The T.O.V.A. 8 added a new kind of T.O.V.A. test session, the External Audio/Video session, that does NOT require rebooting your system. That’s because instead of relying on your system clock, video, etc., the new T.O.V.A. hardware handles the timing itself.
What an External A/V session DOES require is a desktop system or a laptop with an external monitor (and speakers for the Auditory test). There must be an external monitor plugged into the T.O.V.A. USB device for T.O.V.A. testing without rebooting to the PTE.
The T.O.V.A. USB device is installed between your computer and your monitor and speakers. When connected correctly, this will have no effect on how you use your computer: Video and audio simply pass through the T.O.V.A. USB device . When you start the T.O.V.A. test, however, the T.O.V.A. USB device temporarily interrupts your audio and video, instead displaying the T.O.V.A. test. Once the test is completed (or interrupted), your audio and video pass through as normal.
Note: Please make sure to disable, at least temporarily, any Sleep/Standby/Hibernate power settings for your system. Because External A/V testing does not use the keyboard or mouse, some systems will shutdown due to inactivity. See section 34.8 for more information.
We manage the video (or audio) and microswitch, removed from your operating system’s unpredictable delays, so you get the same reliable timing precision and accuracy we have been providing for decades.
If you cannot provide the EAV test’s hardware requirements, you will want to use the PTE test instead (section 31).
If you have set up your hardware for EAV testing, you can check that it’s working and connected correctly. Run the T.O.V.A. and go to ‘Help’, ‘Check T.O.V.A. Hardware’, ‘Test your hardware setup’. This wizard will walk you through verifying all of your connections.
Note: If the first page of the Hardware Setup wizard talks about the “PTE" instead of the “EAV", you need to change your launch settings. Run the T.O.V.A. and go to ‘Preferences’, ‘Session launch’, select ‘External Audio/Video (EAV)’, and click ‘Save’, then try the Hardware Setup wizard again.
External A/V session