(Adapted from Columbia Digital Knowledge Ventures help files.)
Plug-in error messages
Making the text larger
Using the "Back" button on the browser toolbar
Making a page load faster
Strange colors while playing sample video
JavaScript error messages
System requirements
Using Netscape
Using Internet Explorer
Using AOL
Using Windows XP
Using OS X
If you cannot view a video or PDF, you will receive a plug-in error. You will need to download the appropriate plug-in. Please select here to be taken to more detailed help information:
Download Adobe® Acrobat Reader®
Download Macromedia Shockwave Plug-in
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The target resolution for e-seminars is 800x600 pixels. To change your resolution on a PC, right-click on the desktop and choose "Properties." Then, select the "Settings" tab and change the "Screen Area" slider. To change your resolution on a Mac, select "Control Panels-Monitors" from the Apple menu. Change the selection for the "Resolution." Use 640x480 pixels for larger text and a higher number for smaller text.
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The "Back" button in the browser typically takes you to the previous page. However, if this does not happen, it may be because the website is built in framesets. Please use the e-seminar navigation buttons and tools instead.
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Downloading files and viewing pages mostly depends on your modem's connection speed. You might want to try logging in when fewer people are online—such as late at night or early
in the morning. Also, faster computers will be able to display and run applications quicker. If your machine seems to be having problems or you experience delays running Netscape
Navigator 4.x, you may want to download Internet Explorer 5.x/6.x (PC) or 5.x (Mac). As a general rule, Internet Explorer is less memory-intensive than Netscape Navigator.
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Your display adapter may only be capable of rendering 256 colors, or, more likely, your display's control panel is set to 256 colors. If that is the case, set your display's control
panel to thousands/millions of colors (Mac: select "Monitors" or "Monitors & Sound") or high color/16 bit (PC: select "Display" or right-click on the
desktop and choose "Properties") to correct the problem. You'll need to quit and relaunch your browser to reset the colors. If your video hardware is not capable of
displaying more than 256 colors at your chosen resolution, the video will still work, but it may be oddly colored and/or look slightly fragmented.
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Make sure that you are using one of the required browsers for this e-seminar.
For PC: Netscape Navigator 4 or above OR Internet Explorer 4 or above. For Macintosh: Netscape
Navigator 4 or above OR Internet Explorer 5 or above. If you are still getting this message, make sure JavaScript is enabled.
With Internet Explorer, look in "Internet
Options–Security" in the "Tools" menu and use the "Custom Level" option to enable active scripting.
With Netscape, look in "Preferences" in the "Edit" Menu
and use the "Advanced" option to enable JavaScript.
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For IBM-Compatible PC
For Macintosh
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The Netscape browser is free. Download Netscape Navigatior (PC or Mac) and follow the simple download instructions.
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The Internet Explorer browser is free. Download Internet Explorer 5.x/6.x (PC) or 5.x (Mac) and follow the simple download instructions. PC users, please be aware if you have a previous version of Internet Explorer, it will be overwritten if you download a later version.
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If you use AOL, you will need to use Netscape Navigator or Internet Explorer, not AOL's default, internal browser. Among other things, AOL's browser has known compatibility problems with Microsoft's new operating system, Windows XP.
After logging on to AOL, open Netscape Navigator or Internet Explorer in order to use the e-seminar. You may need to contact AOL to configure Netscape Navigator or Internet Explorer to work with AOL's proprietary software. Both Netscape and Explorer are free to download and use. In this scenario, you are connecting to the Internet with AOL's network but using Netscape Navigator or Internet Explorer to surf the e-seminar. You may prefer to use Internet Explorer 4.x and above because AOL's browser has the same look and feel. Just make sure you're still logged on to AOL. Do not log off when using Netscape Navigator or Internet Explorer.
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Windows XP has known compatibility problems with several programs, including Microsoft's own Internet Explorer 6 and Outlook. Windows XP also doesn't work well with AOL 6, McAfee VirusScan (through 5.21), Symantec Norton AntiVirus 2001, and Quicktime 5. It's impossible to say with any certainty that this is what is causing your problems. The best place to find out is to go to Microsoft's Windows XP Support Center website. If you're still having problems, you can e-mail Customer Service at help@ci.columbia.edu.
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The e-seminars will work fine in Mac OS X and RealNetworks has released a version of the Real Player for OS X. You can either read the video transcripts in lieu of watching the video, or use the "Startup Disk" control panel to reboot your machine into OS 9.
To switch to Mac OS 9, choose "System Preferences" from the Apple Menu in the upper left corner of the screen. Once "System Preferences" launches, choose "Startup Disk" from the "View" menu. Choose a System 9 folder from the list that appears and click "Restart."
For an explanation of this process that contains pictures, read this Apple document.
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