Blackboard
Updates and Troubleshooting
What
is the Issue?
Sending Email or Discussion messages
Accessing Quizzes or Discussions
Accessing Content Files
Unable to attach files to an Assignment
or Mail Message
Missing a course from your Blackboard Course
List
Logging in to Blackboard or being disconnected
from Blackboard
Browser
and other Blackboard problems
Sending
Email or Discussion messages
You
may need to download a more compatible version of Java. This software
can be downloaded for free from www.Java.com.
Accessing
Quizzes or Discussions
Is
the Begin Assessment button greyed out?
The Begin Assessment button might be unavailable if you are
using a Mac. Mac users need to click the Instructions and Troubleshooting
button beside the Begin Assessment button. Read the instruction
page, and then click the Begin Assessment button at the bottom
of the instruction page in order to begin the test.
The Begin Assessment button might be unavailable if your instructor
has set up the test to be taken through the LockDown Browser. If the
test does require LockDown Browser, you will see a message in red and
a link to the download site for the LockDown Browser software. If you
are using a Coastal computer intended for student use, it may already
have the LockDown browser software installed. More
information
Is
the quiz available?
Check
the dates/times listed for quiz availability. If the end date/time has
passed, you will not be able to access the quiz. Please call
your instructor if you have questions about availability. Blackboard
Help Desk staff cannot change quiz availability.
Do
you have pop-up elimination software such as Pop-Up Stopper, Pop-Up
Zapper, Ad-Aware, etc.?
If
you are using software to control or eliminate pop-up windows, you may
need to disable this software while you taking a quiz in Blackboard.
In some cases, this software can prevent Blackboard materials and quizzes
from opening properly. Pop-up killing or ad-blocking functions
are built into some anti-virus, internet security, personal firewall,
and browser programs.
Is
your browser compatible with Blackboard?
Go through Blackboard's Browser
Tune-up to make sure your browser is optimized for Blackboard.
Accessing Content Files
Is
your browser software blocking file downloads?
You may need to set your browser to allow file downloads
from the Blackboard website.
Instructions for setting a Trusted Site
in Internet Explorer
Do
you have pop-up elimination software such as Pop-Up Stopper, Pop-Up
Zapper, Ad-Aware, etc.?
If
you are using software to control or eliminate pop-up windows, you may
need to disable this software while you taking a quiz in Blackboard.
In some cases, this software can prevent Blackboard materials and quizzes
from opening properly. Pop-up killing or ad-blocking functions are built
into some anti-virus, internet security, personal firewall, and browser
programs.
Do
you have the software needed to open the file you are trying to access?
Some documents provided in your course may require specific
software to open them. If you do not have the appropriate software to
open a particular document (such as Microsoft Word or PowerPoint), you
will need to contact your instructor.
This
problem can be caused by not having the documents (especially Microsoft
documents) closed before trying to upload them. Make sure you're saving
and closing the file before trying to attach in Blackboard.
It
has also been reported that having your browser's security setting for
"cookies" too high has caused the problem. Follow the instructions
at the browser tuneup
page for cookie settings.
If
you are not getting the attachments window at all, you may have a popup
blocker turned on. Pop-up killing or ad-blocking functions are built
into some anti-virus, internet security, personal firewall, and browser
programs. Although the Browser Checker in Blackboard can check for pop-up
Blockers in your browser, it cannot check for pop-up blockers in other
programs.
Missing a Course from your Blackboard Course
List
Did
you register late for the course?
If you registered late, the course may not show up in
the list on your MyBlackboard screen. Please allow 24 hours for the
course after registration for the course to appear in Blackboard. If
the course does not appear after 24 hours, email blackboard@coastal.edu
and request to be added to the course.
Does
the course use Blackboard?
Not
all courses at Coastal use Blackboard. To find out if a distance learning
course you're taking uses Blackboard, visit WebAdvisor.
To find out if an on-campus course uses Blackboard as a supplement,
contact your instructor.
Logging in to Blackboard
Have
you visited the Login Assistance screen?
The
Login Assistance page has detailed information
on browser options, computer settings, etc.
Unable
to Attach Files to an Assignment or Mail Message
This
problem can be caused by not having the documents (especially Microsoft
documents) closed before trying to upload them. Make sure you're saving
and closing the file before trying to attach in Blackboard.
It
has also been reported that having your browser's security setting for
"cookies" too high has caused the problem. Follow the instructions
at the browser tuneup
page for cookie settings.
If
you are not getting the attachments window at all, you may have a popup
blocker turned on. Pop-up killing or ad-blocking functions are built
into some anti-virus, internet security, personal firewall, and browser
programs. Although the Browser Checker in Blackboard can check for pop-up
Blockers in your browser, it cannot check for pop-up blockers in other
programs.
Update
Your Java Software
Is
the My Computer icon missing from your Browse window? Are you having
problems uploading files or attaching files in Blackboard?
Clear
Java Cache
You may need to clear the Java cache. Instructions
for clearing Java cache. Once the Java cache has been cleared, you
will need to restart your computer. You may see a Java security certificate
message pop-up when you login to Blackboard the next time. If a Java
Security certificate message (related to Blackboard) comes up when you
log back in, click "Run".
Did
you clear the Java cache and you still can't upload files to Blackboard?
Java
security certificate
Once the Java cache
has been cleared, you will need to restart your computer. You may see
a Java security certificate message pop-up when you login to Blackboard
the next time. If a Java Security certificate message (related to Blackboard)
comes up when you log back in, click "Run".
Have
you updated your Java software lately?
Update your Java software
