Jaws 14 now requires Internet Access to run.

Nov 23, 2012 | Accessibility, Server administration, Technology, Windows | 4 comments

I have encountered a problem with using Jaws on servers since the release of Jaws 14.

fsbrldspapi.dll is loded by Jaws during Installation if your installing it while standing in front of the server but if your installing Jaws remotely using the /type remote switch the installation doesn’t speak or provide Braille output. Therefore the fsbrldspapi.dll file will be loded when you run Jaws for the first time.

When you are installing or running Jaws on a system be it a server or workstation running on Windows 2008, 2008R2, 7 or 8 without Internet access you will encounter the following error message:

JFW.EXE. Referral returned from the server.

It would appear that this issue began popping up around April with an update of Jaws 13 that was released around that time.

The problem is that the Jaws driver signing program requires trusted certs that are downloaded from Microsoft on an as needed basis.

More details about how trusted certs are downloaded in Windows 2008 and 2008R2 can be found at the following Microsoft KB link:
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/931125

In previous versions of Windows up to XP and 2003 Windows updates included these certs.

However, it would appear that it is all but impossible or at best very difficult to apply these certs to servers that are off line. The only way I can see of doing it at the moment is to find the required cert and install it on each system. Probably through a SCCM advertisement.

I have asked FreedomScientific to get back to me on this but although I know that a lot of their staff are on vacation this week due to the thanks giving holiday I have no confidence that they will resolve this new dependency.

In my opinion this is a bug that should be resolved. At the very least, a specific error message should be provided when Jaws cannot start due to this issue. What really should happen is that when certs can not be used Jaws starts as much functionality as possible without loding this DLL. In other words Braille wouldn’t be available.

I know that some users really need braille and I’m being a bit selfish here so I’m really sorry.

I have reported a large number of bugs to FreedomScientific since the release of Jaws 14. I am hoping that they will be resolved however I get the usual answer of “No one else has reported this” and “We cant reproduce that problem here”. I feel like i’m fighting an up hill battle.

If anyone has any suggestions then I’m all ears. Otherwise, if you could Email FreedomScientific support with any problem your having with Jaws 14 we might get some pressure put on the developers to prioritise a bug fixing excersize.

4 Comments

  1. Marvin Hunkin

    hi. well for servers, doing it remotely, you need to pay the $200 or #200 remote server pack for jaws. so i think that is your problem. you can install on local work stations, but not remotely on the server. marvin.

    Reply
  2. Marvin Hunkin

    hi. well you need the remote jaws option and costs $200 for a remote server, to install remotely. marvin.

    Reply
  3. digitaldarragh

    Marvin,
    Did you read the content of the post at all?
    Have you read other topics on this blog?

    Within the first two paragraphs of the post anyone will understand this has nothing to do with jaws authorization. In fact, I know you have visited this site regularly so why oh why would you say something so obvious as jaws needs a different authorization when accessed via remote desktop when it should be evident to anyone and I mean anyone that I use Jaws over remote desktop on a daily basis and I’m aware more than most what is required in this environment.

    Jesus. SOrry, it’s nothing personal but I hate when people reply to emails or blog posts without actually reading the content.

    Reply
  4. Kyle Smith

    i am having the same error message when trying to start jaws in windows eight

    Reply

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