Ever since a Windows Update 10 days ago, my Dragon accuracy has gone into the toilet.

Dragon would require a Restore every time I started Firefox. It would crash on its own several times per day. I would shut it down and restart it myself several times per day. I would try rebooting several times a day. None of it helped.

The updates were:
2022–04 Cumulative Update for Windows 10 Version 21H1 for x64–based systems KB 5012599
2022–04 Cumulative Update for .NET Framework 3.5 and 4.8 for Windows 10 Version 21H1 for x64 KB5012117

Unfortunately, Windows Backup could not uninstall those updates.

I have a Lenovo ThinkPad X 1 Carbon Gen 8, running Windows 10 Pro Version 10.0.19043 Build 19043, with 16 GB of RAM and 500 GB of solid-state storage.

Anyone have any idea what is going on and what I can do?

We are not certain what to do about the Windows update but we recommend creating a new user profile, for test purposes only. If it works out, bring over your previous user commands and vocabulary. Don't forget to additionally fix those 28 pesky sandtraps, which are detailed in your KnowBrainer Dragon manual, in your desktop KnowBrainer folder.

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Change "No" to "Know" w/KnowBrainer 2022
Trial Downloads
Dragon/Sales@KnowBrainer.com 
(615) 884-4558 ex 1

1. I followed your excellent suggestion and created a new user profile. Voilà, speech recognition became acceptable. In order to make sure it wasn't a fluke, I kept using it for some time.
2. So once it seemed to be stable and working properly, I imported my vocabulary from my previous user profile and performed the 28 magic steps you recommend.
3. As soon as I did that, performance went completely into the toilet again.
4. So, I created an additional user profile. And sure enough, that one performed very well. Again, I waited probably a week or more to make sure that indeed was stable and performing well.
5. Since my initial attempt at a new user profile introduced 2 variables: my old vocabulary and the 28 magic steps, I decided to test just a single variable: my vocabulary.
6. After I did that, it still seemed to be doing very well. But I wanted to wait several weeks to be sure it really was okay.
7. And just as I was getting ready to test the 2nd variable – the 28 magic steps – a new version of Firefox – 101.0 was installed.
8. I'm sure I don't even need to tell you what happened: performance went to hell. Not quite as bad, but at a minimum, at least 1 or 2 errors per sentence.
9. Also, almost every day when I shut Dragon down in the hopes they restart will improve it – which occasionally does – Dragon asked to launch accuracy tuning. And I can let it tune away, but it seems to have no impact on improving performance.

I fought Dragon and Dragon won. I would like to request your White Glove service again.

We don't recommend running Accuracy Tuning. Killing this prompt is one of those 28 tweaks. We don't have any customer reports of the tweaks slowing down a profile but you might try changing you data options to 200. 

 

We recommend getting used to Microsoft Edge. DPI 16 will have a noteable advantage because Microsoft wants you to use it. Edge is already better than any other browser in DPG 15.71.

 

It looks like you have 30 minutes left on your White Glove Remote Support package. We will be glad to remote into your computer to source this problem. If you concure, contact us to schedule an appointment

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Change "No" to "Know" w/KnowBrainer 2022
Trial Downloads
Dragon/Sales@KnowBrainer.com 
(615) 884-4558 ex 1

It's interesting that you recommend Microsoft Edge, since it doesn't even take my dictation directly now, but needs to use the dictation box, even though I have the Dragon extension installed. I realize that could just be a matter of my not configuring it.

But my memory is that even when I had made the magic 28 changes, Edge was still a pain to use with Dragon.

From the little bit of research I just did, it seems that Edge might be faster and seems to use appreciably less RAM. But it wasn't obvious in terms of features which was better.

I will contact you directly for the White Glove service