University of Michigan-Flint

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Common BlackBoard Problems and Solutions:
Before you call or email, check the information below.  We may already have a solution for the problem you are experiencing.

Can't Login
Problem:
You try to login to BlackBoard but you are then greeted with a message that reads, "Could not login.  Valid authentication credentials were not provided"
Solution:
1. Make sure you are using only your uniqname and LAN Password (Same password used to login to webmail) to login to BlackBoard.  Make sure caplocks is off and check the numlock key if you use the numpad.
2. Try logging into your Webmail. http://mail.umflint.edu  If you cannot login to either BlackBoard or Webmail then there is a problem with your account and you should contact ITS at (810) 766-6804. If you are able to login to webmail but not BlackBoard then call us at (810) 237-6691.
3. If ITS does not answer you may wait 30min and your account will automatically unlock for you.  Also, if you are not sure of your password you may reset it inside of SIS.  http://www.umflint.edu/sis

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Locked Exam
Problem:
You were taking a Test/Quiz and your connection died or you accidentally closed the test window.  Now when you try to take the Test/Quiz again you get an error that you have already taken the assessment.
Solution:
Your test is now locked and you will need to contact your instructor for the course immediately.  Your instructor is the only person with the authority to unlock your exam.  We are not able to do this at OEL.

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Lost Quiz Information
Problem:
You were connected to Blackboard using a modem and were taking a quiz when your modem lost its connection. How can you get back your quiz information?
Solution:
You can't. Once you click SUBMIT and you realize you've been disconnected it is too late to save your information. Prior to being disconnected you could have copied your information and pasted it into a word processing application to preserve a copy of it. Although it doesn't help much now, you might try this next time.
See the heading "Avoid Losing your Work" for more information.

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Avoid Losing your Work
Problem:
I was locked out of a test, or there was a problem submitting a discussion board item, and now when I try again my work is gone.
Solution:
Work on essay questions offline using a Word Processor such as Microsoft Word, WordPerfect, WordPad, etc.
Save the file to disk and then use the copy and paste feature to copy the information to the Blackboard Discussion Board text box or Quiz text box.
Saving work that you will be posting online is a good idea (especially if your response is a long one) just in case there is a problem, and you get logged out without submitting the information. Many students have composed long answers online and lost all information upon submission. Do not let this happen to you!

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Modem Disconnect
Problem:
Your modem disconnected itself while taking a quiz on BlackBoard
Solution:
Actually, this has nothing to do with Blackboard. If you connect to any server using a modem and you stay within one window of your browser for a period of time that exceeds your Internet Service Provider's idle modem disconnect policy (some are as short as 15 minutes), you will be disconnected. Students on campus using ethernet connections are not affected by this. Users of Earthlink, UMFlint Dialup, AOL and other providers are.

 

How can you prevent this from happening?  A simple way is to open another web browser window, and periodically click a link in that window to keep your connection active.

Instructions to open another browser while using AOL:
1. Connect to the Internet the way you normally do.
2. Minimize the AOL browser. Click the minimize button in the upper right corner of your AOL browser. It is the first box from the left and looks like a box with an underline symbol in it. "_" Leave the AOL browser minimized so you don't lose your connection to the Internet
3. Open Internet Explorer. Click on Start, then All Programs, and then Internet Explorer.
4. Login to Blackboard by typing bb.umflint.edu into the Address line in Internet Explorer.

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Discussion Board
Problem:
You typed up a killer discussion board thread, but it's not appearing in the forum after you submitted it.
Solution:
Instead of clicking on Submit you probably clicked on Save.  To fix this go to the forum where the thread was supposed to appear.  You will see a box with the heading "Display" and the text "Published" inside of it.  Drop that box down and select "Show All" and click Go.  You should now see your post as a draft.  To submit it, click on the post, then click "Modify", and here you can submit the post.
If this did not solve the issue and you still can't see the post, please see the "Avoid losing your Work" heading.

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Downloading Files
Problem:
Your instructor wants you to download a file to work on, but when you click the link to download the file nothing happens.
Solution:
Right click on the link to the file, and a menu will appear.  In this menu click on "Save target as" and save the file to your Hard Drive.

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