Login to Vista
Once you have completed setting up your computer to use Blackboard Vista, you should log in and try all the basic functions.
If you are able to do all of these things without any problems, you have correctly set up your system to use Blackboard Vista. You may now continue on to your course. If you are having difficulty with any portions of these tests, you can click on the step you're having trouble with to see some possible solutions.
Login Checklist
- Log into Vista
Log into Vista
Log into your class by going to the Blackboard Vista home page, clicking the "Login" button, and typing in your Boston University username and Kerberos password. If you receive an error while logging in:
- Make sure that you are logging into http://vista.bu.edu.
- Check to see that your student account and registration are current and free of problems.
- Ensure you are typing in the correct username and password. Your BU username and Kerberos password are case sensitive. If you have forgotten your password, you can reset it with our online form.
- Be sure that cookies have been enabled. If you are not sure how to do this, please check our browser check help page.
- Use the correct browser and operating system. For a list of requirements, see our pages on Vista system requirements and Vista browser requirements.
- Access the orientation course
Access the Student Orientation course
If you log into Blackboard Vista before your classes start, you will only see the Student Orientation in your Course List. After your classes have begun you will see all of the classes you have registered for in your Course List. The dates and times of the start of class will be listed on the Blackboard Vista home page. You should click on the link for your Student Orientation and go through the class exercises. If you cannot access this course:
- Watch a video and listen to audio
Watch a video and listen to the audio
In your orientation course, play the introductory movie. This movie will show you more about Blackboard Vista as well as test your browser to see if multimedia components are working correctly.
If the video does not play at all:
- Make sure you have installed all the appropriate plug-ins from the Blackboard browser plug ins page.
- Check to make sure that your sound is turned on and you have speakers or headphones attached to your computer.
- See our Solutions to Common Problems page for more information.
If the video and/or audio is choppy:
- Send a test email from your Vista email account
Send a test email from your Vista email account
Click on the email icon  in your Blackboard Vista toolbar. Click "Create Message", compose a test message to yourself, including a subject and message, and click send. If you are having trouble sending email:
- Ensure that you have the appropriate version of Java installed, as described in our Java Compatibility page.
- Ensure that you have allowed pop-up windows from Blackboard Vista as outlined in our Pop-up blocker page.
- Check to see if your anti-virus and/or Firewall software needs to be configured to allow pop-ups from Blackboard Vista.
- Post on a discussion board
Post on a discussion board
Click the discussion board icon  in your Blackboard Vista toolbar. This will bring up a list of discussion board topics. Click on "General Board Discussions", "Water Cooler" or "Introductions" etc... and then click "Create Message". Write a test message and post it on the forum. These are public boards, so whatever you post can be seen by other Blackboard Vista users and can't be removed by technical support. If you are having trouble posting to the discussion board:
- Ensure that you have the appropriate version of Java installed, as described in our Java Compatibility page.
- Check to see if your anti-virus and/or Firewall software needs to be configured to allow pop-ups from Blackboard Vista.
- Ensure that you have allowed pop-up windows from Blackboard Vista as outlined in our Pop-up blocker page.
- Upload a test file
Upload a test file
Click the My Files icon  in the My Tools section of your Blackboard Vista toolbar. This will bring up your "My Files" area. Click "Get Files" to open up a new window and then click the "My Computer" icon.
A new window will appear showing some of the files on your computer. Select a small file, such as a Microsoft Word (.doc) or Plain Text (.txt) file, and click open. A progress bar will appear and the file will then show in your My Files area. If you are having trouble uploading files:
- Change the file name so that it contains only letters and numbers (Blackboard Vista cannot process file names with special characters such as !, ? and *), and is less than 15 characters long.
- Make sure you have pop-up blockers set to accept pop-ups from Blackboard Vista. Please see our Pop-up blocker page for more help.
- Ensure that you have the appropriate version of Java installed, as described in our Java Compatibility page.
- Check to see if your anti-virus and/or Firewall software needs to be configured to allow pop-ups from Blackboard Vista.
- Ensure that you are using the correct browser and operating system. For a list of requirements, see our pages on Blackboard Vista system requirements and Blackboard Vista browser requirements.
- Ensure that your connection speed is above our minimum 384 kbps by testing your connection speed from our connection test page.
- If you don't see the "My Computer" icon, see our Solutions to Common Problems section of the online documentation for Uploading Files.
- Download a test file
Download a test file
Click the My Files icon in your Blackboard Vista toolbar. This will bring up your "My Files" area. For a file you wish to download, click the "ActionLink" icon  . In the drop down menu that appears, click "Download" and save the file to your computer. If you are having trouble downloading files:
- Make sure you have pop-up blockers set to accept pop-ups from Blackboard Vista. Please see our pop-up configuration page for more help.
- Ensure that you have the appropriate version of Java installed, as described in our Java Compatibility page.
- Check to see if your anti-virus and/or Firewall software needs to be configured to allow pop-ups from Blackboard Vista.
- Use the correct browser and operating system. For a list of requirements, see our pages on Vista system requirements and Vista browser requirements.
- Ensure that your connection speed is above our minimum 384 kbps by testing your connection speed from our connection test page.
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