I have Windows 11 on my Acer computer. A couple days ago, alt F4 stopped working to close out webpages. Then, it stopped working to close out anything. Then, NVDA disappeared, and I could not get nearer narrator to start. I rebooted the computer, and used Seeing AI to read the screen. I was able to login, but again nothing would talk. What in the world is the problem?
Comments
Are your speakers muted possibly?
I realize this is a difficult thing to determine without sighted assistance, but I am thinking you may have at one point, pressed the FN key + one of your Function keys and inadvertently pressed a mute toggle on your keyboard.
This will be difficult on your own, but my advice would be (while on your desktop) use something like the Be My Eyes app on your phone. call a volunteer and ask them to look at your screen while you activate Narrator with CTRL + Windows key + Enter.
If it activates, but you hear nothing, press and hold the FN key on your keyboard, and go through the Function keys, starting with F1 through F12. Chances are you will unmute your computer this way.
This will be a time consuming process, and you will absolutely be frustrated. Just hang in there and I think things will worl out for you.
Alternatively if you have a sighted friend, family member, or neighbor (that you trust), invite them over for coffee and some troubleshooting. š
Best of luck to you.
Microsoft Disability Answer Desk
I second Brian's incling that the volume is likely muted or all the way down.
As far as troubleshooting, I believe you can reach the Microsoft Disability Answer Desk through The Be My Eyes app--don't quote me on this though. If so, IMHO this would be the way to go. Also if you have a USB headset or an external sound card, try plugging that in and see if sounds play through that.
For future reference
I realize what I am about to share will not help you with this current situation, but it may help prevent the situation from ever happening in the future. There is a nice little NVDA add-on called unmute audio. Basically, when NVDA starts, it will check your speakers to see if they are muted, and force them to be unmuted. It is a handy little thing, and I highly suggest you install that as soon as you get this situation resolved. Link below.
https://github.com/grisov/unmute
no luck with the speaker idea.
I hear a click every time I turn the computer off or on. So I am pretty sure the speakers are working. I tried all of the function key combos, and probably made a mess of other things, but with no results for the speech. I am thoroughly confused.
I have been through this
As far as memory can serve, I have been through this. Windows Update modified my sound driver and I had no audio at all. If you have a braille display connect it to see if you can diagnose the issue yourself. Also try wired headset to see if audio can come through. Other than this you may need sighted assistance.