Windows 98 & ME Accessibility

Not using Windows 98? I have more up-to-date tutorials are available for Windows XP users.

Using the Mouse

Using the Keyboard

Seeing the Display

I find it difficult to hold the mouse steady

It's difficult to get the pointer on small things

I am left handed

I find double-clicking difficult

I have difficulty seeing the pointer

I want to operate the mouse using the keyboard

Alternative mice, rollerballs and joysticks

I get repeated key presses

I can't hold down two keys at once

I hit other keys accidentally

Alternative keyboards

The text is too small to read

The mouse pointer is too small

I'd like a different colour scheme

Accessibility Feature Walkthroughs

If you want help with a particular accessibility feature then you can select it from the list below for a walkthrough:

Accessibility Wizard in Windows 98 and ME

The accessibility wizard certainly doesn't make available all the options that might be of use to you but it does allow you to quickly and easily do the following:

Use the keyboard to move the mouse
Choose a larger mouse cursor
Swap the buttons for left-handed users
Raise or lower mouse speed
Set up mouse trails
Lock Shift, Alt, and Ctrl keys for those who find it difficult to hold two keys at once
Set Windows to ignore inadvertent key repetitions
Play feedback sounds whenever Caps lock, Shift, Ctrl and Alt are pressed
Set applications to provide extra information on how to use the keyboard as a replacement to the mouse.
Quickly adjust the size and colour scheme of a limited number of Windows' components, like the scroll bar and icons, using Windows' example font size and colour schemes.
Save these settings into a file which can be opened on other computers

Accessibility Options Applet in Windows 98 and ME

This applet can be found in the Windows Control Panel. Like the Wizard it is easy to use but does not give you access to all of Windows' potential accessibility features. Here's what it can do:

Use the keyboard to move the mouse
Lock Shift, Alt, and Ctrl keys for those who find it difficult to hold two keys at once
Set Windows to ignore brief keystrokes and inadvertent key repetitions
Play feedback sounds whenever Caps lock, Shift, Ctrl and Alt are pressed
Set applications to provide extra information on how to use the keyboard as a replacement to the mouse.
Quickly adjust the size and colour scheme of the WIMP components and add your own scheme that you've saved
Easily switch between two schemes if the PC is used by both the visually impaired and the non-visually impaired

Changing Windows Resolution in Windows 98 and ME

If you have a CRT screen you can probably make everything bigger in one quick swoop by dropping your screen resolution down a bit.