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Accessibility options in Windows XP

The following accessibility tools are frequently used when configuring accessibility options in Windows XP.

Turn on High Contrast

High Contrast improves screen contrast with alternative colors and font sizes. High Contrast is designed for people who have vision impairment. High contrast color schemes can make the screen easier to view for some users by heightening screen contrast with alternative color combinations. Some of the schemes also change font sizes for easier reading.

  1. Open Accessibility Options (see below).
  2. On the Display tab, under High Contrast, select the Use High Contrast checkbox.

To turn off High Contrast, clear the Use High Contrast checkbox.

Notes:

  • To open Accessibility Options, click Start, point to Settings, click Control Panel, and then double-click Accessibility Options.
  • If the Use shortcut checkbox in the Settings for High Contrast dialog box is selected, you can turn High Contrast on or off by pressing the left ALT + left SHIFT + PRINT SCREEN keys (depending on the other settings you have selected in the Accessibility Options dialog box). To open the Settings for High Contrast dialog box, open Accessibility Options, click the Display tab, and then, under High Contrast, click Settings.

Turn on StickyKeys

StickyKeys enables simultaneous keystrokes while pressing one key at a time. StickyKeys is designed for people who have difficulty holding down two or more keys simultaneously. When a shortcut requires a key combination, such as CTRL+P, StickyKeys will enable you to press a modifier key (CTRL, ALT, or SHIFT), or the Windows logo key (Windows logo key), and have it remain active until another key is pressed.

  1. Open Accessibility Options (see below).
  2. On the Keyboard tab, under StickyKeys, select the Use StickyKeys checkbox.

To turn off StickyKeys, clear the Use StickyKeys checkbox.

Notes:

  • To open Accessibility Options, click Start, point to Settings, click Control Panel, and then double-click Accessibility Options.
  • If the Use shortcut checkbox in the Settings for StickyKeys dialog box is selected, you can turn StickyKeys on or off by pressing the SHIFT key five times.
  • For more information on changing StickyKeys options, click Related Topics.

Turn on FilterKeys

FilterKeys adjusts the response of your keyboard. FilterKeys is a keyboard feature that instructs the keyboard to ignore brief or repeated keystrokes. Using FilterKeys, you can also slow the rate at which a key repeats when you hold it down.

  1. Open Accessibility Options (see below).
  2. On the Keyboard tab, under FilterKeys, select the Use FilterKeys checkbox.

To turn off FilterKeys, clear the Use FilterKeys checkbox.

Notes:

  • To open Accessibility Options, click Start, point to Settings, click Control Panel, and then double-click Accessibility Options.
  • If the Use shortcut checkbox in the Settings for FilterKeys dialog box is selected, you can turn FilterKeys on or off by holding down the right SHIFT key for 8 to 16 seconds (depending on the other settings you have selected in the Accessibility Options dialog box). To open the Settings for FilterKeys dialog box, open Accessibility Options and then, under FilterKeys, click Settings.

Turn on ToggleKeys

ToggleKeys emits sounds when locking keys such as CAPS LOCK, SCROLL LOCK, and NUM LOCK are pressed. ToggleKeys is designed for people who have a vision impairment or cognitive disabilities. When ToggleKeys is turned on, your computer will provide sound cues when the locking keys (CAPS LOCK, NUM LOCK, or SCROLL LOCK) are pressed. A high sound plays when the keys are switched on and a low sound plays when they are switched off.

  1. Open Accessibility Options (see below).
  2. On the Keyboard tab, under ToggleKeys, select the Use ToggleKeys checkbox.

To turn off ToggleKeys, clear the Use ToggleKeys checkbox.

Notes:

  • To open Accessibility Options, click Start, point to Settings, click Control Panel, and then double-click Accessibility Options.
  • To use the keyboard shortcut which allows you to turn ToggleKeys on and off by pressing the NUM LOCK key for five seconds, on the Keyboard tab, under ToggleKeys, click Settings.
  • If the Use shortcut checkbox in the Settings for ToggleKeys dialog box is selected, you can turn ToggleKeys on or off by holding down the NUM LOCK key for five seconds.

Turn on SoundSentry

SoundSentry provides visual warnings for system sounds. SoundSentry is designed for people who have difficulty hearing system sounds generated by the computer. SoundSentry allows you to change settings to generate visual warnings, such as a blinking title bar or a flashing border, whenever the computer generates a sound.

  1. Open Accessibility Options (see below).
  2. On the Sound tab, under SoundSentry, select the Use SoundSentry checkbox.

To turn off SoundSentry, select the Use SoundSentry checkbox to clear the checkbox.

Note:

  • To open Accessibility Options, click Start, point to Settings, click Control Panel, and then double-click Accessibility Options.

Turn on ShowSounds

ShowSounds instructs programs to display captions for program speech and sounds.

  1. Open Accessibility Options (see below).
  2. On the Sound tab, under ShowSounds, select the Use ShowSounds checkbox.

To turn off ShowSounds, clear the Use ShowSounds checkbox.

Notes:

  • To open Accessibility Options, click Start, point to Settings, click Control Panel, and then double-click Accessibility Options.
  • ShowSounds instructs programs that convey information by sound to also provide information visually, for example, through text captions or informative icons.

Turn on MouseKeys

MouseKeys enables the keyboard to perform mouse functions. MouseKeys is designed for people who have difficulty using a mouse. MouseKeys allows you to use the numeric keypad to control the mouse pointer. If you want to use the numeric keypad for data entry as well as for navigation, you can set the MouseKeys to be activated by pressing NUM LOCK.

  1. Open Accessibility Options (see below).
  2. On the Mouse tab, under MouseKeys, select the Use MouseKeys checkbox.

To turn off MouseKeys, clear the Use MouseKeys checkbox.

To turn on MouseKeys using keystrokes

  1. Press left ALT + left SHIFT + NUM LOCK.
  2. In the MouseKeys message dialog box, press SPACEBAR to clear the Turn off keyboard shortcut for this accessibility feature checkbox.
  3. Press TAB, and then press ENTER.

If MouseKeys does not turn on using the keystrokes above, follow the steps below.

  1. Press the Windows logo key (Windows logo key) + R to display the Run dialog box.
  2. Type access.cpl and press ENTER.
  3. Press CTRL+TAB until the Mouse tab is selected.
  4. To select Use MouseKeys, press SPACEBAR.
  5. Press TAB twice to select OK, and then press ENTER.

Notes:

  • To open Accessibility Options, click Start, point to Settings, click Control Panel, and then double-click Accessibility Options.
  • To change settings for MouseKeys, on the Mouse tab, click Settings.
  • If the Use shortcut checkbox in the Settings for MouseKeys dialog box is selected, you can turn MouseKeys on or off by pressing left ALT+left SHIFT+NUM LOCK.

Turn on SerialKeys

SerialKeys allows the use of alternative input devices instead of a keyboard and mouse. Serial Keys is designed for people who have difficulty using the computer's standard keyboard or mouse. Serial Keys provides support so that alternative input devices, such as single switch or puff and sip devices, can be plugged into the computer's serial port.

  1. Open Accessibility Options (see below).
  2. On the General tab, under SerialKey devices, select Use Serial Keys.

To turn off Serial Keys, clear the Use Serial Keys checkbox.

Important

  • To use Serial Keys, Fast User Switching must be turned off. (Fast User Switching is only available on Windows XP Home Edition and Windows XP Professional when it is not joined to a domain.)

Notes:

  • To open Accessibility Options, click Start, point to Settings, click Control Panel, and then double-click Accessibility Options.

Accessibility Options in Control Panel can be used with other accessibility programs included with Windows XP. See the following links for more information.

Zoom in on your screen in Windows XP with Magnifier

Read text aloud in Windows XP with Narrator

Type using a pointing device or joystick with On-screen Keyboard in Windows XP

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