, the following command line should work: NET START "Windows Audio" As for how to know if you are in the "right place" to be able to run this command, I don't really have a good answer. I'd say, if auto login is enabled, at some point you make the assumption that it actually worked as expected. Then press CTRL+ESC to open the START menu. Type CMD in the search box that comes up by default, and then ENTER This should bring you to a command prompt from where you can type the command to enable the Audio service. It may be somewhat generic, but it works very well for me... To test audio, I use the WIN+M or WIN+D hotkey to minimize everything and place me on the desktop. Then I press a key that most likely will not be the first letter of a desktop shortcut, such as the semicolon. If I have usable audio, I will hear the Windows Default sound when pressing the key. It can be a hit-miss situation on occasion, but works well for me more times than not. Hope that makes sense. -----Original Message----- From: Barry Toner [mailto:barry@barry-toner.co.uk] Sent: Wednesday, August 01, 2012 9:36 AM To: Blind sysadmins list Subject: Re: [Blind-sysadmins] Windows Server 2008 R2 Virtual Machine Hi, Thanks for this tip. Would you know. 1. How to enable the audio process? And 2. Be able to provide further tips as when I'll know I'll be in a position withint he VM to enable this audio process an dknow it's taken effect? Regards, Barry -----Original Message----- From: Blind-sysadmins [mailto:blind-sysadmins-bounces@lists.hodgsonfamily.org] On Behalf Of Alex Coleman Sent: 01 August 2012 13:14 To: Blind sysadmins list Subject: Re: [Blind-sysadmins] Windows Server 2008 R2 Virtual Machine The Windows Audio service is disabled by default in Microsoft Server products. You may need to explicitly enable it, in order to get any audio feedback. Alex Coleman Information Technologies Davis Express, Inc. 5270 SE 131st St., Starke, FL 32091 Direct: (904) 964-6619, Ext. 2132 AlexC@davis-express.com -----Original Message----- From: Barry Toner [mailto:barry@barry-toner.co.uk] Sent: Wednesday, August 01, 2012 8:10 AM To: Blind-sysadmins@lists.hodgsonfamily.org Subject: [Blind-sysadmins] Windows Server 2008 R2 Virtual Machine Hi folks, I've tried to install his as a VM several times with no success. I've left it alone for several hours and when I come back I can't get any audio feedback fromt he installation. VMware for Windows keeps saying it's installing. I'm installing from DVD media. I installed it and told it to autologin. Any suggestions? Regards, Barry. _______________________________________________ Blind-sysadmins mailing list Blind-sysadmins@lists.hodgsonfamily.org http://lists.hodgsonfamily.org/listinfo/blind-sysadmins _______________________________________________ Blind-sysadmins mailing list Blind-sysadmins@lists.hodgsonfamily.org http://lists.hodgsonfamily.org/listinfo/blind-sysadmins _______________________________________________ Blind-sysadmins mailing list Blind-sysadmins@lists.hodgsonfamily.org http://lists.hodgsonfamily.org/listinfo/blind-sysadmins