FAQs+-+Browser+Related

=FAQ - Browser Related = 

How should I configure my browser?
You can check to see if your browser has been configured properly by clicking the link to "Check Browser" that is located on the Login Page. If you see all green checks then you browser is ready and your can login. If you receive a red x, follow the instructions provided to fix the problem(s) indicated. Run check browser until you see all green checks. You may find additional help at [|Blackboard Browser Support] (To open link in a new window, right click link and select "Open in a New Window") Run check browser until you see all green checks. You may find additional help at [|Blackboard Browser Support] (To open link in a new window, right click link and select "Open in a New Window"). Also, two common problems that may show up when checking your browser are related to Java and Pop-up blockers. See FAQ in this section for more information on these issues.

How do I add Java so that my browser runs Blackboard correctly?
Go to [] (To open link in a new window, right click link and select "Open in a New Window")

Do I need to uninstall old versions of Java, if Java is updated on my computer?
Yes, it is a good idea to uninstall old versions of Java because your browser may have issues with Blackboard when there are several versions installed. Instructions for uninstalling Java are at [] (To open link in a new window, right click link and select "Open in a New Window")

Why do I need to turn off pop-up blockers while using Blackboard
Blackboard sometimes uses small browser windows to deliver requested content & some pop-up blockers incorrectly interpret these small windows as pop-ups and block them

How do I turn off pop-up blockers?

 * To disable pop-up blockers in Internet Explorer on Windows go to Tools ->Pop up Blocker ->Turn Off Pop-up Blocker
 * To disable pop-up blockers in Firefox go to Tools ->Options->Content tab ->remove check from pop-up windows->click OK
 * To disable pop-up blockers in Safari, click the menu item "Safari" and then click "Block Pop-Up blockers" to remove the check. The menu closes and if you click the menu item "Safari" again you will see that the menu item "Block Pop-Up blockers" no longer has a check.
 * To disable pop-up blockers for other browsers both on the PC and MAC go to [|Start the Browser Tune-up] (To open link in a new window, right click link and select "Open in a New Window")
 * If you have a search engine toolbar like Yahoo or Google, be sure to turn the pop-up blocker off there as well
 * [|Google Pop-up Blocker - More Info](To open link in a new window, right click link and select "Open in a New Window")
 * [|Yahoo Pop-up Blocker (search for how to turn-off pop-up blocker)] (To open link in a new window, right click link and select "Open in a New Window")

The left menu disappeared in Blackboard. How do I get it back?
The Blackboard menu retracts automatically. There is a double arrow bar icon between the navigation and the course content that toggles the menu open and closed. Click on this icon to expand the left menu.

Why don’t some of the links work?
There are a number of reasons why some links might not work correctly in Blackboard.
 * Check that you don't have a pop-up blocker turned on by running the check browser on the Blackboard login page
 * Check that your Web browser is compatible with Blackboard by running the check browser on the Blackboard login page
 * If additional software such as Microsoft Word is required to view the linked document, ensure that you have that software installed and operating correctly
 * Contact your instructor with additional questions

Why is Blackboard slow to respond sometimes?
Several conditions can contribute to slow response times from Blackboard:
 * Peak Internet usage on the networks between you and Blackboard can contribute to slowness issues.
 * Blackboard is fairly heavy as Internet applications go. High Speed Internet connections are recommended.
 * Ensure your Web browser is configured correctly for Blackboard by checking your browser on the login page.
 * Review your computer's resources and turn off non-critical applications.

Why does it seem like Blackboard kicks me out sometimes?
Blackboard sessions timeout after 90 minutes of inactivity. Web Browsers **DO NOT** register typing as activity. If you're typing an assignment, assessment, or discussion submission for longer than 90 minutes, the session may timeout when the submit button is pressed. **This means that you may lose your work**. To prevent lost work, you may want to create your content in a word processor and then copy & past the content into Blackboard.

How do I address technical problems with Blackboard (e.g. Java plug-in issues)?
Troubleshooting Tips for Blackboard:
 * Ensure that your computer is setup correctly for Blackboard by checking your browser
 * Close & Restart your Web Browser
 * Reboot your computer
 * Uninstall old Java versions & Install the latest Java by going to [] (To open link in a new window, right click link and select "Open in a New Window")
 * Contact Help Desk by calling (575) 646-1840 or by emailing help@nmsu.edu

How do I troubleshoot a download/upload problem with a file like a Word doc or PowerPoint?
Be sure that your computer has been setup to properly run with Blackboard by running the "Check Browser" on the Blackboard login page.

Oftentimes a file will not download due to security settings in //Internet Explorer//. If this is the case, try another browser like Firefox 2.0.x or 3.0.x

Another possibility is that you have a special character in the name of the file you're attempting to upload. Your files should contain no special characters (!@#$%&*) in their names.

===When I download files from Blackboard, I get a yellow bar that pops up in Internet Explorer. Every time I try to download a file I get redirected to My Blackboard page. How Can I prevent this from occurring?=== When users install some of the recent updates for windows XP it activates different security settings in IE. One of those settings is to block downloads automatically. When this is on you will see the "yellow bar" and in Blackboard when you click on it and say download now it boots you out to the MyBlackboard page before you can go back and download the file.

To get around this, when you have IE open go to Tools->Internet Options and click on the Security Tab. Then click the Custom Level button. Scroll down the list of settings until you get to the Downloads section. There you can Enable "Automatic Prompting for File Downloads" and also enable "File Downloads". This will get rid of the "yellow bar" issue. IE will now prompt you with the Open or Save screen whenever you click on any File to Download.

Also, you could use another browser like Firefox 2.0.x and 3.0.x

Can I use Blackboard with Safari //4//?
You can but it is not compatible yet so you may experience issues while using this version. If possible, use Safari 3.0, 3.1, or 3.2. Most likely, there will be a Blackboard fix in Sept or Oct. In addition, Safari 4.0.3 does fix the display issue with the course menu that occurred in Safari 4.0.2

Can I use Blackboard with Internet Explorer 8?
You can, but it is not compatible yet so you may experience issues while using this version. If possible, use Internet Explorer 6 or 7. In addition, turning on the compatibility view in Internet Explorer 8 may improve Blackboard performance. To turn on the Compatibility view in Internet Explorer 8, click Tools and then click Compatibility view. A check mark should now appear beside the words "Compatibility view" when you click Tools.