FAQS! FACTS! FAX!  460 (05/04/05)

Q

I am looking for a simple TTS (Text to Speech) reader for Windows XP, to be used for a partially blind person.  The Google search results bring up several, some with OCR, mostly with other unwanted bells and whistles. The software should preferably be freeware or cost less than £50. Any ideas?

Stan Gow, via email

A

Windows XP has a built in text to speech utility called Narrator. It is intended to help blind or partially sighted users use Windows by announcing commands and keystrokes but it can also be persuaded to read blocks of text. Open Narrator by pressing Winkey + U (or go to Start > Programs < Accessories > Accessibility Options) then copy and paste the text you want to be read into Windows Notepad and press Ctrl + Shift + Enter and it will start. Narrator settings -- speed, voice etc., -- can be changed from Speech in Control Panel.

Q

In reply to the question by John Broadbent (Faqs! Facts! Fax! March 21st), the display timings of the Windows Picture and Fax viewer slide show can be changed by using Tweak UI. and the Explorer > Slide Show option. They can also be changed by amending the registry, but Tweak UI is obviously the less dangerous route.

Ian Jones, via email

The time period of the basic slide show can be adjusted by hitting the space bar. The slide will then display until Enter is hit or the mouse is clicked. Only a small improvement, but very useful.

Angus McGready

Further to the item about changing the timings on the Slide Show utility, have you seen

Microsoft Photostory 3? It’s a free and can be downloaded from: www.microsoft.com/genuine/offers/. It has editing facilities and can add motion, effects, pans, zooms, music and narration to digital photos,

Jon Ben, via email

A.

Many thanks for those useful suggestions, especially the one for Tweak UI, which has lots of useful tools for manipulating hidden Windows settings. Tweak UI, part of the PowerToys suite is free and can be downloaded from the Microsoft web site -- just Google ‘tweak ui xp’. Photostory 3 is another interesting freebie from Microsoft but be aware that it only works on Windows XP, you need to install Media Player 10 and it goes through a Windows XP validation check before the download will proceed.

Q

I use Mozilla Thunderbird for my email. After your recent reply to a query I decided to have a broadband connection. On the Waitrose site, as I signed up, they asked for my password - which I had forgotten! Their technical helpline changed it remotely for me, and yesterday I logged on to the Internet fine but when I came to check my emails on Thunderbird it keeps telling me my password is incorrect.  I cannot find my password anywhere on Thunderbird where I can alter it. The Waitrose technical helpline cannot help as they can only advise on Outlook Express.

Gill Francis, via email

A

Unlike Outlook Express email login passwords in Thunderbird are stored separately from account information. As far as I am aware there’s no option to change a password, but you can delete the existing one and when Thunderbird next tries to download email you will be asked to enter a new one. To do that go to Options on the Tools menu and click the Advanced icon on the left then the ‘Managed Stored Passwords’ button. Highlight the account then click Remove. Close Thunderbird then open it again and when you click the Get New Messages button enter your login password; don’t forget to tick the item ‘Use Password Manager to remember this Password’.

Q

I have a new PC and I want to transfer files, folders and programs from my old PC (maybe even the contents of the entire hard disc). Both PC's are running Windows XP (Home). What is the quickest way to do it?  Can I connect the two PC's together with some cable and do the transfer that way - rather than using CD's?

David Rees, via email

A

You cannot easily transfer programs and applications from one PC to another because of the changes programs make to the Windows Registry when they are installed, however, there’s no problem copying data files (documents, photographs, spreadsheets and so on). The quickest and simplest method is to whip out the drive from the old PC and temporarily ‘slave’ it to the hard drive on the new PC using the spare data ribbon and power cables that you will find inside most desktop PCs. Before you connect the old drive change the ‘jumper’ settings to slave mode -- there should be a diagram showing the jumper positions printed on a label on the top or bottom of the drive. Pop in the connectors - making sure that they go in the right way around -- boot up the PC and the drive should be recognised by Windows. You can then use Windows Explorer to drag and drop files and folders from the old drive to the new one. If you don’t fancy the idea of tinkering with your PC’s innards then you can use a serial cable connection between the two PCs. There’s more information in Windows Help, type ‘transfer wizard’ in the Search box. Specialised data transfer USB cables and software is also available from PC suppliers but on no account use a standard USB cable as this could fry the ports on both PCs.

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© R. Maybury 2005, 2303