VCCS Help

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Support Site for Blackboard Users in the Virginia Community College System


Student Support - First Time Users   

  First Time Users
Logging In
Technical Requirements
Free Downloads
Student Email

Student Blackboard Orientation
Helpdesk

 HARDWARE/SOFTWARE REQUIREMENTS
Operating System Windows 98, 2000, XP, NT, or ME; MacOS 9 or MacOS X
Processor 350 MHz or higher
Memory 64 MB of RAM
Hard Drive Space 1GB free disk space
Browser

Netscape 7
Internet Explorer 6
 


Note: JavaScript & Cookies must be enabled.
AOL users should upgrade to the latest version.

Browser Settings

By default, web browsers store visited webpages on a computer's hard drive (cache). These pages are erased either after a number of days or after the maximum file size is reached. These options can also be set by the user.

Since the content of Blackboard courses can change on a daily basis, it is important that you make the following modifications to your cache settings:
If you are using Netscape
-click on EDIT (at the top of Netscape)
-click on PREFERENCES
-click on the + besides ADVANCED
-click on CACHE
-click on CLEAR MEMORY CACHE
-click on CLEAR DISK CACHE
Also in this same menu, where it says "Document in
cache...................................."
change it to EVERY TIME
If you are using Internet Explorer (version 5 or higher)
-click on TOOLS
-click on INTERNET OPTIONS
-click on DELETE FILES (in the middle of that screen)
-click on OK
Now click on SETTINGS (it is to the right of the "delete files)
-have the dot beside "Every visit to the page" 

Plug-ins & Downloads
 
  • Acrobat Reader -View and print millions of documents on the Web with the free Adobe® Acrobat® Reader. You WILL need to have Acrobat Reader on your computer.
  • Apple Quick Time 4 -Quick Time 4 lets you add more than 200 digital media capabilities and components to your Mac or PC.
  • Real Networks RealPlayer -Play online audio and video content.
  • Microsoft Media Player - Windows Media Player supports Windows Media (WMA,ASF), MP3, WAV, MIDI, AVI, and other formats.
  • Shockwave, Flash & Authorware - Macromedia's Shockwave, Flash and Authorware Player plug-ins let you experience automation and entertainment in your Web browser. The new Shockwave 7 provides auto-updating of the player.
  • Internet Explorer 6.0
  • Word Viewer - allows you to view the Microsoft's WORD files on this system if you do not own WORD - Do NOT install if you have WORD on your computer.
  • Excel Viewer - allows you to view the Microsoft's EXCEL files on this system if you do not own EXCEL - Do NOT install if you have EXCEL on your computer.
  • PowerPoint Viewer - allows you to view the Microsoft's PowerPoint files on this system if you do not own PowerPoint - Do NOT install if you have PowerPoint on your computer.
Modem 56 kbps or higher speed
Printer graphics-capable (inkjet or laser) printer
CD-ROM required for some courses
Sound Card required for some courses
Monitor 15" monitor (800 x 600 resolution)