**Special Note to users with Linksys WRT54G Version 5 router (new window)
**Special Note to Windows Vista users (new window)

Browser & Java Settings
Do I need to disable popup blockers?
What are the browser requirements for using Vista?
What version of Java should I be using?

Error Messages
or Getting Booted out of Vista
When I click to enter a course, why do I receive this error message?
Why does Vista boot me out to the courses page when I try to open a document?
Special Note to users with Linksys WRT54G Version 5 router

Timeouts
Why do I get timeout messages while working in Blackboard Vista?

Portal and Navigation
Do I have to keep myCommNet open to continue working in Blackboard?
How do I switch to another Blackboard Vista Course?

Printing
Why can't I print some of the files from within Blackboard Vista?

Support
Who can I contact for further support?

Other Helpful Information
Please also refer to the CTDLC Blackboard Vista Issues page for known Blackboard Vista issues and fixes.

How do I log into Blackboard Vista? t

1. Blackboard Vista is accessed through the myCommNet portal.
   Go to http://my.commnet.edu
2. Use your Network ID (NetID) and password to log in.
   An example of a student NetID looks like: 12345678@student.commnet.edu
3. Once you are logged into myCommNet, click on the Student tab, and then click on the link that says "Click Here to Access Blackboard Vista".

More login references:

View myCommNet Intro Video: View an online video that will show you how to login to the myCommNet portal to access your Blackboard Vista courses: or
 

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The following login FAQ's have been extracted from the myCommNet FAQ's:

What is a NetID and what is my NetID?
Please refer to the NetID Page. (http://www.commnet.edu/netid/netid-faq.asp)

What is my initial password?
Please refer to the NetID FAQ. (http://www.commnet.edu/netid/netid-faq.asp#Q3)

What if I forget my password and or NetID?
Please refer to the NetID Page. (http://www.commnet.edu/netid/netid-faq.asp#Q4)

How do I reset my password?
If a password is forgotten please reset the password at https://www.commnet.edu/netid/password.aspx. More information can be obtained from the NetID FAQ (http://www.commnet.edu/netid/netid-faq.asp)

Who do I contact if I need help with my NetID and password?
Please refer to the NetID FAQ (http://www.commnet.edu/netid/help.asp)

Who do I contact if I have questions on logging in?
Please refer to the NetID HELP (http://www.commnet.edu/netid/help.asp)

Do I need to disable pop-up blockers?
Yes. Many of the systems accessed through myCommNet open in a new window and therefore require that pop-ups be allowed. Please refer to the myCommNet site for further information. (https://my.commnet.edu/site/faq.html#popup)

The entire myCommNet FAQ's can be found at:  https://my.commnet.edu/site/faq.html

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http://www.ctdlc.org/help/issues.cfm?ProductID=26#34
(link opens a new browser window)

What are the Browser Requirements for using Blackboard Vista?

• The listed configurations below are the only configurations that are tested and supported by Blackboard:

  Windows Operating System
  Windows 2000, XP, Vista*
  Browsers:
  Internet Explorer  6 SP1; 6 SP2 (with Windows 2000, XP)
  Internet Explorer  7 (with Windows XP, Vista)
  Firefox 1.5.x (with Windows 2000 and XP)
  Firefox 2.x (with Windows 2000, XP, Vista)
  
  Mac Operating System
  Mac OS 10.2.x, 10.3.x, and OS 10.4.x
  Browsers:
  Firefox 1.0 (with OS 10.2.x, 10.3.x, 10.4.x)
  Safari 1.3.x; 2.x (with OS 10.3.x & 10.4.x)
  Safari 3.0 (with OS 10.4)

  See next section below for Java version requirements.
   

• You may also want to check the myCommNet browser requirements.
• To see which operating system, browser, and settings you currently have, you can use the CTDLC browser check. If you ever need support, it is a good idea to do this browser check first and have it available to help in answering these questions.
• Once you are inside of Blackboard Vista, you can also click on the "Browser Check" link in the upper right hand to further verify that your system is setup to work with Blackboard Vista.

• Note: If you do not see the Check Browser link, click first on the My Blackboard link and then you will see it.

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No. You can logout of and then close the myCommNet window, and Blackboard Vista will still be running in its own window. This will help you to avoid receiving the myCommNet timeout message which appears after a period of inactivity. (The myCommNet timeout does not affect the Blackboard Vista session.)

How do I switch to another Blackboard Vista course?

Once you are inside of Blackboard Vista, you will see a "My Blackboard" link at the top right of the screen. Click on the "My Blackboard" link and you will see links to each of your courses.

By doing so, you will be closing one course to get to another.

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Why do I get timeout messages while working in Blackboard Vista?

There are two types of timeouts you may be receiving:

1. myCommNet timeouts:
   The myCommNet window times out after a period of inactivity. This timeout does not affect your Blackboard Vista session. You may logout of and close the myCommNet window to avoid receiving the message, and continue working in Blackboard Vista.
2. Blackboard Vista timeouts:
   Blackboard Vista times out after 1 hour of inactivity. If you are taking a test (or any other activity) that is longer than 1 hour in Blackboard Vista, it is a good idea to click within that window every now and then so that it does not time you out while taking the test.

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• Error Message: "There is no content associated with this course."

  This message means that your instructor has not added any course content into Blackboard Vista. Check with your instructor to see if they are using Blackboard Vista for the course.

Why does Vista boot me out to the courses page when I try to open a document?

This occurrence happens in Internet Explorer, and is a browser setting that needs to be changed.

1. In Internet Explorer, go to Tools-->Internet Options.
2. Select the Security tab.
3. Select the Custom Level button.
4. Scroll down to "Downloads", then to "Automatic prompting for file downloads" and select Enable. (See picture below.)
5. Click OK

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If you are not able to print a course document from Blackboard Vista using the print icon or browser's print menu item, try the following:

Internet Explorer users: Right-click in the area of the document you are trying to print and select Print.
Firefox users: single-click in the area you want to print, then from the File menu, select print. Make sure that "The Selected Frame" option in the Print Frames section is selected.

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