Are browser settings properly set for accessing
Blackboard ?
· With the recent increase in worm and virus activity, many
people have tightened up their browser security to the point that it breaks the
login functionality of GVTC Blackboard. There are a number of browser
settings that must be properly configured before you will be able to access
Blackboard. Please configure your browser settings as listed below. Once you
have finished making any necessary changes, be sure you clear your browser
cache. Instructions for clearing your cache are listed at the bottom of the
table. Please make sure that any
favorite (IE) or shortcut (Netscape) to the Blackboard URL does NOT contain the
following as part of the link/URL:
webapps/portal/frameset.jsp
The
favorite (IE) or shortcut (Netscape)
should be created and edited to http://gvtc6.blackboard.com
The
instructions below assume you are already in the "Internet Options"
(Tools > Internet Options) area in Internet Explorer or the
"Preferences" (Edit > Preferences) area in Netscape.
|
SSL |
Much of Blackboard goes through secure connections. SSL must be enabled, and it is crucially important to have the right versions enabled. |
|
Internet Explorer |
Advanced tab > Security (near bottom): Check "Use SSL 2.0" and "Use SSL 3.0". UNcheck "Use TLS 1.0". |
|
Netscape |
Privacy & Security > SSL: Check "SSL v2.0 enabled" and "SSL v3.0 enabled". |
|
Cookies |
With cookies turned off, logging in is impossible, as a sessionID cookie is used to identify and authenticate you throughout your session. |
|
Internet Explorer |
Privacy tab > Advanced > check the
Override Cookies option and select accept on first and third party
cookies. |
|
Netscape |
Privacy & Security > Cookies > Manage Stored Cookies > Cookie Sites: Type in "gvtc6.blackboard.com" and click on "Allow" to make sure cookies from gvtc6.blackboard.com are always accepted, no matter what your other settings are. Same for "gvtc6.blackboard.com:8011" (for Virtual Classroom). |
|
JavaScript |
Much of Blackboard's functionality depends on JavaScript. With JavaScript turned off, logging in is impossible. So is taking quizzes. |
|
Internet Explorer |
Security tab > Custom Level >
Scripting (near bottom): Choose "Active Scripting: Enabled" and
“Scripting of Java Applets: Enabled”. |
|
Netscape |
Advanced > Scripts & Plugins. Choose "Enable JavaScript for: Navigator". |
|
Passwords & form data |
There appear to be occasional problems with the browser storing the encoded password for Blackboard and submitting the stored value instead of the current one. While it isn't entirely clear whether this is indeed the source for those users' login problems, we recommend the following as troubleshooting step: |
|
Internet Explorer |
Content tab > Personal Information > AutoComplete: UNcheck "Forms" and "Usernames and Passwords on Forms". Click "Clear Forms" and "Clear Passwords". Quit and restart the browser before trying again. |
|
Netscape |
Privacy & Security > Passwords > Manage Stored Passwords: make sure "gvtc6.blackboard.com" is listed among the sites where passwords are never stored. Under ... > Forms > Manage Sites: make sure "gvtc6.blackboard.com" is listed among the sites for whom form data is never stored. Or turn off saving of form data and passwords completely, if you like. |
|
Browser Helper Objects (BHOs) |
This is the main hook for malware (spyware, adware, browser hijackers, etc.), so it's very important to turn this off. Malware such as CommonName is a frequent source for login problems. |
|
Internet Explorer |
Advanced tab > Browsing (near top): UNcheck "Enable third party browser extensions". Restart the browser after clicking OK. |
|
Netscape |
does not apply (Netscape is safe) |
|
Popups |
Allowing popups is required. |
|
Internet Explorer |
Privacy Tab > Uncheck the Pop-ups blocked option. If using a third-party popup blocker, make sure it allows popups for gvtc6.blackboard.com and gvtc6.blackboard.com:8011. If you can't configure your popup blocker to allow popups from certain sites, you will have to either turn it off or get one that allows specific popups. |
|
Netscape |
Privacy & Security > Popup Windows > Allowed Sites: Allow popups for gvtc6.blackboard.com and gvtc6.blackboard.com:8011. |
|
Clearing Cache |
Caching problems lead to "wrong" pages showing up, and are frequently reported as a source of problems. After applying any changes to your browser settings, clear your cache and restart the browser (close ALL windows first, including any file download windows) to make sure the cache is really cleared. |
|
Internet Explorer |
General tab > Temporary Files > Settings: Make sure this is set to "Every time". To clear cache, click "Delete Files". |
|
Netscape |
Advanced > Cache: Select "Every time I view the page". Click "Clear Cache". |