While we do not provide computer support for personal computers, there are some things you might try:

PC

While Angel says 32 MB RAM is sufficient, in reality 512 MB is better, and 1 GB will really get you going

What's your operating system? Windows XP, service pack 3 or newer is needed

Which web browser are you using? Internet Explorer 7.0 or Firefox 3.0.4 are preferred

How to you access the Internet? (do not use AOL or ATT Yahoo, or SBC Global, or Road Runner or Earthlink)

Administrator rights?

Unless you have administrator rights/permissions on your computer you may not be able to install needed programs.

Do you have the plug-ins you need for your web browser?

Do you have an up-to-date virus program? Have you run it lately?

Is your computer up to date?

http://windowsupdate.microsoft.com

(run it again and again if necessary, until there are no more updates suggested)

Java – do you have the latest version of Java?

http://java.com/en/download/manual.jsp

Flash – do you have the latest version of Flash?

http://kb.adobe.com/selfservice/viewContent.do?externalId=tn_15507

If you’ve installed a new browser you may have to re-install Flash again.

Clean up your computer

Want to get all the “junk” off your computer? Get and run the (free) CCleaner: www.ccleaner.com

includes a registry repair tool

careful, it may also clean up your browser’s cookies, thereby deleting any passwords it’s remembering for you

Sounds don’t work?

Do any sounds at all work?

Try a music CD? Does that work?

Go to the Control Panel, Sounds & Audio Devices, Sounds tab and see if you can get a default sound out of your computer.

Are your speakers/headset correctly connected to your computer?

Turned on? (my headset has a mute button on the cord that often gets accidentally clicked)

Volume turned up?

Are sounds muted on your computer?

Disable Popup Blockers

Pop-up blockers or ad-ware programs may prevent you from installing things you need. They may also prevent you from accessing portions of your course. You might need to temporarily disable these programs. Commonly used pop-up blockers are: MSN Toolbar, AOL and Google.

You can temporarily disable many pop-up programs by clicking the program’s icon in either the Windows System Tray (lower right corner of screen) or in your browser. You can re-enable the software later.

Enable cookies

You may need to enable cookies to view course content.

Internet Explorer: Tools-->Internet Options, Privacy tab, Advanced, Override Automatic Cookie Handling, Accept 1^st party cookies, Accept 3^rd party cookies, Always allow session cookies

Firefox: Tools-->Options, Privacy icon, Accept cookies from sites, Accept third-party cookies (Firefox 3), Keep Until drop down box choose either They Expire or I Close Firefox, OK

hints/tips:

when naming files do not use spaces, do not use weird characters like #, do not use punctuation, DO include file extensions such as .txt or .xls

run Disk Defragmenter once in a while, it couldn’t hurt!

And be aware that we do have computers that students and faculty can use on campus...

Click here for CPTC Library and Computer Labs

Click here for CPTC Library Hours and resources

Click here for Faculty Teaching and Learning Center Information

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