If increasing the text size via the browser or Windows options does not make text easy to read then the next step is to magnify the screen.

All recent versions of Windows include magnification software which can help some people more easily read text on the screen.

The Windows magnifier lets you increase text to a very large size. It is, however, restricted to a small portion of the screen so most vision impaired people find that they require fully-functional magnification software.

This section shows you how to use the Windows magnifier.

Please follow one of the links to find our more:

• Magnifying the screen in Windows 95,98,2000,Me 
• Magnifying the screen in Windows XP

Magnifying the screen in Windows 95,98,2000,Me

Open the Window's Magnifier using the following steps:

1. Open the ' Start ' menu by clicking on the ' Start ' button or by pressing the ' Windows ' logo key (located between the ' Ctrl ' + ' Alt ' keys on most keyboards) alternatively press ' Ctrl ' + ' Esc ' .
2. Click on ' Programs ' or alternatively press ' P ' on the keyboard until ' Programs ' is highlighted and then press ' Enter ' .
3. Click on ' Accessories ' or press ' A ' on the keyboard until ' Accessories ' is highlighted and then press ' Enter ' .
4. Click on ' Accessibility ' or if you are using the keyboard, it will already be highlighted so just press ' Enter ' .
5. Click on ' Magnifier ' or press ' M ' and when ' Magnifier ' is highlighted, press ' Enter ' on the keyboard.
6. The magnifier is now turned on and the settings box appears.
7. You can click in the magnification level box to change the level of magnification, or use the up and down arrow keys.
8. You can minimise the magnifier settings box by clicking the minimise button or by pressing ' Alt ' + ' Spacebar ' and then press ' N ' .

Note: If this does not work it could be because your computer settings cannot be changed due to local IT policies - contact your local IT support for further help.

Magnifying the screen in Windows XP

Open the Windows magnifier using the following steps:

1. Open the ' Start ' menu by clicking on the ' Start ' button orby pressing the Windows logo key (located between the ' Ctrl ' and ' Alt ' keys on most keyboards ) alternatively press ' Ctrl ' + ' Esc '.
2. Click on ' Programs ' or alternatively press ' P ' on the keyboard until 'Programs' is highlighted and then ' Enter ' .
3. Click on ' Accessories ' or press ' A ' on the keyboard until ' Accessories ' is highlighted and then press ' Enter ' .
4. Click on ' Accessibility ' or if you are using the keyboard, it will already be highlighted so just press ' Enter ' .
5. Click on ' Magnifier ' or press ' M ' and when ' Magnifier ' is highlighted, press ' Enter ' on the keyboard.
6. The magnifier is now turned on and the settings box appears.
7. You can click in the magnification level box to change the level of magnification or use the up and down arrow keys.
8. You can minimise the magnifier settings box by clicking the minimise button orby pressing ' Alt ' + ' Space ' and then press ' N ' .

Note: If this does not work it could be because your computer settings cannot be changed due to local IT policies - contact your local IT support for further help.