Configuring Your Computer

The following information will help you configure your computer for optimal use with vUWS.

Disable pop-up blockers

Pop-up or ad blocking functions are included in some anti-virus, Internet security, personal firewalls and Internet browsers. Pop-up blocker applications work in the background while you browse the Internet. When they detect a pop-up window (for example an unwanted advertisement), they automatically close the window. This can prevent vUWS from performing properly as some of the features open in a new window.

While using vUWS, if you are unable to view links to files, Discussion postings, Mail and Quiz windows, then you may need to disable the pop-up blocking feature on your system. If you do not want to completely disable your pop-up blocking, you can add the URL ‘elearning.uws.edu.au’ in the application’s Trusted Sites area.

Pop-up blocking software may be included in firewalls, browsers, companion bars (such as MySearch, Yahoo toolbar, MSN toolbar etc) and Internet security applications. If you have more than one pop-up blocking application on your computer, you will need to disable this feature on each.

Disable download managers

Download managers help monitor the files you are downloading from the Internet. Because of potential conflicts between download managers and the way vUWS operates, you should turn off any software you use to manage downloads while you are using vUWS.

If you are running a download manager while accessing vUWS, you may receive an error message such as ‘Access forbidden or authentification method not supported. Details: HTTP/1.1 403 Forbidden’

Download managers include RealDownload, GetRight, Go!Zilla, NetAnts and Download Accelerator.

Allow Cookies

Cookies are short pieces of data used by web servers to help identify users when logging into areas on the Internet, including vUWS. Normally browsers are set to allow cookies.

If you can't login to vUWS, and you DO NOT receive an ‘Incorrect vUWS ID or Password’ message, it may be that your browser is not accepting cookies. Please view your Internet browser’s Help file for information on how to allow it to accept cookies.

Enable Java

Some features in vUWS, such as the Chat rooms, require Java to be enabled on your Internet browser. In most Internet browsers Java is enabled by default, however if it is not enabled, you can enable it in the browser settings. Please view your web Internet browser’s Help file for information on how to enable Java.

To check whether your computer is running a compatible version of Java, login to vUWS and click on the Check Browser button.