Known Hardware and Software Issues - Updated 10/25/2005
Classrooms
Video Drivers and New Projectors
Known Blackboard Issues
Video Drivers and New Projectors
Certain laptops need to have video drivers updated in order to function properly with the new projectors in the classrooms. If you are having problems using the projectors in the classrooms, Please contact Network Management for assistance.
Problems logging into Blackboard
Issue:
Blackboard sometimes hangs while attempting to log into the system. Instead of going to the Bb myDU page, users go to a blank screen.
Background:
This is an intermittent issue and has been replicated on multiple browsers.
Work-around:
Users experiencing this problem need to refresh their screen by clicking on the Refresh Button located on their web browser’s toolbar.
Status:
UTS is working with Blackboard to resolve this issue.
Issue:
Some Internet Explorer (IE) users have reported problems logging directly into Blackboard at blackboard.du.edu.
Background:
Users can successfully access Blackboard through webCentral but report problems logging into Blackboard directly. This issue is resolved by downloading the IE (see link below). This issue only occurs when users are accessing Blackboard directly with Internet Explorer.
Work-around:
Users experiencing this problem need to download and install this Internet Explorer Security Update.
Status:
The problem is resolved when the Explorer Security update is downloaded and installed.
Problems Downloading Files - HTTP Status 404 Error
Issue:
Instructors and students receive an HTTP Status 404 error message when they attempt to download files that were uploaded to the gradebook using the Assignment Manager (Add Assignment) or posted as attachments to the Discussion Board.
Background:
This issue occurs when a student uploads a file to the assignment manager or the discussion board that includes special characters (i.e., ‘#’, ‘+’ symbols) as part of the filename. For example, if the filename is Paper#1.doc, the instructor may receive the 404 error and be unable to download the document from the gradebook. Filenames that include special characters may function properly within different areas of Blackboard.
Work-around:
Instructors and students should not include the ‘#’ or other special characters in the filenames of documents they are uploading to Blackboard through the Assignment Manager, Digital Drop Box or as attachments to the Discussion Board. Blackboard recommends the following general guidelines for filenames: Characters a-z (upper or lower case), 0-9, period ‘.’ and underscore ‘_’ are acceptable filenames. All spaces will be converted to underscores in the name of the uploaded file.
Status:
This is a known issue in the current version of Blackboard. According to Blackboard Inc., this issue is resolved in the next release of Blackboard.
Problems with Blackboard Tests and Quizzes - 5 Issues
IMPORTANT: Please review ALL issues related to tests before taking or assigning a test in Bb.
Problems submitting and saving tests - clicking the Submit button more than once causes problems
Issue:
When taking a test, clicking on the Submit or Save button more than once can result in several different unexpected outcomes. For example, clicking submit or save more than once can lock the student out of the assessment and the student may receive an error message. When finished with a lengthy assessment, clicking submit or save more than once will queue up additional processes and slow down performance and the test may not be saved.
Background:
This issue most often occurs when a screen load takes longer than the user expects. Common user behavior is to click submit or save again with the hope of speeding up the process.
Work-around:
Instructors should inform the students about this issue before assigning an exam in Blackboard. Students should be told to wait after clicking the save or submit button if the screen takes longer to load than expected. They should be instructed NOT to click on the Submit or Save button more than once. In some instances, it may take up to 5 or 6 minutes for the test to load in Blackboard.
Status:
This is a known issue in our current version of Blackboard. This issue is resolved in Release 6.1.
Problems related to Pop-up Blockers and Blackboard Tests
Issue:
If students have Pop-up Blockers enabled on their computer, they may experience problems taking tests in Blackboard. Students may not be able to click on the exam link or may have problems submitting exams when Pop-Up Blockers are enabled.
Background:
Problems are more likely to occur when the instructor selects the option to launch their Blackboard tests in an External Window.
Work-around:
Students should be advised to disable pop-up blockers or choose the options to “Always allow pop-ups from this site.” before taking an exam within Blackboard. Instructors should NOT select the option to “Launch test in external window” when selecting their test options.
Status:
Pop-up blocker software is bundled with many programs including Windows XP Service Pak 2, Google Toolbar, Yahoo Toolbar, and Norton Internet Security. Students should disable their pop-blockers when using Blackboard for taking exams or using the collaboration tools.
Error Message upon clicking the Submit button
Issue:
After clicking on the Submit button, the student receives a message that states,
”You have already chosen to go on to the next question and are unable to successfully submit the exam.”
Background:
This message is most likely to occur after the student clicked on Submit and then changed their mind when asked if they are sure. The student decides to go back into the exam and change an answer. Upon clicking the submit button again, they receive that error message and are unable to successfully submit their exam.
Work-around:
When the student receives this message, the student should click on the Save button. After they Save the test, they can successfully submit their exam by clicking the Submit button.
Status:
There is no resolution at this time.
Problems with “one question at a time” presentation mode
Issue:
Students have reported problems submitting tests when the test presentation mode is set at one question at a time, instead of presenting the test questions all at once.
Background:
After clicking the “go to next question” arrow, Blackboard sometimes hangs and students are unable to complete the test. A second related issue is that when the student clicks cancel after clicking on the next button, Blackboard does not allow the student to complete the exam.
Work-around:
Instructors SHOULD NOT select the one question at a time test presentation mode when setting their test presentation options.
Status:
This is a known issue in the current version of Blackboard. According to Blackboard, this issue is resolved in Blackboard 6.1.
Problems with tests when accessing Blackboard within webCentral
Issue:
Students who log into Blackboard through webCentral report problems submitting Blackboard tests or quizzes. Blackboard freezes when they press "submit", they report that nothing happens, or they get a blank screen rather than a score report.
Background:
When webCentral automatically “times out,” students are also logged out of Blackboard.
Work-around:
We recommend that when taking Blackboard tests or quizzes, students login directly to Blackboard at http://blackboard.du.edu. Students can also change their timeout in webCentral to a longer timeframe, which should also prevent this problem.
Status:
This will continue to be an issue and students should make sure to use one of the above work-arounds when taking tests in Blackboard.
Student Enrollment
Issue:
Students are automatically dropped and added to Blackboard based on the registration process. However, sometimes an instructor will need to manually enroll a student into their Blackboard course but is unable to enroll the student from their course control panel.
Background:
An instructor cannot locate a student to manually enroll the student in their Blackboard course. This typically occurs when the student dropped the course and then decided to re-add the course. When a student drops a course, they are not removed from the Blackboard course, but are “disabled” within the course. When a student is disabled within a Blackboard course, the instructor cannot see the student listed on the class roster in Blackboard.
Work-around:
Contact a Blackboard System Administrator (blackbaord@du.edu) with the Blackboard course ID and student name. The Blackboard database administrator will enable the student in the Blackboard course.
Status:
Ongoing, this issue is related to our integration with Banner.
Collaboration Tools - new JAVA Plug-In required
Issue:
The Collaboration Tools require that the latest Java Plug-In v1.4.1_02 is installed on the user’s computer for the Virtual Classroom and Lightweight Chat to work in Blackboard.
Background:
The version of the Java Plug-in that worked with Blackboard during Fall 2003 quarter does not work with the current version of Blackboard. If you don’t have v1.4.1_02 installed on your computer, you will need to download that version to access the collaboration tools in Blackboard.
Status:
This issue is posted here for information purposes to inform users of this issue. If you still have problems after downloading the latest version of Java, try removing the previous version of the Java Plug-in (v1.3.1._02).
Pop-up Blockers and Cookies
Issue:
Blackboard may not work properly if you have pop-up blocker software installed in your browser and if cookies are NOT enabled.
Background:
Cookies must be enabled and pop-ups should be allowed for the Blackboard site. Problems within the collaboration and assessment tools in Blackboard may be related to this issue.
Work-around:
If you are having problems accessing the collaboration tools or quizzes or tests in Blackboard, you need to make sure that cookies are enabled and that you have disabled your pop-up blocker for the Blackboard site.
Status:
Ongoing, this issue is posted here for information purposes.
Extra characters added to Gradebook Item titles
Issue:
Extra asterisks mysteriously appear next to gradebook item names within the Blackboard gradebook.
Background:
Some instructors are having problems with the gradebook where Blackboard adds an asterisk into the name of a gradebook item. This is confusing because an asterisk represents an item that is "not visible" to the students. This problem occurs after a gradebook item that is invisible is downloaded into a CSV file and then re-uploaded back into Blackboard.
Work-around:
Instructors must manually remove the extra asterisk within the gradebook item title.
Status:
This is a known issue in our current version of Blackboard. This issue is resolved in Release 6.1.
Blackboard Optimal Configuration Guidelines
| |
Windows XP |
Windows 2000 |
Mac OS 10.2 |
Mac OS 10.3 |
| Internet Explorer 5.2 |
|
|
yes |
|
| Internet Explorer 5.5 |
yes |
|
|
|
| Internet Exporer 6.0 |
yes |
yes |
|
|
| Netscape 7.1 |
yes |
yes |
yes |
yes |
| Safari 1.0 |
|
|
yes |
|
| Safari 1.1 |
|
|
|
yes |
|
