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(at Online UW)

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Faculty Resources

UW WebCT and eCompanion Home

UW Homepage 

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Computer Labs

Center for Teaching and Learning

Both WebCT and eCompanion provide ways to assure that your browser and its settings can handle the online course work. Please click "Tech Requirements" at the Online UW site before you login to an eCompanion course, and use "Check Browser" after you log in to WebCT to reach the "Browser Tuneup" page.

Common Student Problems:

• WebCT Login Problems
• eCompanion Login Problems
• Post Login Problems
• Course Problems

For help with common faculty problems:

• WebCT Faculty Help
• eCompanion Faculty Help

I have never used WebCT before.  How do I find my username and password?

• If you have never used WebCT before, you will need to create an account.  Instructions on how to do this can
  be found here (the "Online Course FAQ").

I can't remember my username or password or am having problems with them:

• Passwords are case sensitive, so "cat" is not the same as "Cat".  Make sure the Caps Lock option is off.
• Usernames are also case sensitive.  Make sure you are entering it exactly the same as when you created it.
• If you still can't log in, we need to know your full name, what you think your username might be, and what course
  you are in.  You can send an e-mail to ectltech@uwyo.edu or call us at 766-5499.

I know my username and password and am having problems getting to the login page or subsequent pages:

• Some versions of Internet Explorer will not log you in (even with the correct username and password)
  with the "Enter" key.  Click the "Login" button instead.
• Some computers have problems with the re-direction that occurs if you are following other links to the login page.
  Make sure you are logging in at:
  http://webct.uwyo.edu/webct/ticket/ticketLogin?action=print_login&request_uri=/webct/homearea/homearea
• If you can get to the login page, but after that it doesn't take you to the welcome page and does not give you a
  username/password error, try Post Login Failures.

I can log into WebCT fine, but I can't find my course.

• You need to manually add the course to your profile.  Instructions on how to do this can be found here.

If these suggestions don't help, please contact us.

I can't remember my username or password or am having problems with them:

• Passwords are case sensitive, so "cat" is not the same as "Cat".  Make sure your Caps Lock isn't on.
• Your username is your Social Security number separated by dashes.  i.e. 520-00-0000
• If you still can't log in, we need to know your full name, your social security number, and what course you are in. 
  You can send an e-mail to ectltech@uwyo.edu or call us at 766-5499.

I know my username and password and am having problems getting to the login page or subsequent pages.

• Make sure you are logging in at https://secure.ecollege.com/uwyo/index.real?action=Login.  Some computers
  have problems with the re-direction that occurs if you are following other links to the login page.

I can log into eCompanion fine, but I can't find my course?

• To access the courses you are enrolled in once you are logged in, click on the "Academics" tab right under the
  University of Wyoming banner logo. The course should be listed under Spring 2004 Campus eCompanion. (or
  current term) 
• If you have just enrolled in the course, you may not have been added to it yet by eCompanion.  This is an
  automated system that goes through several different servers and can take up to a week to add you to the course.
• If you have dropped the course and then added it again, this confuses the old Student Information servers. 
  You need to talk to you instructor so that they know you are still in the course, and your instructor needs to
  contact us.

  If these suggestions don't help, please contact us.
  

1.  Possible Cause:  Network problems
   • If you try to reach http://ecampus.uwyo.edu and get only a blank page, the network
     may be down. (The eCollege server, which hosts that page, is in Denver.) Try again later, then continue with these other
     suggestions.
   • If you get a "not authorized" message on a Calendar or other page in an eCompanion course, enable cookies on your browser, or enable pop-ups for the URL "ecampus.uwyo.edu" or "calendar.ecollege.com."  See "Browser Security," below.
   • Trying to reach the UW network on a wireless or ISP (off campus) connection without VPN.
     VPN (Virtual Private Network) may soon be required for all such access to the UW network.
     Solution: Go to http://www.uwyo.edu/vpn and follow the directions to install this security software.
      
2. Possible Cause:  Browser Security or Firewall
   • If you can log in but can't get to anything, it may be due to Security restrictions on your computer.  These restrictions
     are normal and keep your computer safer from malicious attacks.  Sometimes the settings could be high enough
     to restrict access to valid pages.
   • Browser Security:  On your own computer, open your browser and lower the security settings
     (For IE, "Tools" --> "Internet Options" ---> Security tab). 
   • To enable JavaScript for WebCT, go to "Custom..."  then
     Active Scripting, near the bottom of the list.
   • Firewall: Turn off or lower the restrictions on your firewall.

   CAUTION: Remember to replace your preferred security settings later.

   If you are reluctant to expose your own computer, you may, of course, come to campus and
   use the Student Lab systems.
    

3. Possible Cause:  Spyware/Adware  
   • If your computer takes you to some page other than what you expect, or you are having a lot of problems with pop-up
     ads, you may have some sort of spyware/adware that has installed itself on your computer. Have you installed any
     free software off of the Internet in the past?

   What happens is the WebCT link tries to take you to http://webct.uwyo.edu/webct/homearea/homearea, then realizes
   that you are not logged in, so it forwards you to
   http://webct.uwyo.edu/webct/ticket/ticketLogin?action=print_login&request_uri=/webct/homearea/homearea.
   Whatever this software is that is installed on your computer, it is taking over when the page is forwarded. This software
   has been installed without you knowing it (usually by free programs you can download off of the internet i.e. Kazaa)

   Solution: You can use a scanning tool called AdAware (http://www.lavasoftusa.com/software/adaware/) to get rid of this
   software.

   Software like this seems like it could be a virus, and a lot of times can be associated with a real virus.  It would
   be a good idea to run a virus scan as well.  If you do not own any anti-virus software, a free version can be found at
   http://www.grisoft.com/us/us_dwnl_free.php
    

4. Possible Cause: Pop-ups Blocked

• In Internet Explorer, under "Tools," click "Turn off Pop-Up Blocker" or, if you prefer selective security, turn it on and add the sites necessary under "Pop-Up Blocker Settings."
• If you have recently installed Adobe Acrobat Reader or some other free software, you may have gotten the Yahoo toolbar with it. This extra browswer plug-in, visible as a new row of menus near the top of the browswer window, blocks pop-up windows by default, and pop-ups are necessary to WebCT quizzes and other online course tasks. You can either (1) allow pop-ups by unchecking the parameter "Enable pop-up blocker" on one of the drop-down menus, or (2) allow pop-ups from webct.uwyo.edu (also a drop-down menu), or (3) uninstall the Yahoo toolbar.

If these suggestions don't help, please contact us.

I am having problems answering with my remote (CPS) or I would like to know which number I am.

• Your professor will be able to tell you which number you have, as well as help troubleshoot any problems
  which may arise.

I am having problems downloading files (syllabus/lecture slides/media files) from a WebCT course.

• The notes won't open if I try to "open the file from its location" so I need to save them to my desktop and open
  them from there. When trying to open them the first time I accidentally clicked the check box that says "dont ask
  me again" on the pop up box. Now, it automatically opens the file and I can't figure out how to save the notes to
  my computer.
  • There are a couple of ways that you can get the files still.  Powerpoint files can be really big, so you might
    have to wait a while for them to come through (even a few minutes from on campus). 
  • Another option is to tell Internet Explorer to not open the files on its own.  Instructions on how to do this are
    here: http://support.microsoft.com/?scid=kb;en-us;162059  This opens up a new instance of powerpoint or
    word and then loads the file.  You can then save it to wherever you want.
  • If that doesn't work, you can go about getting it the hard way.  The file is most likely already on your computer
    (and has been since you first clicked on it).  It is hidden somewhere in the Temporary Internet files\Content.IE5\
    folder.  To find it, you can use the search program   (start->search/find) to search for *.ppt or *.doc to find all
    powerpoint files or word documents on your computer. Hopefully the names of each file are pretty easy to recognize,
    so you just have to double click on the file in the search results which will open it in powerpoint or word, then save it
    wherever you want to. 
  • The last option is to go to one of the student labs to download these files.  Troubleshooting these kind of problems
    on a home computer can be quite difficult because of all the variables.  The lab computers are all set up the same
     
• I can't get media files to play (sound/video).  You may not have the right plug-in installed for the media type. Click on the
  link to download the corresponding plugin.
  • Windows Media Player: plays most video and audio files.
  • RealPlayer: plays streaming video and audio
  • Quicktime: plays Quicktime videos (*.mov)
  • Macromedia Shockwave: used for interactive quizzes, animations, and activities.
  • Macromedia Flash: used for interactive quizzes, animations, and activities.
  • Adobe Acrobat Reader: used to view *.pdf files.

I can't get the font size right in my WebCT course.

• To change the fixed font size on WebCT displays (or on any other web page):
  1. From IE's Tools menu, choose Internet Options...
  2. From the General tab on that dialog, click the Accessibility... button.
  3. On the Accessibility dialog, check the box to "Ignore font sizes specified on web pages."
  4. Click Ok on the Accessibility dialog, and click Ok on the Internet Options dialog to dismiss it.
  Then you can change the displayed font size on any page by using the View > Text size menu option in IE or by spinning the wheel on your wheel mouse while holding down the Ctrl-key on the keyboard.

If these suggestions don't help, we need to know as much information as possible about your computer.
What browser and version, and what operating system are you using? Where are you trying to connect from?
When did it last work? Have there been any significant changes since it last worked? We also need your full
name and your WebCT or eCompanion ID.   Call 766-5499 or e-mail ectltech@uwyo.edu.

Created 3/29/2004 by Jason Urasky
Last updated 24 March 2006 by Robin Hill