Quick Fixes for myCourses Problems
Having trouble getting myCourses to
work? Try these quick fixes:
1. Go to SFA On-line for a variety of support resources.
2. If myCourses tells you that you have entered an incorrect user
name or password but you are sure you typed both correctly, close your browser completely, then re-open it and try again. Still no good? Try a different browser (see below). Still no good? Re-boot, then try again.
3. Run the "browser check" at the myCourses login screen.
See tips below for solving common problems, or follow the instructions
from the browser check program.
4. Try different ways of accessing myCourses. If clicking
on a "favorite" or a link in a page doesn't work, try typing
mycourses.sfasu.edu
directly into the browser URL space. Also try accessing myCourses through mySFA.
5. If you are having trouble with Microsoft Internet Explorer
(for which versions 7 or 8 work best), try Firefox. You
can download Firefox free from SFA OnLine Software Downloads: http://www.sfasu.edu/sfaonline/102.asp . You can also download directly from Firefox at: http://www.mozilla.com/en-US . Currently, the best version for Blackboard is 3.6, which is found at http://www.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/all-older.html .
6. One of the most common problems is that mycourses uses
pop-ups, and browsers are usually configured to block them. Try:
- watch for a yellow "pop-up blocker" notification. If you
see it in myCourses, click the yellow bar, then choose "always allow
popups from this site" or words to that effect.
- add mycourses to your "trusted sites" list. Procedure:
- in Microsoft Internet Explorer (version 6 or later), tap the Alt
key, then click Tools, Internet Options, Security, Trusted Sites, and
click the "Sites" button. If it isn't already there, add
http://mycourses.sfasu.edu. Important: uncheck the box "Require
server verification." Click the Add button, then OK.
- in Firefox, click Tools, Options,
Content, Block popup exceptions. Type http://mycourses.sfasu.edu
and click "Allow."
- if you do the above and the browser check still tells you that
pop-ups are blocked, and if you have the Google toolbar or some other
add-on installed in your browser, delete it. That can usually be
done by clicking Start, Control Panel, Add/Remove Programs, then find
the toolbar program and remove it. Re-boot before trying
myCourses again.
7. Another common problem is having no Java or outdated Java (the
browser check in my courses will tell you this). The easiest way
to get the latest version of Java is to open your browser and go to
http://www.java.com , then click "Free Java Download." The program will
automatically check to see whether your computer has the latest version
of Java and download it if necessary. If you see a warning about
an Active-X, choose to allow
it to run, and choose to install
Java when prompted. If offered the Google Toolbar, uncheck that option (as
noted above, toolbars sometimes cause trouble with popups). The
Java download is sometimes slow--be patient. When done, re-boot
before trying mycourses again.
8. Sometimes, Java gets ahead of Blackboard in security updates.
If you start myCourses and receive a Java "security warning",
exit and re-start myCourses making sure you are at the correct web
address. If you are, answer "no" to the question, "Block potentially unsafe..."
9. There have been some myCourses problems associated with
"cookies." In some cases, it helps to go to your browser's
options and delect all saved cookies. Caution: this may
negatively affect other web sites you visit. Do this as a last
resort.
10. Still stuck? If you can get into your course in
myCourses,
click on Discussions, then see if your instructor has included a
Technical Support topic. If so, create a message
describing your problem. You may be able to get help from your
instructor or someone else in the class. If your account doesn't work, leave a message using someone else's account.
11. A variety of other helpful links can be found at Dr. Fisher's
WWW Information Sources web page: http://www.cob.sfasu.edu/wfisher/wwwinfsrc.html
Send comments and corrections concerning this page to:
wfisher@sfasu.edu
Last updated January 21, 2012