Earlier this week I bought Dragon NaturallySpeaking version 9.5. It took me close to an hour to get the software install and configured properly on my system, primarily because I am using a 64-bit operating system. Dragon NaturallySpeaking does not support the 64-bit versions of Windows Vista or Windows Server 2008, but there is a workaround that allows you to install on a 64-bit operating system. Another challenge is that Dragon NaturallySpeaking has trouble with certain onboard sound cards. This blog entry highlights the challenges I faced when installing Dragon NaturallySpeaking provides workarounds.
If you try to install Dragon NaturallySpeaking a 64-bit operating system you will be stopped by the installer. After a bit of searching, I found this helpful post by VelvetPoodle:
The problem is the installer bundled with the software. This has code preventing it from being run on 64 bit vista. This can be edited using the free application orca.exe which is part of the much larger Microsoft core platform SDK. If you only want the application orca.exe do a google search for it. Make sure you get the 64 bit version though… Alternatively get it from here:
http://blogs.msdn.com/astebner/archive/2004/07/12/180792.aspx.
1. Copy the entire contents of the DVD to a folder on your computer
2. Make a backup of the file Dragon Naturally Speaking 9.msi
3. Install Orca and open Dragon Naturally Speaking 9.msi from the installer directory
4. To the left under tables, scroll down and click on the “launch Conditions”. The error conditions will appear to the right.
5. Select the Condition “Not VersionNT64”
6. Right-Click and select “Cut Row(s)”
7. Save the edited "Dragon Naturally Speaking 9.msi"
8. Install as normal
While this method will certainly get Dragon NaturallySpeaking to install and work on 64-bit operating system, one thing to keep in mind is that NaturallySpeaking will not respond or respond very slowly when dictating in 64-bit applications. For example, if I try to dictate in Internet Explorer, Dragon NaturallySpeaking virtually hangs. Supposedly, the next version of Dragon NaturallySpeaking will support 64 bit operating systems.
After successfully installing Dragon NaturallySpeaking on my computer, the application started and I was greeted with a warning: "Audio Setup Wizard cannot find the sound system." This error threw me for a loop because my computer certainly does have a sound system - I can hear music coming from my speakers and am able to record voice from a microphone. Some online sleuthing turned up message board posts from other Dragon NaturallySpeaking users who encountered similar problems with onboard sound card systems not supported by Dragon NaturallySpeaking. My computer has an onboard RealTek sound card; other users with the same configuration had reported similar errors.
In the same post where VelvetPoodle shared how to install Dragon NaturallySpeaking 64-bit operating system, another poster named webbediva shared a workaround for the audio wizard problem that worked for me:
To get past the audio wizard error:
With Naturally Speaking bar running, right-click on the audio.exe file using Windows Explorer in Program Files\Nuance\NaturallySpeaking9\Program. Under "Properties" click "Compatibility" tab and select "XP". Double-click to run.
To summarize, with Dragon NaturallySpeaking running need to set the compatibility level of the audio wizard program to be compatible with Windows XP and run this program from Windows Explorer. With this step out of the way, Dragon NaturallySpeaking (finally) worked! It took a bit of research and effort to get Dragon NaturallySpeaking properly installed and configured on my machine, but I haven't had any issues since (except for slow or nonexistent response times for 64 bit applications).
Read the post with the two workarounds: http://forums.cnet.com/5208-6035_102-0.html?forumID=44&threadID=280578&messageID=2744514