Blackboard CE6 Troubleshooting Help

» Browser Requirements for CE 6
» Supported Web Browsers
» Browser Configuration Problems
» Check Browser
» What to do if you get a Java error?
» Prompt to Download Files in Internet Explorer
» Cannot Open or Create Emails, Take Quizzes, and/or Join a Chat Room

Browser Requirements for CE 6

CE 6 has very specific browser requirements:

  • You must use a web browser validated for CE 6.
  • You must have an approved version of Java runtime environment installed and enabled.
  • You must disable any pop-up blockers or add http://online2.fiu.edu as an allowed site.
  • You must have JavaScript enabled.

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Supported Web Browsers

For Windows OS:

Browser Versions

Validated

Unsupported

Microsoft IE

6 SP1 & SP2; 7

 

Netscape

7.2

8

AOL

9

 

Mozilla

1.7.x

1.5, 1.6

Firefox

1.0.x, 1.5.x

 


For Mac OS:

Browser Versions

Validated

Unsupported

Mozilla

1.7.x (OS X only)

Browsers running under Mac OS 9 and
earlier; Firefox 1.5, Mozilla 1.5 and 1.6.

Firefox

1.0.x (OS X only)

Safari

1.2, 1.3, 2.x;
and 2.x for Intel x86 platform

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Browser Configuration Problems

  1. If you think you may have a problem with your web browser, try logging into CE 6 from a different computer.  If all computers in your house have a problem connecting, it is probably a home network configuration issue.  If only one computer in your house has a problem connecting, it's probably a problem with the web browser on that computer.  Use the Browser Check feature of CE 6 to troubleshoot the problem.
  1. If the Browser Check window doesn't open, you will see this warning about pop-up blockers.

 

 

 

 

  1. People often add additional “plug-ins” to their browsers such as the Yahoo! Toolbar, the Google Toolbar, etc.  These can interfere with the use of your browser for CE 6.  You may be able to correct a browser problem by disabling or removing a plug-in.
  2. If your computer has firewalls or port blockers installed for security reasons, these should be configured so that http://online2.fiu.edu is a trusted site.  Note:  you may have several firewalls installed on your computer:  Windows firewall, Norton Antivirus firewall, etc.  You will have to allow access in all your firewalls. Don't leave them disabled.  Instead, get help to identify the problem and properly configure that program.

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Check Browser

CE 6 automatically checks to see if your computer is properly set up when you log in.  (You can also click the Check Browser link on the log-in page.) This is the easiest way to see if your browser is set up correctly for CE 6.  You will see the Browser Check Results window as shown below.

You can run the Browser Check now if you prefer by clicking here. Scroll down the window to ensure that your browser has "passed" all aspects of the browser check.  Green check marks are good; red crosses indicate a problem.  If any requirements are marked with red crosses, click on the Step-by-Step Instructions to Properly Configure Your Browser link and follow the instructions.

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What to do if you get a Java error?

Blackboard CE6 requires the Java runtime environment in order to function properly. Java may already be installed on your computer or is available as a free plugin for your browser.

If you encounter Java errors when trying to login or use CE6, you may need to uninstall old versions of Java (because running multiple versions has been known to cause problems) and install the latest version by following the steps below.

Windows XP and Vista

Uninstall Java

  1. Close your web browser and any other open programs
  2. Click Start then Control Panel or Start then Settings then Control Panel
  3. Open Add or Remove Programs in Windows XP, or Programs and Features in Windows Vista
  4. Click on each 'J2SE', 'JSSE' or 'Java' item in the list and click Remove in Windows XP or Uninstall in Vista
  5. Close the Control Panel and reboot your computer once all Java components have been removed
  6. Proceed with reinstalling Java.

Install a new Java version

  1. Open your web browser
  2. Go to http://www.java.com/en/download/manual.jsp
    • If you still have Java installed you can check which version you are currently running by clicking on the Verify now link and following the onscreen instructions
  3. Click the link for your operating system to download the plugin
  4. Complete the steps to download, install and re-verify the installation for your operating system
  5. After the installation is complete, log off from your computer and log back in
  6. Open a browser, go to http://learn.mq.edu.au
  7. Login to Blackboard CE6 and click Check Browser to confirm that your installation meets CE6 requirements.

Clear the Java cache

If you are still experiencing problems with CE6 after installing Java, it might help to clear your cached Java applets

  1. Close your browser
  2. Click Start then Control Panel or Start then Settings then Control Panel
  3. Select Java
  4. On the General tab go to the Temporary Internet Files section and click Settings then Delete Files and Ok to delete applets, applications and other files
  5. Close the Control Panel
  6. Open a browser, go to http://learn.mq.edu.au and login to Blackboard CE6.

Automatic Java updates

Once you have successfully configured CE6 and Java in your browser, you may wish to turn off automatic Java updates:

  1. Click Start then Control Panel or Start then Settings then Control Panel
  2. Select Java
  3. On the Update tab, uncheck the option to check for updates automatically
  4. Click Never check on the pop-up window to confirm
  5. At any time in future if you do want to update your Java to address new security issues, repeat the steps above and click Update Now on the Update tab
  6. Click Ok to close the Java Control Panel
  7. Close the Windows Control Panel window

Macintosh

Mac OS X has Java installed by default. You can install the latest version by clicking the blue Apple logo in the menu bar, then selecting Software Updates and clicking Update now, then follow the onscreen prompts.

If you are having problems with CE6 and Safari, it may help to clear the Java cache for installed Java plugins:

  1. In Finder, go to Applications then Utilites then Java.
  2. Double click Java 1.3.1 Plugin Settings then Cache and click the Clear JAR cache button
  3. Double click Java 1.4.2 Plugin Settings then Cache then Clear
  4. Close the Applications window.

If your computer uses Mac OS X 10.4.5 or later, the latest version of Java should be set as the currently used version:

  1. Double click your hard drive icon and choose Applications then Utilities then Java J2SE5.0 and double click Java Preferences
  2. In the top section set it to use 5.0 and in the bottom section drag J2SE 5.0 to the topof the list
  3. In the Temporary Internet Files section, click Settings then Delete Files and Ok to delete applets, applications and other files
  4. Click Save for these settings
  5. Close the Applications window.

This prevents Safari from using earlier Java versions for applets that are compatible with the later version.

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Prompt to Download Files in Internet Explorer
Sometimes while using Internet Explorer you may get a prompt to download files, and when it is clicked you might get sent back to the My Blackboard page. You can disable this in Internet Explorer. In the menu at the top, select Tools -> Internet Options. Click on the Security Tab and then click on the Customize Level... button. A new window will pop up. Scroll down to the Downloads are. Beside the setting labeled "Automatic prompting for file downloads," click the Enable button. Click OK to save the setting and close the window. Click the Apply button in the Internet Options window and click OK to close it.

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Cannot Open or Create Emails, Take Quizzes, and/or Join a Chat Room

Blackboard CE 6 uses pop-up windows for quizzes, chat rooms, and when reading and creating email messages. You MUST disable pop-up blockers in order to do these activities. If you are unable to open your email messages or cannot get a quiz to open, it is likely to be caused by a pop-up blocker.

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