How Do I?

 

Minimum Hardware and Browser Settings for Blackboard

Minimum Hardware Requirements:

  • PCs -- Windows XP, Windows Vista (32 bit), Windows Vista (64 bit), or Windows 7 (32/64 bit)
  • Macs -- 10.4, 10.5, or 10.6

 

Internet Connections:

  • DSL or Cable modems are highly recommended.
  • While Dialup modems will work, they are often problematic.  If your dial up connection times out while working in Blackboard, you will need to speak with your Internet Service Provider to see if they will remove it.  This is especially important when taking Tests in Blackboard.

 

Web Browsers:

  • Internet Explorer is recommended. (Free download)
  • Mozilla Firefox, Netscape, and Apple Safari will work, but some of Blackboard's live interactive functionality might not operate properly with these browsers.
  • Internet Service Providers (ISPs):
    Some ISPs such as AOL, CompuServe, MSN, AT&T at home and other dial up ISPs offer users customized interfaces for accessing the World Wide Web.  These modified browsers may interfere with access to Blackboard.  Reports of being kicked off or "failure of transmission" have occurred.  It is strongly recommended that once you connect with your ISP, to minimize it and launch Internet Explorer to access Blackboard.

 

Browser Settings:

  • Cookies
    Cookies must be enabled to use Blackboard.  Blackboard uses "session" cookies in order to login to the system.  However, these cookies are not permanent -- once you close your browser after finishing a session in Blackboard, the cookie will go away.

 

To enable cookies in your Internet Explorer browser:


1. Click on Tools, then Internet Options.

2. Select the Privacy Tab.
3. Your security level should be "medium or less" to allow cookies. Click on slide bar and make necessary change, Click OK button.
  • JAVA& Javascript
    Java and Javascript must be enabled.  Download the latest version of Java (free download).

    If you are using an ISP and are having problems, it is likely that the customization of the ISP is interfering with JAVA and Javascript actions.  To resolve this problem, you will need to download a "clean" version of Internet Explorer (free download) to use when accessing Blackboard.


    Do you have JAVA enabled?

    To enable JAVA applet scripting in your Internet Explorer browser:

    1. Click on Tools.  Then click on Internet Options.

    2. Click on the Security tab.  Click on Internet at top of box.

    3. Click the Custom button.  Scroll down the list to "Scripting of JAVA applets " and select "Enable."  Click the OK button.  Click OK again in the Internet Options box.

    4. Please note: if you are connecting to Blackboard from inside a network or firewall, you will need to click on Intranet Options from the Security Tab and repeat the procedure.

    Do you have Javascript enabled?

    If you see the current date and time below, then Javascript is enabled in your browser.



    If you do not see the current date and time above, then you will need to make sure Javascript is enabled in your browser.

    To enable Javascript in your Internet Explorer browser:

    1. Click on Tools.  Then click on Internet Options.

    2. Click on the Security tab.  Click on Internet at top of box.

    3. Click the Custom button.  Scroll down the list to "Active Scripting" and select either "Enable" or "prompt".  Click the OK button.  Click OK again in the Internet Options box.

    4. Please note: if you are connecting to Blackboard from inside a network or firewall, you will need to click on Intranet Options from the Security Tab and repeat the procedure.

 

  • Trusted Sites
    You may wish to add Blackboard as a "Trusted Site".  To do this in Internet Explorer:

 

 Click on Tools.  Then click on Internet Options

  1. Click on Security tab.  Click on Trusted Sites in top of box.
  2. Click the Sites button.
  3. In the Address of Web site field key in Blackboard's site address: http://blackboard.selu.edu/ .  Click the Add button.
  4. Click the OK button.  Click the OK button again in the Internet Options box.

 

 

 

  • Disable Pop-up Blocker
        You will want to disable your pop-up blocker for Blackboard.  In Internet Explorer:

  1. Click on Tools.  Then click on Pop-up Blockers.
  2. Click on Pop-up Blocker Settings.
  3. In the Address of Web Site to Allow field, key in Blackboard's site address: http://blackboard.selu.edu/ .  Click the Add button
  4. Click the OK button.

If you have additional pop-up blockers installed (such as Yahoo), you will need to turn them off as well.

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