Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ):
Computer and Technical Requirements
These questions and answers will help you understand the computer and technical requirements needed for you to access the OCA web site and to deal with common technical problems.
1. Do I need any special computer equipment or software to use OCA?
For most of the features at OCA, no. All you need is a fairly recent web browser. We recommend using Internet Explorer version 6.0 or higher, or Mozilla Firefox version 2.0 or higher. Either browser (and most others) will work just fine at our site.
Your browser must be configured to allow Javascript and to accept cookies, at least from our site. Most browsers are already configured to do this; however, some people prefer to turn these features off as they surf the Web. If you wish to disable these features for your general Web browsing, you must at least enable them for www.astrocollege.com. Your browser's documentation will tell you how to enable specific websites.
Many of the files in our libraries (both public and student libraries) use the Adobe Acrobat format. To view these files, you will need the Adobe Acrobat Reader software installed on your computer. If you do not have this software, you can download it from the Adobe web site. Simply click here, then follow the instructions provided. The Acrobat Reader software is a free download. The software is available for all major computer platforms.
The videochat areas and the multimedia features of our site require the free Adobe Flash Player browser plug-in. If you are unable to start the videochat or to view videos and other multimedia features, you may have to upgrade this plug-in to the latest version. Simply click here and follow the instructions.
2. What are the browser technical requirements for attending online classes and lectures?
Our online classrooms are based on "Java" technology, so your web browser must be configured to run what are called "Java applets." Most modern browsers come automatically equipped and configured to run Java applets. The image below will allow you to determine whether your browser is currently Java-ready.
| At the right is a moving field of stars. If you can see this image, then your browser is configured to run Java applets correctly, and you will be able to attend our online classes and lectures. If instead you see an error message, or a plain gray box, then you will need to upgrade or reconfigure your browser. |
3. Help! I see an error message or a plain gray box or nothing instead of the moving star field! What can I do?
If you see an error message above, or simply a plain gray box, instead of the moving star field, it means that your browser is currently unable to run Java applets. Although most browsers come already configured to run Java applets, this is a capability that you can turn on or off at will. So the first thing to do is to see if you have inadvertently or intentionally disabled this capability.
If you are using Internet Explorer: On the Internet Explorer menu, click on "Tools," then click on "Internet Options." In the box which opens, click on the tab labeled "Security." Click the Internet globe, then click the button labeled "Custom level..." A box with a long list of options will appear. Use the scroll bar to scroll about halfway down that box, to a section labeled "Microsoft VM." Underneath that is a subheading called "Java permissions." Make sure that the button labeled "Disable Java" is not selected. (You can check the "High safety" button instead.) Then click "OK" twice to get back to your main window.
If you are using Firefox: On the Firefox menu, click on "Tools," then click on "Options." In the top section of the box which appears, click on "Content." Check the box labeled "Enable Java," then click "OK."
Note that the above instructions may be slightly different for you, depending on which specific version of your browser you are using. But no matter how it is phrased specifically, you are looking for a setting which allows you to turn Java applets on and off. You want to turn them on.
If you have changed your Java settings as described above, press the "Refresh" or "Reload" button to view this page again. The moving star field should then appear.
Special note for users of Internet Explorer version 6.0 or higher: Please be advised that Microsoft has removed Java support from Internet Explorer version 6.0 and higher. Unless you have installed this version as an upgrade to an older version of Internet Explorer, you may not have Java capabilities. If you are using Internet Explorer version 6.0 or higher, and you do not see the moving image above, you can install the Java Runtime Environment (JRE) from Sun Microsystems to give Internet Explorer Java capabilities. This is a free download. Click here to download and install the Sun JRE.
4. I changed my settings as described above, but I still can't see the moving star field. What now?
You may be using a browser which did not come pre-configured to run Java applets. Try downloading and installing the free Sun Java Runtime Environment, as described above for users of Internet Explorer version 6.0. The Sun JRE is available for a variety of computer platforms, including Windows XP, 2000, ME, NT, 95, and 98; both SPARC and Intel Solaris systems; LINUX OS on Intel; and Mac OS X and Classic 8 and 9.
5. I installed the Sun Java Runtime and it still doesn't work...
Are you accessing the OCA site from behind a personal or company firewall? Most firewalls can be configured to disallow the running of Java applets. Companies often do this, both for security and bandwidth concerns. If you are accessing from behind a firewall, speak to your system administrator. He or she can tell you whether or not that might be the problem. If the firewall is disallowing Java applets, there is nothing OCA can do. Your system administrator will have to change that setting for you. Simply ask them.
You may also have a problem if you have "ad-blocking" software installed on your computer. For some reason, this software can sometimes also block the OCA classrooms! We have confirmed that the Norton Utilities ad-blocking software can interfere with the OCA classrooms, and other similar software might also interfere. If you have this type of software set up on your computer, you may have to disable it to enter the classrooms.
Important! Never disable your anti-virus software! Anti-virus software should have no impact on running the classrooms, and it is important to allow it to run at all times.
6. What are the browser technical requirements for shopping and registering for classes?
In order to shop in the OCA shopping areas, which includes registering for classes, your browser must be configured to run "Javascript" and to accept "cookies." (Please note that, despite the similarites in their names, Javascript is something completely different from Java, which was described above.) We use these technologies primarily to help us keep your order separate from the orders of other customers, and to maintain the status of your order as you browse the different pages of our Web site. We also use them to track and credit any referral commissions you earn in our affiliate program.
As with Java, most modern browsers are pre-configured both to run Javascript and to accept cookies; however, you have the ability to turn these features on or off. To test these capabilities in your browser, and for more information if you are having problems with them, please see our Browser Requirements for Shopping page.
7. I have a question which is not answered here. What can I do?
If you have any additional technical questions, or if you experience technical problems with any part of our web site, please use our Problem Diagnosis Report Form to report your problem to us. Please describe in as much detail as possible the nature of the problem you are having, what you were doing at the time the problem occurred, and the text of any error messages you might have received. We will do our best to help you solve your problem.
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