DNS Pro 7 on Vista

Submitted by hosnar on Thu, 05/22/2008 - 00:17.

NaturallySpeaking

I was able to install DNS 7 Professional, on Vista by using "XP mode". (On the control panel click "programs and features," then click "use an older program with this version of windows.") It installed fine, but when the Audio Setup Wizard came up it said "Audio Setup Wizard can not find any multimedia sound system installed one your system." Of couse I do have an integrated sound card, so that's not the problem.

I know that 7 isn't supposed to work on Vista. Just thought I'd give this a try before shelling money out for 9.5 or XP. Anybody have any luck w/ this?

hosnar wrote: I was able to

Submitted by Chuck Runquist on Thu, 05/22/2008 - 01:33.

hosnar wrote:

I know that 7 isn't supposed to work on Vista. Just thought I'd give this a try before shelling money out for 9.5 or XP. Anybody have any luck w/ this?

First, Vista is particularly picky with regard to properly setting up audio devices. Try right clicking on the audio speaker icon in the system tray and checking the settings for recording and playback. They may not be set up properly. However, if they all are set up correctly (i.e., correctly connected to your soundcard recording input and playback output, then you're out of luck.

Second, although DNS, even earlier versions, is operating system independent, many of the features and functions (ActiveX controls etc.) are not. The issue is not whether the recognizer itself or the recognition function is incompatible with Windows Vista, it is simply that most of the features and functions are "Not compliant" with Windows Vista.

In addition, I tested versions 7, 8, and 9.0 under Windows Vista running in compatibility mode as you have attempted to do. Even if you are able to get the Audio Setup Wizard to run and recognize your microphone/soundcard, you will run into a number of other issues and will be significantly disappointed with the performance capabilities of DNS 7 under Windows Vista.

1. There is really no Select-and-Say capability except in a very few instances, primarily DragonPad. Even earlier versions of Microsoft office will not be Select-and-Say enabled under version 7.

2. Part of the problem is that this that change the way that applications are installed (files and folders) to the degree that earlier versions of DNS will not function properly. For example, there are some applications into which you will not be able to dictate in all. In addition, the correction function will not work properly (this is governed by Select-and-Say). And further, you will find DNS crashes or fails frequently.

In short, even if you are able to get it working, it will not work properly to the extent that you will end up being extremely frustrated by the lack of functionality under Windows Vista.

Chuck Runquist
Former Dragon NaturallySpeaking SDK & Senior Technical Solutions PM for DNS

"You cannot teach a man anything. You can only help him discover it within himself." - Galileo Galilei

$Cheaper to Upgrade Now

Submitted by KnowBrainer on Thu, 05/22/2008 - 09:25.

The simplest solution
would be to upgrade to NaturallySpeaking
Pro 9.5 which you can currently do from Ver. 7 but once Ver. 10 is
released, you will no longer be upgrade eligible because Nuance licensed
vendors are permitted to exchange their Ver. 9 upgrades to Ver. 10, which
most resellers will do and Nuance only permits an upgrade for 2 versions
back. Being forced to purchase a full copy of Ver. 10 would be far more cost
prohibitive than upgrading to Ver. 9.5 now and upgrading to Ver. 10 later. Plus
you can enjoy all of the benefits of Ver. 9 now.