Speech Recognition is not available on this system. SAPI and Speech Recognition engines cannot be found

Question

Hello All,

 

I have the Microsoft Speech Platform SDK installed and I'm trying to install the Microsoft Speech Platform Runtime (so I can use my code using the Microsoft.Speech library).

When I try to install the Runtime (I'm on an x64 machine and I'm trying to install the x64 Runtime), the install dialog pops up and closes immediately. I've tried installing from Explorer and from a command prompt. Both have the same issue.

If I only have the SDK installed (which I do now), and then I try to create an instance of any object out of the Microsoft.Speech library, then I get a runtime error stating:

"Speech Recognition is not available on this system. SAPI and Speech Recognition engines cannot be found."

 

It looks like I need the runtime installed but it won't let me install it. I've tried installing directly from the SDK's redistributable directory, and also from the official download page at http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/en/details.aspx?FamilyID=674356c4-e742-4855-b3cc-fc4d5522c449&displaylang=en

 

Any help is appreciated!

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My educational lectures on C# and .Net in general (ranging from beginner level topics to advanced topics): mariocatch.wordpress.com

Answer 1

Hello,

 

I have an update.

I looked at the installed programs and the runtime was indeed there. I removed it and re-installed it and when I create an instance of the Microsoft.Speech.SpeechRecognitionEngine type, I still get a runtime error:

"Speech Recognition is not available on this system. SAPI and Speech Recognition engines cannot be found."

 

How is this possible when I know I have the recognition runtime and SDK installed?

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My educational lectures on C# and .Net in general (ranging from beginner level topics to advanced topics): mariocatch.wordpress.com

Answer 2

Are you trying to install Speech over a Speech enaabled OS (Vista or later)? 

Answer 3

Yes. I am running Windows 7.

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My educational lectures on C# and .Net in general (ranging from beginner level topics to advanced topics): mariocatch.wordpress.com

Answer 4

You should use the System.Speech... namespaces.  Not sure what you are trying to do.

Answer 5

System.Speech doesn't work on Windows Server. That's why I'm using Microsoft.Speech as part of the Microsoft Speech Platform Server Runtime

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My educational lectures on C# and .Net in general (ranging from beginner level topics to advanced topics): mariocatch.wordpress.com

Answer 6

Any help is appreciated.

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My educational lectures on C# and .Net in general (ranging from beginner level topics to advanced topics): mariocatch.wordpress.com

Answer 7

 

Hi,

 

From Microsoft document about Speech Recognition, we can see note as below:

Note that speech recognition is not available on all versions of Windows. Before you attempt using the Speech Recognizer service, use the Windows Control Panel on your PC to confirm that a compatible (SAPI) speech recognition engine is installed and make sure that it is properly configured and working by using the Help or user documentation that is provided for it.

You will also need a microphone or some other sound input device to receive the sound. In general, the microphone should be a high quality device with noise filters built in. The speech recognition accuracy is directly related to the quality of the input. The recognition rate will be significantly lower or perhaps even unacceptable with a poor microphone.

The .NET 3.0 (or later) runtime is also required for using this service (and may be available from the Microsoft website).

 

So please use the Windows Control Panel on your PC to confirm that a compatible (SAPI) speech recognition engine is installed and make sure that it is properly configured and working by using the Help or user documentation that is provided for it.

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Paul Zhou [MSFT]
MSDN Community Support | Feedback to us
Get or Request Code Sample from Microsoft
Please remember to mark the replies as answers if they help and unmark them if they provide no help.

Answer 8

Open the Speech demo project properties, go to the Build tab and change Any Cpu to x86.

I had the same problem. Saw in the Readme file that the Kinect SDK uses the x86 version of the Speech runtime and sdk.

Carl

Answer 9

I had this problem today, originally I had "Microsoft.Speech.Recognition" which was pointing at a file included in the project which brought up the error you have. After trying several other solutions I typed "System.Speech.Recognition" and now my application is working, I hope this works for you too.

Answer 10

This fixed it for me (in my case I had the x64 version of the runtime and SDK so I needed to change from anyCPU to x64)

Answer 11

old thread, but I am answering in case it helps someone else.

In mi case, after installing the SDK I had to install the redistributable which comes with it.

C:\Program Files (x86)\Microsoft SDKs\Speech\v11.0\Redist

Answer 12

old thread, but I am answering in case it helps someone else.

In mi case, after installing the SDK I had to install the redistributable which comes with it.

C:\Program Files (x86)\Microsoft SDKs\Speech\v11.0\Redist

I AM SO HAPPY you replied this thread lol. You saved my life, thank you!