In preparation for CAASPP testing, I went to enable dictation on a few of our macs for students who are allowed speech-to-text support. I could make web-based dictation work, but enhanced dictation would not work. Whenever I "enable" it, it downloads, appears to successfully install. Then when I activate dictation, the same thing happens. It re-downloads. Endless loop.
We manage our macs using: Mac OS X server 5.1, and they are running Yosemite 10.10.5.
I'm guessing it may have to do with some restrictions managed by Profile Manager, but after playing around with enabling and removing various restrictions I was getting nowhere.
SOLUTION:
1) reboot in safe mode (holding the shift key)
2) log into an admin user
3) go to system preferences / dictation & speech
4) enable enhanced dictation (the download and installation seems to take 3x longer this way for some reason)
5) reboot into normal mode and dictate away!
