NOTE:  Firefox 3 is NOT currently certified by Blackboard as a compatible browser.  Students using Firefox 3 have reported issues with submitting/uploading assignments and other files to their courses.

Recommended Browsers for Blackboard 7.3

S = Certified by Blackboard (fully tested and supported)
C = Compatible (key application areas tested)
P = Provisional (will test on Beta versions of new platforms and browsers; certification is dependent on release by 3rd parties)
N/A = not tested; not supported for the operating system

Other recommendations:

• Download and install Java 1.4.2 (http://www.java.com) 
• The Text Box Editor is only available to users with Microsoft Internet Explorer running on Windows Operating Systems.
• For optimum viewing your screen resolution should be set at 1024 x 768 pixels
• Disable any "pop-up blocker" software that you have installed on your computer
• Keep your virus software updated in order to scan for the latest viruses
• If you access from work or have a DSL connection and are running firewall software, you may experience difficulties. You will need to discuss this with your network security employees. They may or may not be able to allow access to the course, depending on their policies.  DSL users will need to disable their firewall while using the chat tool (refer to the documentation in your firewall software for temporarily disabling the firewall).
• If you use a public computer lab or library, you need to exit the browser completely when you are finished. (That is, all windows must be closed and the programs closed or exited.) This clears your username/password. If you do not exit the browser completely, the next user will have access to your course account

You may need to close and restart your browser for the settings to take effect. RELOAD CACHE EVERY TIME

Netscape:

• Select Edit, then Preferences
• Click the + sign next to Advanced to see more options
• Select Cache
• Select the Every Time radio button at the bottom
• Click OK

Internet Explorer:

• Select Tools, then Internet Options
• Select the General tab
• Select Settings from Temporary Internet Files
• Select the Every Visit to the Page radio button
• Click OK 

ENABLE JAVA/ JAVASCRIPT

Netscape:

• Select Edit, then Preferences
• Select Advanced
• Make sure the Enable Java and Enable JavaScript boxes are checked
• Click OK

Internet Explorer:

• Select Tools, then Internet Options
• Select the Advanced tab
• Locate Microsoft VM
• Make sure the Java console enabled and Java logging enabled boxes are checked
• Click OK
• Restart your computer if you checked the Java console enabled box 

IMPORTANT NOTE TO AOL USERS:

America Online (AOL) users may not be able access Blackboard properly using the browser supplied with AOL. The only compatible AOL browsers are version 5.0, 6.0 or 7.0 with Internet Explorer 5.0 or higher also installed on your computer. Do not use earlier versions of AOL's browser, as you will have difficulty using many of Blackboard's tools. To access Blackboard, AOL users must download a standard (or stand-alone) version of either Netscape Navigator (Communicator) or Internet Explorer. (AOL sometimes refers to browsers other than their own as "external browsers.")

Follow these procedures to access Blackboard:

1. Download and install a supported browser (see above).
2. After you've installed your new browser successfully, restart your computer.
3. Sign on to AOL as you normally do, but stay at the AOL Main (Welcome) page.
4. Keep AOL running in the background and start your new stand-alone browser (either Netscape or Internet Explorer). The stand-alone browser will use your AOL Internet connection.
5. Note: If you have problems getting your new browser to work with AOL, check out the Member Services area of AOL. Click on "Internet and World Wide Web." Double-click "Using other browsers with AOL." for further information.

Plug-ins and Players

Browsers also use plug-ins and other helper applications to help them display Web documents. If you encounter an element (such as video or animation) that requires one of these helpers, you may see a message that your browser isn't equipped for that content type.