Make Windows XP More Accessible for Everyone

If you are blind or have difficulty seeing things on screen, you can quickly set vision related options using the Accessibility Wizard. Learn how to take advantage of scrollbar and window border size, desktop icons, high contrast schemes, size and color of the mouse cursor, and more in Windows XP .

If you are deaf or have difficulty hearing sounds from the computer, you can quickly set sound options using the Accessibility Wizard. Learn how to get visual warnings for system sounds, have captions displayed for speech and sounds, and more in Windows XP .

If you have difficulty using the keyboard or mouse, you can quickly set options using the Accessibility Wizard. Learn how to turn on StickyKeys, MouseKeys, and FilterKeys, get extra keyboard help in programs, select cursor size and color options, and more in Windows XP .

Menus automatically keep the options you use most at the top, but if this feature does not improve accessibility, you can disable it. Learn how to disable personalized menus in Windows XP .

StickyKeys is an accessibility feature designed for people who have difficulty holding down two or more keys at a time. Learn how to use StickyKeys in Windows XP .

FilterKeys adjusts the keyboard response so that inadvertently repeated keystrokes are ignored. Learn how to turn on FilterKeys in Windows XP .

ToggleKeys is an accessibility feature designed for people who have vision impairment or cognitive disabilities. Learn how to use ToggleKeys in Windows XP .

Some programs show extra keyboard help. Learn how to display this when available in Windows XP .

SoundSentry is an accessibility feature designed for people who have difficulty hearing system sounds generated by the computer. Learn how to use SoundSentry in Windows XP .

ShowSounds is an accessibility feature which instructs programs that usually convey information only by sound to also provide all information visually, such as by displaying text captions or informative icons. Learn how to use ShowSounds in Windows XP .

High Contrast color schemes can increase legibility for some users by heightening screen contrast with alternative color combinations. Learn how to enable high contrast in Windows XP .

MouseKeys allows you to use the numeric keypad to control the movement of the mouse pointer. Learn how to use this feature in Windows XP .

Adjusting the cursor width and blink rate makes it easier to see. Learn how to set the cursor width and blink rate in Windows XP .

SerialKeys is an accessibility feature designed for people who have difficulty using the computer's standard keyboard or mouse. Learn how to use SerialKeys in Windows XP .

Learn how to turn off accessibility features you have used after a specified number of minutes.

When this accessibility option is selected, a warning message will appear when you use a shortcut key to turn an accessibility feature on or off. Learn how to use visual notification in Windows XP .

A sound notification is useful to alert people who might turn on a feature accidentally. Learn how to use sound notification in Windows XP .

With this feature all users will be able to use accessibility features to help them log on to the computer. Learn how to apply it in Windows XP .

When the accessibility options are applied as the default for all new user accounts, all users will be able to use accessibility features to help them log on. Learn how to set accessibility features as default in Windows XP .

You can enlarge the icons on your screen to make them easier to see or to access. Learn how to use large icons in Windows XP .

By pressing keys that correspond to the underlined letters in menus, commands, or dialog box options, you can quickly select options using the keyboard, rather than the mouse. You can also choose to hide underlined letters until you press the ALT, TAB or arrow keys. Learn how to hide underlines in Windows XP .

For higher legibility of documents on screen, you can adjust the screen resolution of your monitor. Learn how to adjust screen resolution in Windows XP .

For accessibility needs, or for lefthanded mouse use, you can reverse the buttons and use the right mouse button as the primary button. Learn how to reverse the mouse button functions in Windows XP .

You can adjust the doubleclick speed of the mouse to make it respond faster or slower to meet your accessibility needs. Learn how to adjust doubleclick speed in Windows XP .

To highlight or drag items without holding the mouse button, you can select the ClickLock option. Learn how to enable ClickLock in Windows XP .

You can choose a pointer schemea predefined set of mouse pointers, such as Magnified or Windows Black (extra large)to increase visibility of the mouse pointer on your screen. Learn how to choose a pointer scheme in Windows XP .

Pointer speed relates to the distance that the pointer moves respective to the distance that the mouse or trackball moves. Learn how to adjust the speed to your needs and preferences in Windows XP .

You can choose to have the pointer move to the default button in a dialog box so it is easier to see which button or option has focus and will be activated when you press ENTER. Learn how to use SnapTo in Windows XP .

For better visibility of the mouse pointer, you can set Windows XP to display pointer trails on Liquid Crystal Display (LCD) screens. Learn how to display pointer trails in Windows XP .

For better visibility of your document while you work especially if you use an enlarged mouse pointer or a pointer scheme, you can set Windows XP to hide the mouse pointer while you type. Learn how to hide the pointer while typing in Windows XP .

You can use a brief animation to help you quickly locate the pointer on your screen while you work. Learn how to use this feature in Windows XP .

Adjusting the speed at which a character repeats when you hold down a key can help people with impaired mobility. Learn how to change character repeat rates in Windows XP .

You can adjust the speed at which the cursor (insertion point) blinks to make it more visible, or lessdepending on your needs. Learn how to adjust the cursor blink rate in Windows XP .

Your color and style selections can override those on a Web page if you set Internet Explorer 6 to ignore colors, font styles, and font sizes specified on Web pages. Learn how to ignore Web colors and fonts in Windows XP .

Advanced computer users can display Web pages using their own custom style sheets to specify the default font style, size, colors, and background for text and headings. Learn how to use style sheets in Windows XP .

To increase contrast between screen elements, you can select text and background colors of Web pages displayed on your screen. Learn how to select text and background colors with Windows XP .

Particular color choices make links easier to see for some users, especially those who use highcontrast color schemes. Learn how to select colors for visited and unvisited links on Web pages in Windows XP .

You can choose a color to display links you pass over or point to with the mouse pointer. This hover color and can help some people with vision or cognitive impairments identify links on Web pages. Learn how to change hover colors in Windows XP .

You can select a font style to be used in Web pages that do not have a specified text font. Learn how to use this feature in Windows XP .

The ALT text is read by the text-to-speech engine to describe images. Learn how to ensure that ALT text is not cut off if the amount of ALT text is larger than the image in Windows XP .

To improve the functionality of some screen readers, you can moves the system caret (cursor or insertion point) when the focus/selection changes. Learn how to use this feature in Windows XP .

When selected, this option allows a special type of scrolling to display content at a predetermined speed. Learn how to enable or disable smooth scrolling in Windows XP .

Turning off the ability to play animations, sounds, and videos will often improve the visual experience for people who have low vision or who are sensitive to screen flashing. Learn how to turn off or turn on these features in Windows XP .

You can adjust the computer sound volume if you have a hearing impairment, work in a noisy environment, or for other reasons. Learn how to adjust sound volume in Windows XP .

Sound schemes can benefit people who rely on sounds to get information from their computers including people who are blind or have other vision impairments. Learn how to use sound schemes in Windows XP .

Unique sounds help users who are blind navigate on their computers. Learn how to use assign sounds in Windows XP .

You can keep the Windows XP taskbar always visible, even when you run a program in a maximized (fullscreen) window. Learn how to keep the taskbar on top in Windows XP .

The Quick Launch bar is a customizable toolbar that lets you display the Windows desktop or start a program with a single click. Learn how to display or hide it in Windows XP .

The size of icons and number of items on the Start menu can benefit people with vision impairments and cognitive/learning disorders. Learn how to customize the Start menu in Windows XP .

Some users prefer the Windows Classic visual design. Learn how to select this option with your mouse or keyboard in Windows XP .

If you have trouble entering the key combination CTRL+ALT+DELETE to log on to your computer, you can choose to set Windows XP so that the key combination is not required. Learn how to diable CRTL+ALT+DEL in Windows XP .

Multiple users can share a computer and use it simultaneously, switching back and forth without closing the programs they are running. Learn how to turn on Fast User Switching in Windows XP .

Text-to-speech (TTS) is the ability of the operating system to play back printed text as spoken words. Learn how to choose the voice you want to hear in Windows XP .

You can adjust the rate of speech for the Text-to-Speech playback voice associated with the TTS engine you use. Learn how in Windows XP .

If more than one audio device is connected to your computer, you can choose which to use for text-to-speech playback. Learn how to choose an audio device in Windows XP .

Utility Manager is an accessibility utility that enables users to check the status of accessibility programs. Learn how to open Utility Manager in Windows XP .

Utility Manager is an accessibility utility that enables users to check the status of accessibility programs (Microsoft Magnifier, Narrator, On-Screen Keyboard) and to start or stop them. Learn how to use Utility Manager in Windows XP .

You can get immediate access to accessibility utilities when the computer is unlocked. Learn how to start Narrator, Magnifier, and On-Screen Keyboard automatically in Windows XP .

If you are logged onto your computer with an owner account you can choose to start an accessibility program when Utility Manager starts. Learn how to do it in Windows XP .

Utility Manager enables users to check the status of accessibility programs and start or stop them. Learn how to use Utility Manager in Windows XP .

Besides providing a minimum level of functionality for some people with mobility impairments, On-Screen Keyboard can also help people who do not know how to type. Learn how to use the On-Screen Keyboard in Windows XP .

Learn how to use the On-Screen Keyboard features in Windows XP .

On-Screen Keyboard is an accessibility utility that displays a virtual keyboard on the computer screen. Learn how to set the font for On-Screen Keyboard in Windows XP .

On-Screen Keyboard is an accessibility utility that displays a virtual keyboard on the computer screen. Learn how to set the On-Screen Keyboard so it is always visible in Windows XP .

On-Screen Keyboard is an accessibility utility that displays a virtual keyboard on the computer screen. Learn how to add an audible click when you select a key using On-Screen Keyboard in Windows XP .

On-Screen Keyboard is an accessibility utility that displays a virtual keyboard on the computer screen. Learn how to use clicking mode, select the On-Screen keys to type text, in Windows XP .

On-Screen Keyboard is an accessibility utility that displays a virtual keyboard on the computer screen. Learn how to use hovering mode, using a mouse or joystick to point to a key for a predefined period of time, in Windows XP .

On-Screen Keyboard is a utility that displays a virtual keyboard on the computer screen. Learn how to use scanning mode in On-Screen Keyboard, continually scanning the keyboard and highlighting areas where you can type keyboard characters by pressing a hot key or using a switchinput device, in Windows XP .

Narrator is a Text-to-Speech utility for people who are blind or have low vision. Learn how to turn on and use Narrator in Windows XP .

Narrator is a Text-to-Speech utility for people who are blind or have low vision. Learn how to set Narrator to announce when new windows are opened in Windows XP .

Narrator is a Text-to-Speech utility for people who are blind or have low vision. Learn how to set Narrator to read typed characters aloud in Windows XP .

Narrator is a Text-to-Speech utility for people who are blind or have low vision. Learn how to set Narrator to move to an active item and read it aloud in Windows XP .

Narrator is a Text-to-Speech utility for people who are blind or have low vision. Learn how to automatically start Narrator minimized so it's easily accessible on the taskbar in Windows XP .

Narrator is a Text-to-Speech utility for people who are blind or have low vision. Learn how to set Narrator voice options in Windows XP .

Magnifier is a display utility that makes the computer screen more readable by people. Learn how to turn on and use Magnifier in Windows XP .

Magnifier is a display utility that makes the computer screen more readable by people. Learn how to change the position of the Magnifier window in Windows XP .

Magnifier is a display utility that makes the computer screen more readable by people. Learn how to change the size of the Magnifier window in Windows XP .

Magnifier is a display utility that makes the computer screen more readable. Learn how to invert the colors of the Magnifier window in Windows XP .

Magnifier is a display utility that makes the computer screen more readable by people. Learn how to set the Magnifier magnification level in Windows XP .

Magnifier is a display utility that makes the computer screen more readable by people. Learn how to set Magnifier tracking options in Windows XP .