Microsoft KB Archive/331982

= Vision Related Accessibility Software Does Not Work =

PSS ID Number: 331982

Article Last Modified on 3/1/2004

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The information in this article applies to:


 * Microsoft Windows Server 2003, Enterprise Edition
 * Microsoft Windows Server 2003, Datacenter Edition
 * Microsoft Windows Server 2003, Standard Edition
 * Microsoft Windows Server 2003, 64-Bit Datacenter Edition
 * Microsoft Windows Server 2003, 64-Bit Enterprise Edition
 * Microsoft Windows Server 2003, Web Edition
 * Microsoft Windows Small Business Server 2003, Standard Edition
 * Microsoft Windows Small Business Server 2003, Premium Edition

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This article was previously published under Q331982



SYMPTOMS
Vision related accessibility software such as JAWS and Windows Eyes do not work on Windows Server 2003.



CAUSE
This behavior occurs because vision related accessibility software uses the ExtEscape call to communicate between the user and the kernel mode components of the software. By default, Windows Server 2003 reduces hardware acceleration to increase stability and security. Therefore, ExtEscape calls no longer work, which prevents the vision accessibility software from working properly.



WORKAROUND
To work around this issue, follow these steps:
 * 1) Click Start, click Control Panel, and then click Display.
 * 2) Click the Settings tab, click Advanced, and then click the Troubleshooting tab.
 * 3) Move the Hardware acceleration slider to the right, toward Full.

NOTE: This may allow the vision related accessibility software to work, but it also lowers the stability and security levels of Windows Server 2003 to near those of Windows XP Professional.

Keywords: kbprb kbinfo KB331982

Technology: kbSBServ2003Pre kbSBServ2003Search kbSBServ2003St kbSBServSearch kbWinServ2003Data kbWinServ2003Data64bit kbWinServ2003Data64bitSearch kbWinServ2003DataSearch kbWinServ2003Ent kbWinServ2003Ent64bit kbWinServ2003Ent64bitSearch kbWinServ2003EntSearch kbWinServ2003Search kbWinServ2003St kbWinServ2003Web

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