Boston University Vista

Macintosh Install and setup Firefox

Below are the instructions for installing and setting up the Firefox browser for Blackboard Vista users running the Windows operating system. We recommend using Firefox to access Blackboard Vista as we have consistently found that Firefox users encounter fewer issues with Blackboard Vista than those who use other browsers.

Three steps to installing and setting up Firefox

  1. Download and install Firefox
  2. Configure Firefox options
  3. Install the Flash Player plugin

Step #1: Download and install Firefox

  1. Save the Firefox 3.0 dmg file to your computer's desktop.
    Firefox Setup file
  2. Double-click the Firefox 3.0.11.dmg setup file. You will see the window below as the files are extracted.
    Firefox Installation
  3. At the window below, drag the Firefox icon into the image of your Applications folder.
    Firefox Installation
    Firefox Installation
  4. You will see the window below while Firefox is installed.
    Firefox Installation
  5. When the installation completes, click the Finder in your dock.
    Mac OS X Dock
  6. Click the Applications folder and then locate your Firefox icon.
    Mac OS X Finder
  7. Drag the Firefox icon from the Applications folder to your dock. Simply click this icon whenever you wish to use the Firefox browser.
    Mac OS X dock
  8. Launch Firefox from your dock.
    Mac OS X dock
  9. The first time you launch Firefox, you will see a window asking for permission to open the Firefox browser. Click the Open button.
    Mac OS X permission to run application
  10. Before Firefox launches for the first time, it will ask you to import data from your Safari browser. Select the Don't import anything radio button and then click the Continue button.
    Firefox import option
  11. Firefox will launch and you will have two tabs open ("Welcome to Firefox" and "Mozilla Firefox Start Page"). Click the "X" on the right side of the Welcome to Firefox tab to close out this tab.
    Firefox browser launched

Step #2: Configure Firefox options

  1. After closing the Welcome to Firefox tab, you will see the Mozilla Firefox Start Page. Setting up the Firefox browser for use with Blackboard Vista is the next step in the process.
    Firefox 3 Start Page
  2. From the main menu at the top of your screen, click Firefox and then Preferences...
    Firefox Options
  3. This will open the Firefox options window. Click the Content icon.
    Firefox Content
  4. Click the Exceptions button which is situated to the right of the Block pop-up windows check box.
    Firefox Pop-up blocker
  5. In the Address of web site text box type vista.bu.edu and click the Allow button.
  6. In the Address of web site text box type 128.197.215.238 and click the Allow button.
    Firefox Allowed Sites Pop-ups
  7. Close this window.
  8. In the Firefox options window click the Privacy icon.
    Firefox Privacy icon
  9. In the Private Data section towards the bottom, click the Settings... button.
    Firefox Privacy options
  10. Ensure that at least the following check boxes are checked: Cache, Cookies, Offline Website Data, Saved Passwords and Authenticated Sessions. Click the OK button to close this window.
    Firefox Clear Data
  11. In the Firefox options window, click the Security icon.
    Firefox Security icon
  12. In the Passwords section, un check the check box labeled Remember passwords for sites.
    Firefox Passwords Options
  13. In the Firefox options window, click the Advanced icon.
    Firefox Advanced Options
  14. Click the Update tab. We recommend selecting the radio button labeled Ask me what I want to do as this will give you the option to install or not install future Firefox updates.
    Firefox Options
  15. Close out the Firefox options window.

Step #3: Install the Flash player plugin

  1. With your Firefox browser go to Adobe's home page and click on the Get Adobe FLASH PLAYER icon.
    Adobe home page
  2. On the next page click the Agree and install now button.
    Adobe Flash Player page
  3. You will be prompted with the options to either Open with or Save File. Select the Save File radio button and then click the OK button.
    Adobe Flash installation
  4. You will see the window below as the install_flash_player_osx_ub.dmg file is saved to your computer's desktop. Firefox's default save location is the computer desktop. When the download is complete you can close this window.
    Flash Installation
  5. Go to your computer's desktop and double-click the install_flash_player_osx_ub.dmg file to start the installation process.
    Flash Player set up file
  6. This will open up your Finder. Double-click the Adobe Flash Player.pkg file.
    Adobe Flash Player Installation
  7. Follow the on screen instructions to complete the installation. During the installation, you may be prompted by your operating system for an administrator's name and password to continue with the installation. You will see the window below when the installation is complete. Click the Close button.
    Adobe Flash Installation Success
  8. You can now delete the set up files from your computer's desktop. To delete the Firefox and the Install Flash Player 10 UB mounted disk images, right-click or Control + click on the file and select the Eject option.
    Eject the Firefox disk image
    Eject Flash Player disk image

    To delete the Firefox 3.0.11.dmg and the install_flash_osx_ub.dmg disk images, right-click or Control + click on the files and select the Move to Trash option.

    Eject Firefox 3 disk image
    Move to Trash Flash Player dmg file
  9. Right-click or Control + click on the trash can to empty your trash.
    Mac OS X Empty Trash
  10. Click the OK button in the confirmation window that appears.
    Mac OS X Empty Trash Confirmation
  11. Your Firefox browser is now ready for use with Blackboard Vista.
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Boston University Vista