- Blind-sysadmins - lists.hodgsonfamily.org

wsl, audio graphical setup
by David Mehler 02 Dec '25

02 Dec '25

Hello, Is anyone using WSL on a win10 or win11 system? If so are you using the graphical interface with audio? I've read much but the process of getting GUI audio and console audio seems convoluted, and I'm wanting to run a graphical environment in one of my WSL instances. Which graphical environment, desktop, window manager, etc is most orca-accessibly friendly? Is either speech-dispatcher or pulseaudio a viable option for console and/or GUI audio output? On the windows host side is either RDP or VNC network-accessible? Thanks. Dave. -- Sent with Thunderbird

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kvm consoles
by mattias jonsson 28 Nov '25

28 Nov '25

why are kvm consoles a piece of shit for blind users? it is near inaccessible at least dell idrac

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Reporting issues with Windows 11 and Surface Laptop installation media
by Andrew Hodgson 13 Nov '25

13 Nov '25

Hi. I wish to report a couple of issues, one isn't disability related but was wondering if you would be able to forward it to the correct department anyhow. Windows 11 media with no Narrator: I built Windows 11 installation media on 01/11 using the Media Creation tool and this didn't seem to contain Narrator. I have seen a number of other blind people reporting this issue. Is there any update on when this may get solved? Surface recovery media not bootable: I wanted to recover a surface laptop 4 using the latest factory image. The latest image I downloaded was: SurfaceLaptop4-Intel_BMR_172010_2025.819.10821033.zip I downloaded this on 11/11. The media doesn't seem to be bootable after writing it to a blank USB drive formatted in FAT32. I got round this in the end by downloading the recovery image for Windows 11 23H2 and booting from that. When it had booted into the recovery environment, I swapped the drive with the one containing the newer recovery image and was successfully able to recover the surface. I realise these recovery images don't contain Narrator but wanted to report this issue anyway. Thanks. Andrew.

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Win11 fresh install with narrator?
by David Mehler 13 Nov '25

13 Nov '25

Hello, Has anyone done a win11 fresh install with narrator speech? I just made a win11 installation iso and booted it tried to load narrator just like in the win10 installation process, and I didn't get narrator speech during the win11 process. Suggestions welcome. Thanks. Dave. -- Sent with Thunderbird

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windows server 2022 hyper-v
by mattias jonsson 02 Nov '25

02 Nov '25

are there any form of web interface for it?

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TrueNAS SCALE an Accessible Install?
by David Mehler 17 Aug '25

17 Aug '25

Hello, I am wanting to set up a home NAS. Currently I have some hardware I can purpose to this, a bit older but within specs. Later I plan to go all new components but right now I need to get something. Is anyone using TrueNAS SCALE? If so is the installation process speech-accessible or can an existing iso be modified to make it speech-accessible? Once installed how accessible is the web UI from other machines, in my case Windows using NVDA or perhaps Android using Talkback? If this route is not viable any other routes to setup a home NAS appreciated. Thanks. Dave. -- Sent with Thunderbird

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True NAS installation accessibility?
by David Mehler 13 Aug '25

13 Aug '25

Hello, Is anyone using True NAS? If so is the installation ISO speech-accessible or can it be modified to be so? Thanks. Dave. -- Sent with Thunderbird

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VSphere remote console accessibility
by Zameer Mahomed 21 Jul '25

21 Jul '25

Hi all, Hope you are well. I've just started using VSphere to manage servers. I find the web interface very accessible however, Once a server has been created, is where the issues start. I am not able to access the web console as understandably the keys do not pass through to the server, as I am using a browser with JAWS as the screen reader. I do not have the opportunity to download the VMWare remote console client yet, but I was wondering if anyone has any work arounds to access the server and apply initial configuration if you've used VSphere? While I wait for the download, if you've used the remote console, can I direct the keys to the server like I can using RDP or VMware workstation? Your help would be much appreciated. Kind Regards

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installing windowss server with narrator
by mattias jonsson 07 Jul '25

07 Jul '25

are it possible this days? looks like some isos dont have narrator

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An update re Comptia+ exam accomidations
by ultimatethesecond＠googlemail.com 04 Jul '25

04 Jul '25

Hi all. Just an update if it's useful to anyone else. It's taken a while but I have now been granted requested accommodations for the Comptia Security+ exam by Pearson Vue. There's nothing in the letter saying I can't share this info. SO. Accommodations are: Use a screenreader, my home system and extra time. I provided a copy of my blind registration certificate and a letter from my GP outlining the impact of sight loss on a practical level. i.e. I need to use a screenreader for all computer based tasks. I was sent a link to a test system. This tests your set up rather than it being an exam simulator. It will check you have no potentially problematic processes or services running, internet speed, camera, audio playback and microphone. My laptop actually failed this, despite the camera being enabled. I think there were some background processes related to VMWare it didn't like too. SO switched to my desktop using an external webcam. For obvious reasons, you need to disconnect any usb drives, close any other applications and also disable Dropbox. I couldn't kill the DB service so just uninstalled it. I could have probably stopped it starting in MsConfig I suppose but just wanted to complete the test. At one point, you are asked to check you can see yourself on screen. I used Aira via RIM for help with this. My desktop past the system test. In confirming this with Pearson Vue, I also let them know my desktop has no monitor screen and asked if the moderator during the exam could give me verbal instructions should I not be in view of the camera. Rather than risk disqualification because they can't see me of course. They have noted this. This was all pretty straight forward I'm glad to say. July is a busy month so I hope to book the exam in August. Regards Chris.

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