DEC Express problem

[Adam Myrow]

A batch file for loadlin would just be the command you use now to fire up 
Linux.  There is a sample distributed with loadlin.  Modify it, removing 
everything after the ro and put the speakup_synth=dectlk in it.  Something 
like this would work.

c:\loadlin\loadlin  c:\loadlin\vmlinuz  root=/dev/hda2  speakup_synth=dectlk ro

Also, are you sure Lilo didn't work?  The default Slackware install of Lilo 
makes it pause with a prompt and makes you pick the OS every time.  I've 
found that the only way to get Lilo to work on modern hard drives is to 
install it to the master boot record.  I also prefer the expert install 
because I can pick the length of the pause from none to infinity.

Also, compiling a kernel is certainly not easy the first time, but I 
believe well worth it.  I cut my kernel size nearly in half by taking out 
stuff I didn't need like PCMCIA and yet, it supports all my current 
hardware and I can get from power on to a login prompt in 5 seconds flat.

The problem you mention of the pitch range being invalid for the Dectalk 
express also affects the Braille 'N Speak.  That's what I use and it has 
some real odd behavior.  For example, the pitch goes down rather than up 
when I type uppercase letters, and it only goes to 16 when the synthesizer 
supports somewhere like 63 pitches.  I'd never mentioned it before because 
I thought it was normal until I got to use Speakup with an Accent SA.  That 
synthesizer apparently is well-known and the specs for it seem to be 
programmed right.  Although, it certainly lives up to its name.  It has an 
accent!

Welcome to the list, and I hope we can help you get familiar with all the 
tricks of configuring a Linux system.