CE 6 Resources
Educational Technology Services

CE 6 Browser Requirements

CE 6 has very specific browser requirements:

  • You must use a web browser validated for CE 6.
  • You must have an approved version of Java Runtime Environment installed and enabled.
  • You must disable any pop-up blockers or add the CE 6 web address as an allowed site.
  • You must have JavaScript enabled.

Supported Web Browsers

For Windows OS:

Browser Versions

Validated
Unsupported

Microsoft IE

6 SP1 & SP2; 7

Netscape

7.2
8

AOL

9

Mozilla

1.7.x
1.5, 1.6

Firefox

1.0.x, 1.5.x


For Mac OS:

Browser Versions

Validated Unsupported

Mozilla

1.7.x (OS X only) Browsers running under Mac OS 9 and earlier; Firefox 1.5, Mozilla 1.5 and 1.6.

Firefox

1.0.x (OS X only)

Safari

1.2, 1.3, 2.x;
and 2.x for Intel x86 platform

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Browser Configuration Problems

If you think you may have a problem with your web browser, try logging into CE 6 from a different computer.  If all computers in your house have a problem connecting, it is probably a home network configuration issue.  If only one computer in your house has a problem connecting, it's probably a problem with the web browser on that computer.  Use the Browser Check feature of CE 6 to troubleshoot the problem.

If the Browser Check window doesn't open, you will see this warning about pop-up blockers. 

Pop-up Blocker Check

People often add additional “plug-ins” to their browsers such as the Yahoo! Toolbar, the Google Toolbar, etc.  These can interfere with the use of your browser for CE 6.  You may be able to correct a browser problem by disabling or removing a plug-in.

If your computer has firewalls or port blockers installed for security reasons, these should be configured so that http://online.fiu.edu/login_uts.html is a trusted site.  Note:  you may have several firewalls installed on your computer:  Windows firewall, Norton Antivirus firewall, etc.  You will have to allow access in all your firewalls. Don't leave them disabled.  Instead, get help to identify the problem and properly configure that program.

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Check Browser

CE 6 automatically checks to see if your computer is properly set up when you log in.  (You can also click the Check Browser link on the log-in page.) This is the easiest way to see if your browser is set up correctly for CE 6.  You will see the Browser Check Results window as shown below.

Browser Checker Results

You can run the Browser Check now if you prefer by clicking here. Scroll down the window to ensure that your browser has "passed" all aspects of the browser check.  Green check marks are good; red crosses indicate a problem.  If any requirements are marked with red crosses, click on the Step-by-Step Instructions to Properly Configure Your Browser link and follow the instructions.

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Setting Up Java Correcting for CE 6

CE 6 uses the Java Runtime Environment (JRE) for many features, so Java-related problems can affect your ability to use CE 6 tools.  There are three steps to setting up Java correctly:

  1. Install the correct version of Java for CE 6:  Java 2 Runtime Environment version 1.6.0_05 (Sun Microsystems Inc.)
  2. Remove all other versions of Java from your computer.
  3. Turn off Java automatic update.
To remove older versions of Java from your computer:
  • Click Start
  • Select Settings
  • Select Control Panel
  • Double click the Add/Remove Programs control panel icon
  • The Add/Remove control panel displays a list of software on your system, including any Java software products that are on your computer.
  • Select any earlier versions of Java Runtime Environment  (1.4 or 1.5 )by clicking on it.
  • Click the Remove button.
  • Go to the java.com for JRE 6.0 web page to get the correct version of Java or follow the instructions below.
To install a new version of Java on your computer:
  • Open your web browser
  • Go to http://www.java.com/en/download/manual.jsp
    • If you still have Java installed you can check which version you are currently running by clicking on the Verify now link and following the onscreen instructions
  • Click the link for your operating system to download the plugin
  • Complete the steps to download, install and re-verify the installation for your operating system
  • After the installation is complete, log off from your computer and log back in
  • Open a browser, go to http://learn.mq.edu.au
  • Login to Blackboard CE6 and click Check Browser to confirm that your installation meets CE6 requirements.
 

Macintosh

Mac OS X has Java installed by default. You can install the latest version by clicking the blue Apple logo in the menu bar, then selecting Software Updates and clicking Update now, then follow the onscreen prompts.

If you are having problems with CE6 and Safari, it may help to clear the Java cache for installed Java plugins:

  • In Finder, go to Applications then Utilites then Java.
  • Double click Java 1.3.1 Plugin Settings then Cache and click the Clear JAR cache button
  • Double click Java 1.4.2 Plugin Settings then Cache then Clear
  • Close the Applications window.

If your computer uses Mac OS X 10.4.5 or later, the latest version of Java should be set as the currently used version:

  • Double click your hard drive icon and choose Applications then Utilities then Java J2SE5.0 and double click Java Preferences
  • In the top section set it to use 5.0 and in the bottom section drag J2SE 5.0 to the topof the list In the Temporary Internet Files section, click Settings then Delete Files and Ok to delete applets, applications and other files
  • Click Save for these settings
  • Close the Applications window.

This prevents Safari from using earlier Java versions for applets that ae compatible with the later version.

 

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Turn off automatic java updates

  1. Log into Blackboard. This will cause the Java icon, , to appear in the windows system tray at the bottom right-hand corner of the screen.
  2. Right click on the icon and select Open Control Panel from the list of options.

    Java Control Panel option

  3. Click the "Update" tab and uncheck the box labeled "Check for Updates Automatically."



  4. A box will appear asking if you want to "check monthly" for updates or "never check." Select Never Check.

    Never Check Box
  5. Click OK.

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