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Prepare Your Browser Settings for Blackboard

 

 

System Requirements for using Blackboard 9.1 SP5

 

If your computer does not have the proper hardware, Blackboard 9.1 may run slowly or may not run at all. Prior to using Blackboard 9.1 on your computer, compare your current system configuration with the system requirements below.

 

Windows   Macintosh  
Recommended System Requirements Recommended System Requirements    
Operating System: Windows Vista (32-bit) or Windows 7 Operating System: OS X (10.6)
Processor: 1 GHz or more Processor: 1 GHz or more
Ram: 2 GB or more Ram: 2 GB or more
Hard Drive: 40 GB or more Hard Drive: 40 GB or more
Hard Disk Space Available: 20 GB Hard Disk Space Available: 20 GB
Internet Connection: Adapter for Ethernet connection (LAN) or a wireless adapter (Wi-Fi). Internet Connection: Adapter for Ethernet connection (LAN) or a wireless adapter (Wi-Fi).
Other: Sound card and speakers Other: Sound card and speakers

 

Accessibility


Blackboard strives to make all its products as accessible as possible. JAWS for Windows 10 and 11 were used during accessibility testing.

 

Browser Compatibility
A certified browser is one that has been fully tested and is fully supported by Blackboard 9.1.
A compatible browser is one that has undergone limited testing.


Blackboard has certified the following browsers for computers running Windows Operating
Systems:

  •  Windows Vista (32-bit): Internet Explorer 8 and Firefox 3.6

  •  Windows 7 (32-bit): Internet Explorer 8 and Firefox 3.6

  •  

The following are compatible browsers for computers running Windows Operating Systems:

  • Windows XP (32-bit): Internet Explorer 8, Internet Explorer 7, Firefox 3.6, Firefox 3.5

  • Windows Vista (32-bit): Internet Explorer 7, Firefox 3.5

  • Windows Vista (64-bit): Internet Explorer 8, Internet Explorer 7, Firefox 3.6, Firefox 3.5

  • Windows 7 (32-bit): Firefox 3.5

  • Windows 7 (64-bit): Internet Explorer 8, Firefox 3.6, Firefox 3.5

 

 

Blackboard has certified the following browsers for computers running Macintosh Operating
Systems:

  • Mac OSX 10.6 (Snow Leopard): Safari 5.0, Firefox 3.6

 

 

The following are compatible browsers for computers running Macintosh Operating Systems:

  • Mac OSX 10.5 (Leopard): Safari 5.0, Safari 4.0, Firefox 3.6, Firefox 3.5

  • Mac OSX 10.6 (Snow Leopard): Safari 4.0, Firefox 3.5

 

If the computer you are using has a compatible browser, you still may be able to use parts of Blackboard 9.1. However, you may also experience problems, especially when completing quizzes and tests or using chat and the Virtual Classroom.

 

Blackboard 9.1 requires that your Web browser conforms to certain standards. If you have an out-of-date or unsupported browser, you will need to download either a certified version of your current browser or a different certified browser before attempting to log into Blackboard 9.1.

 

Note to America Online (AOL) users:
The AOL browser is not compatible with Blackboard 9.1. However, you can use your AOL
Internet connection with one of the web browsers listed above for your operating system to
access Blackboard 9.1.

 

Browser Configuration


Your browser must be configured properly as follows:

  • JavaScript must be enabled.

  • Cookies must be enabled.

  • Pop-up windows must be enabled.

 

Browser Plug-ins


At a minimum, you will need three browser plug-ins to use Blackboard 9.1: Adobe Reader,
Adobe Flash Player, and the latest version of Sun JRE 6 - Java Runtime Environment plug-in (Windows Operating System only). Blackboard 9.1 will not run properly if you are using an incompatible version of Java or if you have multiple versions of Java installed. (You may need additional plug-ins if the course you are taking includes multimedia elements.)


To download and install the current versions of Adobe Reader, Adobe Flash Player, and the Java plug-in (Windows Operating System only).

 

  1. Adobe Reader
    1. Go to http://www.adobe.com/downloads/.
    2. Click the Get Adobe Reader button.

  2. Adobe Flash Player
    1. Go to http://www.adobe.com/downloads/.
    2. Click the Get Adobe Flash Player button.

  3. Java plug-in
    1. Go to http://www.java.com/en/download/index.jsp
    2. Click the Free Java Download button.
    3. Also be sure to remove any older versions of the Java Plug-in.

  4. PDF plug-in for Macs
    1. Go to http://schubert-it.com/pluginpdf/
    2. Click the Download Now button.

Additional Suggested Software

  • Microsoft Office Word, Excel, and PowerPoint

  • Microsoft Office Compatibility Pack for Word, Excel, and PowerPoint File Formats

  • Windows Media Player, QuickTime, or RealPlayer

 

 

The following technologies are not supported:

  • Internet Explorer 6

  • Firefox 1.x, 2.0, and 3.0

  • Safari 2.0, 3.0, 3.1, 3.2 and any version on Windows

  •  Mac OSX 10.3, 10.4 “Tiger”

  • Java 5

 

 

Internet Explorer 9 and Firefox 4.0


Microsoft Internet Explorer 9 and Mozilla Firefox 4.0 were not released with enough time to fully test on Release 9.1 Service Pack 5. These browsers are in Provisional Support.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 


Winthrop Shield
Blackboard Contact Information
Kimarie Whetstone, Online Learning Coordinator
Instructional Technology Center | 803.323.2551 | whetstonek@winthrop.edu
Last updated: 09/27/11