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Problems Opening Files

There are various issues that come into play when opening files. If you are having problems opening files from Blackboard, please review the following information.

If you click the file and nothing happens...

If you are having problems opening or viewing files in Blackboard Vista and you are using Internet Explorer, it may be because of security settings in Internet Explorer.

When you click a link to a file, if you are not prompted to open or save the file, look for the information bar at the top of the screen. It appears as a pale yellow bar just above the content of the web page.

Screen capture: Information Bar
Click to view larger image

Click the bar to choose Download file.

Screen capture-Download file
Click to view larger image

This may return you to the My Blackboard home page, after which, you will need to go back into your class and click the file again. This time, when you see the Information bar, you will be able to choose Download file and be prompted to Save or Open the file.

If you click the file and receive an error...

If you click links to files in Blackboard Vista and get an error like "File/Page Not Found" or "Unexpected System Error", run through the following steps.

  1. Open Internet Explorer
  2. Click Tools
  3. Click Internet Options
  4. Click Advanced tab
  5. Click Restore Defaults button
  6. Click Apply button
  7. Click OK button
  8. Close browser
  9. Reboot computer