• First and last name
• Alternate contact information
• Vista tool or feature with the problem
• Description of problem, including any error messages

• Course and section number
• Date and time of problem
• Computer operating system
• Web browser and version

If you are enrolled in a WebCT Vista course, a unique WebCT username will be created for you. This is your logon identification when you access your Vista course. To find your WebCT username, please refer to the WebCT Username Lookup page.

Your default password is your birthdate, in the format mmddyyyy. For example, if your birthday is July 04, 1970, then your password would be entered as 07041970.

Passwords are reset back to your birthdate at the beginning of each semester. When you log in to WebCT the first time in a semester, you should change your password.

1. Log in to WebCT Vista.
2. Click the "Change Password" link at the top of the My WebCT page.
3. Type your current password.
4. Type your new password.
5. Type your new password again to confirm.
6. Click Save. Your new password will now be in effect the next time you log in.

The problem may be one of several things. Please double-check this list and re-try your log in.

• Usernames and passwords are case sensitive. All WebCT Vista usernames are lowercase. If you have changed your password, make sure you are entering it with the proper case. Check if the CAP Lock is active.
• Your initial password is your birthdate. Make sure you are typing all 8 digits in the format mmddyyyy, including the 4-digit year. Do not type any spaces, dashes, or slashes.
• If you are typing numbers, make sure that the Num Lock key is depressed on your keypad, or use the numbers above the letter keys on the keyboard.
• Make sure you are typing your WebCT username and not another login name, e.g., for email or VIP access.
• Make sure you are logging in to the UH-Victoria institution. The banner on the Log On page should be blue with the UH-Victoria logo. If you are trying to login on a page that has the red UH logo, then you will get an "incorrect username" error. You should instead go to the Victoria institution log on page. Click the Log on to WebCT Vista logo at the top right of this page to go to the correct institution.
• Your course or your Vista account may not have been created yet. If you are attempting to login before the first class day, then it is mostly likely that your account is not yet active and thus not recognized by WebCT. Also, if you registered on the first day of classes or later, then it may take 2-3 days before your account is activated. Please wait a couple of days and then try to log in.
• Make sure you have followed the recommended steps in preparing your computer and browser. See the steps in the Computer Requirements section.

If you can log in to Vista successfully from one computer but not another, then the problem is likely a browser or Java compatibility issue. If you are able to make changes on the other computer, then go through the Computer Requirements section and double-check for 1) a compatible browser, 2) correct browser settings, 3) a current version of Java installed, 4) personal firewalls and pop-up blockers, and 5) any spyware.

If you can log in to Vista successfully from home, but not work, then the problem is likely a firewall, browser or Java compatibility issue. If you are able to make changes on your office computer, then go through the Computer Requirements section and double-check for 1) a compatible browser, 2) correct browser settings, 3) a current version of Java installed, and 4) any spyware.

Many companies operate behind a firewall to protect the networked computers from viruses or other types of attacks. Contact your employers network administrator to determine the scope of the firewall and if changes can be made to make Vista accessible via your office computer. The main Vista application operates over the standard web server port 80, but the chat/whiteboard uses port 2304, so it, too, should be open to use Chat in your online course. Your office network may also have other mechanisms in place to block domains or web addresses. Our Vista domain is located at scholar.uh.edu If your company cannot change their firewall or network protection, then you must use another computer to access your online courses.

This is a problem seen frequently with AOL users. If you are using AOL, first, make sure you are using a compatible version. You should use AOL ver 8 or 9. Then, for best results in accessing Vista, you should use an alternate browser after you connect using AOL.

• Use AOL to connect to the internet
• Open a private chat session within AOL, which allows the AOL client to remain open without asking if you wish to disconnect while minimized
• Minimize your AOL browser
• Open an alternate supported browser, e.g., Internet Explorer 6 or Firefox
• Log into Vista and access your course using the alternate browser

If you are not using AOL and experience this problem, then check the following

• Cookies - for IE go to Tools/Internet option/Privacy and move the slider to Medium or lower to allow for cookies. If you prefer a higher level, then you should add the Vista server to the allowed web sites. Click the Edit button in the Web sites section on the Privacy tab. Then add the domains uh.edu and uhv.edu and click Allow. Then click OK.
• Accelerators - disable any accelerators used with your ISP to "load pages faster". They typically work by caching and re-using pages that you have visited before. In doing so, they may not load the most current information on the web page that you are requesting.
• Firewalls - disable personal firewalls and/or pop-up blockers during your Vista session or set the Vista server as a trusted site (domain = scholar.uh.edu).

First, make sure that you are using a supported browser and have followed the recommended settings in the Computer Requirements section. Also, uninstall any browser toolbars, such as Yahoo!, MSN, or Google search toolbars. These may cause erratic behavior in Vista. And finally, make sure that you have either disabled your pop-up blocker or have changed the setting in your pop-up blocker to always allow pop-ups for the Vista domain (scholar.uh.edu).

If, when you log in to Vista, you are being automatically redirected to another web site, then your browser is being "hijacked" by spyware. These programs are commonly installed automatically by other programs, such as file-sharing programs. It is recommended that you uninstall or temporarily disable these programs while accessing Vista. Please check our Spyware & Adware section for suggestions on detecting and removing this type of software.

You may be encountering a security settings issue. In Internet Explorer, go to Tools/Internet options and choose the Privacy tab. Move the settings slider to Medium security or lower. If you prefer a higher level, then you should add the Vista server to the allowed web sites. Click the Edit button in the Web sites section on the Privacy tab. Then add the domains uh.edu and uhv.edu and click Allow. Then click OK.

In your Internet Explorer browser, go to Tools/Internet Options. Click on the Advanced tab and in the Browsing section, UNCHECK the box next to "Show friendly HTTP error messages". Click OK to save changes.

Also, we have found that uninstalling companion toolbars, such as Yahoo!, MSN, or Google toolbars will minimize compatibility problems while running Vista.

In your Internet Explorer browser, go to Tools/Internet Options. Click on the Advanced tab and in the Browsing section, UNCHECK the box next to "Show friendly HTTP error messages". Click OK to save changes.

Also, while in Vista, do not choose to open a new window (File/New/Window or right-click and "Open in new window") and then return to your login page and log in again. Vista tracks multiple sessions by the same user, so if you would like to have a second browser open with Vista, you must launch a new instance of Internet Explorer and then login (either launch from your desktop, taskbar, or start/programs menu). It may be less confusing to launch a second Vista session using another supported browser, like Netscape 7.

This error is usually the result of a temporary disconnect to data in the database. Please write down what you were doing when you encounter this error message and provide that information to your Online Support Technician via email. It is important to also note the date and time the error occurred. Try the following steps to resume working in your course, but send the details of the error regardless of whether you are able to resume working.

• Click the link on the error page to Return to My WebCT
• If you are returned successfully to your My WebCT page, click back into your course and retry the task that you were attempting when the error occurred.
• If you receive the same error message, return to your My WebCT page, Log out, and close your browser.
• Relaunch your browser and log back in to Vista. You should now be able to complete the task.

The idle session time limit in Vista is set to 180 minutes. If you are logged in to your Vista course and do not perform any actions in the course (click links, access tools, click send, save, etc.) for 180 minutes, then your session will be timed out. Any data that was in progress, but not previously saved, will be lost. For example, if you began a discussion post and typed a message, but did not click the Post button, and 180 minutes expired, you will not be able to post that message and you will need to log back in to Vista and create a new message.

Please note that many ISPs (Internet Service Providers) also have their own time limits set for allowable idle time and this time period may be less than Vista's 180 minutes. You may be timed out of your ISP before being timed out of Vista, so be sure to check the idle time limitations with your ISP.

If you get an error message that "the document is corrupt and cannot be loaded", then you need to apply an update/fix to your Adobe Acrobat Reader to version 6.0.1. This update is necessary both for Adobe Acrobat Professional and for the Adobe Reader. To get the update, open your Adobe application (Acrobat or Reader) and go to the Help menu and select "Updates" and follow the steps to get the update.

Courses won't be listed until the first day of the semester. Late registrations can delay access to your course for up to 3 days after registration, during which time you would not see that course listed on your My WebCT page. Note: Students dropped for non-payment are not loaded into online courses until payment arrangements are made and are required to go through the late registration process. See details in the following Important Notice to All Students.

The course may also not be listed pending changes in the semester schedule or at the request of the instructor. If it is after the first day of the semester and you have not registered late, please contact your Online Support Technician to determine the cause of this problem.

Tips for using Chat in WebCT Vista

1. Check your computer! You must have Java installed for chat to work. Download Java. Also, if behind a personal or corporate firewall, you must open port 2304 to enable chat and whiteboard communication. Check the documentation for your personal firewall for instructions on how to do this, or check with your network administrator.

2. Be patient! The Chat applet takes a while to load (could be as long as a minute or more, depending on your computer and internet connection speed). It may look like nothing is happening, but Java is loading in the background.

3. Click once! Do not double-click the icons. Click only ONCE on the chat room icon to start. Double-clicking or clicking several times may cause your browser to freeze or your computer to lock up. This is true for clicking any link or URL online--you only need to click a link once.

4. Problems? If "Chat is unavailable" when you click on the chat room, log out and then log back in and try the chat again. If bumped out during a session, log out and then log back in and enter the chat room again.

The process to attach a file from your computer to an assignment requires that a current version of Java be installed on your computer. A Java applet runs when you click the My Computer icon in the Choose Files window when adding an attachment to your assignment. This applet allows you to select and attach multiple files. Please check the Browser Settings section and download the latest version of Sun Java.

Also, it is important that you do not use any special characters in the filename of the assignment file you are attempting to attach. The best rule of thumb for naming any file that is to be displayed or handled on the web, is to use only letters, numbers, dashes, or underscores. Do not use characters such as ( )~!@#$%^&*,":'?></|\ in the name of your file.

First, make sure that you have disabled any pop-up blockers for your browser, including those included in the popular search toolbars.

Second, quizzes are typically set up with specific date and time parameters by your instructor. If you are not able to either see the quiz title in your course, or if you can see the quiz listed, but can't click on it to start, then please contact your instructor. He or she may need to change a setting on the quiz to make it visible during the scheduled time.

If you get a "Page not Found" message, first try refreshing or clicking once on the link to load the page again. Note that pages with large graphics or other media may take longer to load, especially when accessing over a phone modem. If the page or link cannot be found, please contact your instructor. They can verify the address of the link or content file.

Your My Grades icon should appear on your course toolbar, if it has been enabled by your instructor. If you don't see the My Grades icon on your toolbar, first check under the "More Tools" link on the toolbar (far right on the toolbar). There may be one or more tools listed in this area because only 4 can be displayed at a time on the toolbar.

If you do not have a My Grades icon, please contact your instructor to request that it be added to the toolbar. Also, note that specific assignment or quiz grades can be seen within the particular tool. For example, to see a grade on your quiz, go to the Assessments tool and look for your grade in the Grade column.

This problem has been seen with some SBC Global users. If, when trying to click the More Tools button on the course toolbar, nothing happens, then you may need to update your SBC Global browser. Open your SBC Global browser and go to the Help menu. Choose Browser Help and then Update. Follow the instructions provided in the update.

Windows XP users that have upgraded to SP 2 (service pack 2) may experience problems opening PDF or other non-html documents in their browser. The SP2 release of XP added numerous security measures to the Internet Explorer browser, one of which is a feature to prohibit the automatic downloading of files. For example, when you click on a PDF file or a Word document, IE will display an "information bar" near the top of the page, just below the address field.


This information bar tells you that IE blocked this site from downloading files to your computer. Click on this information bar and it will give you an option to download the file. You may do this for files that you want to download. Note that when you select the option to download, the browser will take you out of your course back to your My WebCT page. Click back into your course and go to the file you need to view and click on it. You should now get a dialog to open/save this file.

Alternately, you can disable this information bar, so that you will automatically get the Open/Save option when you click on a file to download. Go to Tools >> Internet Options >> Security tab >> Custom Level. In the Downloads section of the list, click Enable for "Automatic prompting for file downloads" and in the Active X controls and plug-ins section of the list, click Enable for "Automatic prompting for ActiveX controls".

Your grades, whether they are recorded for assignments, quizzes, graded discussions, etc. are only visible to the course instructor, teaching assistant (if applicable), and online support technicians. They are not visible to other students. WebCT support staff are respectful of your privacy and only access courses as requested by the instructor. Your grades, discussion postings, and other information are not discussed openly with others.

While online courses are secure in that only those enrolled or associated with the course are given access, it is recommended that you exercise good judgment when posting or emailing confidential information, just as you would if sharing confidential information in a face-to-face classroom setting.