Setting Up Your Computer to Access Vista

Vista is a sophisticated interactive web application with some specific technical requirements:

• A supported web browser
• Pop-ups enabled for Vista
• The Java plugin, version 1.5 or later

Once you think you have the above items configured properly, run the automated Vista browser check and make sure!

Browsers

Blackboard supports several browsers for use with Vista. CSU, Chico's computer support groups (User Services and Student Computing) support two of these browsers:

• On a PC running Windows XP you should use Internet Explorer 6.0 or Internet Explorer 7.0 with all security updates, or Firefox 2.0.
• On a Macintosh running OS X you should use Safari 1.3, 2.0 or 3.0.

Pop-ups

Pop-up advertisements have caused many users to block pop-up windows on their computers using either a built-in feature of their web browser or possibly an add-in blocker like Yahoo! Toolbar, Google Toolbar.

Blackboard Vista uses pop-up windows for some of its best features, and so you must disable your pop-up blocking for the Vista server (http://vista.csuchico.edu) at least.

• Students should contact Student Computing for assistance disabling pop-up blockers.
• Faculty and Staff should contact User Services for assistance disabling pop-up blockers.

Java

Java is a free plug-in which allows Vista to add interactivity and other functions to a Vista page. Java Version 1.4.2 or higher is required to login to Vista. We recommend you download a new version if you experience any problems.

• Check your Java Version (at Java.com)
• Download a new version from Java.com