Blackboard / BUworks issue with IE9 and Firefox 4
Clients may experience incompatibility issues if they use Blackboard or BUworks with IE9 or Firefox 4. We are recommending that clients use Firefox 3 until SAP or Blackboard can address the incompatibility issues.
Important: we have created a new tag in One Help called “IE9/FF4” that you should use to tag all tickets about this issue. We are sending a broadcast message to all faculty and staff today. The text of that message is below.
Important Web Browser Compatibility Note
Information Services & Technology (IS&T) would like to inform you about compatibility issues between both Internet Explorer 9 and Firefox 4 with BUworks (SAP software) and the Blackboard 8 web service used by the BU community, including for all BUworks courses. The recently released versions of these two most popular web browsers on campus are NOT compatible with BUworks or Blackboard 8.
IS&T’s Recommended Action: Please use Firefox 3
Until further notice, IS&T recommends that you utilize Firefox 3 when using Blackboard 8, especially for accessing BUworks course materials, and when accessing BUworks (SAP software) to be released this July. IS&T will continue to monitor the compatibility status of these programs and inform the community when the issues are addressed by both SAP and Blackboard.
“I prefer Firefox 4 for my daily browsing needs. Can’t I use IE 8 instead?”
Earlier versions of Internet Explorer are not recommended as IE 9 will repeatedly attempt to install through automatic Windows updates when Windows detects that the newest version is not yet installed (or has been uninstalled).
However, if you strongly prefer to use IE for BUworks or Blackboard 8, or your local IT support group does not support/recommend Firefox, do not install IE 9. You might also wish to change your Windows Update settings to “Check for updates but let me choose whether to download and install them.” This will make it easier to continuously decline updating to IE 9, but you will need to be more vigilant about installing other needed updates. The IT Help Center can assist you in changing these settings.
“I have already installed IE 9. Can I uninstall it?”
Yes. Instructions on how to uninstall Internet Explorer 9 can be found HERE. Additional information about BUworks, Internet Explorer, and Firefox can also be found on TechWeb at http://www.bu.edu/tech/web/course-sites/blackboard/buworks/.
We appreciate your attention to this matter. If you have any questions or concerns, please contact the IT Help Center.
Thank you.
IT Help Center, Information Services & Technology
Boston University
T (617) 353-HELP (4357)