If you are using Windows XP service pack 2 or windows Vista you may
find that the Chatterbox chat client will not start properly. If the Chatterbox
chat client refuses to start properly the following steps may resolve the
problem:
- When you enter on a link to join a chat room it is likely that you will hear a sound played that simply sounds like a bloop sound. That sound is an indication that the information bar has popped up to give you information that you need to hear.
- You will also get a dialogue telling you to press the OK button and some other information about the chat client. At this point do not press the OK button. Tab to cancel and press the space bar.
- Sighted people can see the information bar but with screen readers we access the information bar with the keystroke, alt + N. So, now you need to find out what the information bar is telling you. Hold down the alt key and type the letter N.
- In this case it will tell you something about installing an add-on or active X control. The active X control is nessasary to be able to install the chat client. At the end of the information it tells you to click for options. You need to press the space bar to access these options.
- The first option that you hear should be, install active X... . Assuming that you hear install active X..., press the enter key to install the active X control. If you do not hear install active X..., use up or down arrow until you hear install active X... and press the enter key.
***note: pressing the space bar here usually doesn't work so be sure to use enter.
- You should now be back on the for-the-people page. Now enter on the link to the chat room you want to join. It is most likely that you will get a security warning about installing from the internet. You have to choose the Install button to install the chat client. Now press the tab key until you get to the install button and press the space bar. The chat client should now download and install. It shouldn't take very long but does depend on your internet connection. In most cases less than 1 minute. When the installation is finished you will be in the chat room.