Login to Vista
Once you have completed setting up your computer and browser to use Blackboard Vista, you should log in and try all the basic functions on the site.
If you are able to do all of these things without any problems, you have correctly set up your system to use Blackboard Vista. You may now continue on to your course. If you are having difficulty with any portions of these tests, you can click on the step you're having trouble with to see some possible solutions.
Login Checklist
- Log into Vista
Log into Vista
You log into your classes by going to the Blackboard Vista home page, clicking the "Login" button, and typing in your username and Kerberos password. If you receive an error while logging in:
- Make sure that you are logging into http://vista.bu.edu.
- Check to see that your student account and registration are current and free of problems.
- Ensure you are typing in the correct username and password.
- Be sure that cookies have been enabled. If you are not sure how to do this, please check our browser check help page.
- Use the correct browser and operating system. For a list of requirements, see our pages on Vista system requirements and Vista browser requirements.
- Access the orientation course
Access the Student Orientation course
When you log into Blackboard Vista, you will see a list of courses for which you have registered. Please note: You will only see your Student Orientation in the Course List until the date/time that your class begins as outlined in the notice on the Vista home page. In your Course List there should be a Student Orientation course for the appropriate semester, year, and college. You should click on that link and then click "Start here". If you cannot access this course:
- Watch a video and listen to audio
Watch a video and listen to the audio
In your orientation course, play the introductory movie. This movie will show you more about Blackboard Vista as well as test your browser to see if multimedia components are working correctly.
If the video does not play at all:
- Make sure you have installed all the appropriate plug-ins from the WebCT browser plugins page.
If the audio does not play at all:
- Check to make sure that your sound is turned on and you have speakers or headphones attached to your machine.
- See our Solutions to Common Problems page for more information.
- Make sure you have installed all the appropriate plug-ins from the WebCT browser plugins page.
If the video and/or audio is choppy:
- Send a test email from your Vista email account
Send a test email from your Vista email account
Click on the email icon  in your Blackboard Vista toolbar. Click "Create Message", compose a test message to your facilitator including a subject and message text, and click send. If you are having trouble sending email:
- Ensure that you have the appropriate version of Java installed, as described in our Java Compatability page.
- Make sure you have pop-up blockers turned off or set to accept pop-ups from Blackboard Vista. Please see our pop-up configuration page for more help.
- Check to see if you have fully uninstalled all Norton products from your system, as detailed in our anti-virus page.
- Post on a discussion board
Post on a discussion board
Click the discussion board icon  in your Blackboard Vista toolbar. This will bring up a list of discussion board topics. Click on "General Board Discussions", "Water Cooler" or "Introductions" etc.. and then click "Create Message". Write a test message and post it on the forum. These are public boards, so whatever you post can be seen by other Blackboard Vista users and can't be removed by technical support. If you are having trouble posting to the discussion board:
- Ensure that you have the appropriate version of Java installed, as described in our Java Compatability page.
- Check to see if you have fully uninstalled all Norton products from your system, as detailed in our anti-virus page.
- Ensure that you have allowed pop-up windows from Blackboard Vista as outlined in our Pop-up blocker page.
- Upload a test file
Upload a test file
Click the My Files icon  in the My Tools section of your Blackboard Vista toolbar. This will bring up your file area. Click "Get Files" and then click "My Computer." After a few moments, a screen will appear showing some part of the files on your computer. Select a small file, such as a Microsoft Word (.doc) or Plain Text (.txt) file, and click open. A progress bar will appear and the file will then show in your My Files area. If you are having trouble uploading files:
- Change the file name so that it contains only letters and numbers (Blackboard Vista cannot process file names with special characters such as !, ? and *), and is less than 15 characters long.
- Make sure you have pop-up blockers turned off or set to accept pop-ups from Vista. Please see our Pop-up blocker page for more help.
- Ensure that you have the appropriate version of Java installed, as described in our Java Compatability page.
- Check to see if you have fully uninstalled all Norton products from your system, as detailed in our anti-virus page.
- Use the correct browser and operating system. For a list of requirements, see our pages on Blackboard Vista system requirements and Blackboard Vista browser requirements.
- Ensure that your connection speed is above our minimum 384 kbps by testing your connection speed from our connection test page.
- If you don't see the "My Computer" icon, see our Solutions to Common Problems section of the online documentation for Uploading Files.
- Download a test file
Download a test file
Click the My Files icon in your Blackboard Vista toolbar. This will bring up your file area. Click on the file you just uploaded and then click the "ActionLink" icon  . In the dropdown menu, click "Download" and save the file to your computer. If you are having trouble downloading files:
- Make sure you have pop-up blockers turned off or set to accept pop-ups from Blackboard Vista. Please see our pop-up configuration page for more help.
- Ensure that you have the appropriate version of Java installed, as described in our Java Compatability page.
- Check to see if you have fully uninstalled all Norton products from your system, as detailed in our anti-virus page.
- Use the correct browser and operating system. For a list of requirements, see our pages on Vista system requirements and Vista browser requirements.
- Ensure that your connection speed is above our minimum 384 kbps by testing your connection speed from our connection test page.
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