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Chat Help Home :: Troubleshooting Java
| What is a Java Virtual Machine? |
| A Java Virtual Machine (JVM or VM) is the software that
allows you to run Java applets or applications, such as GlassRoom, on
your machine. Most newer browsers have a JVM built in to run these
applets. In order to run Java applications, such as the GlassRoom
Server, you may need to install a Java Virtual Machine yourself. |
| Does Windows XP and Windows Vista support Java? |
| Some versions of Windows XP do not come with a Java VM.
You will need to download the latest one from Sun (preferably 1.4.0), or
get the Windows update and download the latest critical updates. |
| Which web browser(s) do you recommend for
running the GlassRoom Client applet? |
| For the best speed and compatibility with the Client
applet, we recommend Netscape 6.2 or Internet Explorer 6.0 for Windows,
and Internet Explorer 4.5 or later for Macintosh with MRJ 2.1 or later.
You may use Netscape 4.0 for Macintosh, though these browsers exhibit
poor Java performance. |
| Does GlassRoom run under America Online? |
| Yes. However, it may be necessary to access GlassRoom
from an external browser, such as Microsoft Internet Explorer or
Netscape Navigator/Communicator, rather than the built in AOL web
browser. This is due to apparent bugs in AOL 4.0 and earlier which cause
some Java applets, such as GlassRoom, to redraw improperly. This bug
appears to affect Windows 95/NT and Macintosh, though Windows 98 appears
to be unaffected. Opening a newer browser while running AOL should fix
this problem. |
| Chat System Requirements and Setup |
| We are excited to offer the Chat Essentials GlassRoom
chat environment due to its speed, stability, ease of use, relaxed setup
requirements and unique, graphical interface. The user-friendly
GlassRoom Applet runs on any Java enabled browser without any special
plug-ins or software to download. The following browsers will support
the GlassRoom Chat Applet:
For Windows 95/98/NT/2000/XP/Vista users:
- Microsoft Internet Explorer versions 4.0x and above
- Netscape Navigator versions 4.0x and above
- AOL versions 4.0x and above*
For Mac users:
- Microsoft Internet Explorer versions 4.5x and above
- Netscape Navigator versions 4.0x and above
- AOL versions 4.0x and above*
*AOL users please note:
Due to issues which cause some Java Applets to suffer from display
performance degradation, GlassRoom recommends that AOL users run the
Chat Applet from an external browser, such as Microsoft Internet
Explorer or Netscape Navigator/Communicator — using your AOL connection.
While the built-in AOL browser should support the GlassRoom Applet,
performance should be substantially enhanced via the use of an external
browser.
For Linux users:
- Netscape Navigator versions 4.0x and above
- AOL versions 4.0x and above*
Chat Support
If you are having difficulties with
GlassRoom, please be sure you are using the latest version of your web
browser or Java Virtual Machine. Java™ is an evolving environment, and
the latest version offer the greatest speed, reliability, and
compatibility. Often, problems are the result of an outdated Virtual
Machine and can easily be solved by installing the latest available
software.
If you would like to download and install a current browser and/or
Java Virtual Machine, please follow the appropriate link — based upon
your browser preferences:
Microsoft Internet Explorer
GlassRoom recommends using Microsoft Internet Explorer 4.0 or higher for
Macintosh or
Microsoft Windows™. Follow this link for the latest version of the
Microsoft Internet Explorer™ browser and/or Java™ Virtual Machine.
Microsoft Java VM
Windows 95/98/NT/2000 owners who need only an updated version of the
Java VM may use Microsoft Java 2.0 or higher to run GlassRoom. Follow
this link for the latest version.
Netscape Communicator/Navigator
While GlassRoom recommends using GlassRoom with Internet Explorer, some
Windows 95/98/NT/2000 users may prefer Netscape's browsers. Netscape™ is
not recommended by GlassRoom for use by Macintosh owners. Follow this
link for the latest version of Navigator/Communicator.
Sun's JRE
for Solaris
GlassRoom recommends that Solaris owners use Sun's Java Runtime
Environment 1.1.6 or higher. Follow this link for the latest version.
The latest Unix-compatible versions of the
Microsoft Internet Explorer or
Netscape browsers
are available for download via the corresponding links.
Java Virtual Machines for other platforms
Follow this link for the latest virtual machines for other platforms and
operating systems, such as Linux and Silicon Graphic's IRIX. |
| Why isn't Java working? |
- If you are unsure of which browser you are using, open the
"Help" menu at the top of your screen and select "About (browser
name)." On the next page, you'll see the browser name followed by a
version number. Write down the information and then press the "Back"
button on your browser to return to this page.
- If you are behind a firewall or using WebTV or Windows 3.1, you
won't be able to use the Java version of Chat.
- Make sure that Java is enabled on your browser. Voice Chat
requires Internet Explorer (version 4.0 or higher) or Netscape
Navigator (version 4.0 or higher). Click on your browser for
information on how to enable Java.
Netscape 2.x for Windows
Select "Options" from your menu bar and choose "Security
Preferences." Click on the "General" tab. Both "Disable Java" and
"Disable JavaScript" should be unchecked.
Netscape 2.x for Macs does not support
Java. You will need to use the HTML software to chat.
Netscape 3.x for Windows or Mac
Select "Options" from your menu bar and choose "Network
Preferences." Then click on the "Languages" tab. Both "Enable Java"
and "Enable JavaScript" should be checked.
Netscape 4.x for Windows or Mac
Select "Edit" from your menu bar, select "Preferences..." and then
choose the "Advanced" category. Both "Enable Java" and "Enable
JavaScript" should be checked.
Internet Explorer 3.x for Windows
(Remember: Voice Chat requires 3.01 or higher)
Select "View" from your menu bar and choose "Options." Then click on
the "Security" tab. At the bottom of the page, make sure all the
boxes in the Active Content area are checked. Note: You might
also want to click the "Safety Level" button here and select
"Medium" to prevent warning message interruptions.
Internet Explorer 3.x or 4.x for the Mac
(Remember: Voice Chat requires 3.01 or higher)
Select "Edit" from your menu bar and choose "Preferences...." Then
click on the "Java" bullet within the Web Browser section. Make sure
that the "Enable Java" checkbox is checked.
Internet Explorer 4.x for Windows
Select "View" from your menu bar and choose "Internet Options."
Click on the "Security" tab. For the Internet Zone, select "Custom"
and click on "Settings." Scroll to the bottom of the Custom Settings
list, under Scripting set "Active scripting and Scripting of Java
Applets" to either "Enable" or "Prompt."
Internet Explorer 5.x for Windows
Select "Tools" from your menu bar and choose "Internet Options..."
Click on the "Security" tab. For the Internet zone, be sure that the
Security level is set to "Medium" or below. (If you have chosen to
customize your Security settings for the Internet zone, be sure that
under the Java heading, "Java permissions" is not set on "Disable
Java." Select one of the three safety levels instead. Also make sure
that under Scripting, "Scripting of Java Applets" is set to "Enable"
or "Prompt.")
|
| I'm using Windows and when I come to the chat
page I get a message that says (something like) Java is no longer
available for downloading. What should I do? |
| The message means that Java is no longer available from
the Microsoft (the makers of Windows XP). But don't worry... to install
Java (for free) on Windows XP, Windows 2000, Windows 98 or Windows 95
DOWNLOAD JAVA
HERE
|
| I just can't get the chat to run on my
computer! What can I do? |
| We use the GlassRoom system because (unlike other Java
chat systems) it seems to run on just about every computer. But there
are exceptions. If you can't get the chat to run you won't be able to
take part.
|
| Java is working fine on my computer but your
chat program isn't. What could be wrong? |
| In this case the problem may be your network
connection. Usually the chat program works through firewalls but not
always. If you are behind a firewall then try connecting from another
computer that is not behind a firewall. |
| My computer is behind my company's firewall.
Can I still participate in a chat like GlassRoom? |
| A computer protected by a firewall can be used to
participate in a live chat if the firewall allows it. |
| When I enter the GlassRoom area , I see a big
gray box and nothing else. Why isn't GlassRoom loading? |
| If you enter the GlassRoom area and see nothing but a
big grey area at the bottom, you are having problems initializing the
Java Virtual Machine in your Web browser.
The GlassRoom client downloads to your computer when you enter a chat
area, and expects that your browser has a Java Virtual Machine (or
interpreter) so that it can run the GlassRoom Java client. If your
computer does not have any kind of Java Virtual Machine, the GlassRoom
client will not run at all. Almost all browsers have the JVM installed
by default, but some network administrators at some workplaces have
removed Java for administrative reasons. In that case, you will need to
contact your network administrators about getting the Java Virtual
Machine installed in to your Web browser, or find another computer that
can successfully run the GlassRoom Java client.
Internet Explorer 6 does not include a Java Virtual Machine by
default. |
| I'm using Netscape and I'm not seeing the Java
client. I get a pretty empty screen instead that has a big gray box.
What is this? |
| Some installations of Netscape 6 do not have Java
installed by default and Netscape 7 will install a Java Virtual Machine
which is currently incompatible with the GlassRoom server. In order to
properly install Netscape with the Java Virtual Machine, please see our
tutorial on installing Netscape 7. |
| I'm trying to move back and forth between two
GlassRooms at the same time. The chat rooms change when I select them,
but the audio isn't changing. Why not? |
| GlassRoom audio and chat are two totally separate
systems. If you are trying to jump back and forth between simultaneous
GlassRooms in your session, you will need to actually navigate between
GlassRoom pages in the two Web sites. Since the audio can only be used
by one application, you must turn the audio off in one session, and turn
it back on in the other and vise versa.
|
| I have Windows XP and I'm trying to connect to
the GlassRoom chat. I see a gray screen but nothing else. What's going
on?
|
| You may have an version of Java that is incompatible
with GlassRoom installed on your computer. Please note the following:
1) If you are on a computer at work, and your work (or university)
network is protected by a firewall, then you may simply be unable to
connect because of the firewall.
2) If you are at home and are dialing in via a 56k modem to a modem
pool at your workplace or at your university and that work or university
network is behind a firewall, then you may simply be unable to connect
because of the firewall.
3) Your system might have a full disk, or your Temporally Internet
Files might just be too much. Try to clean out these files and
reconnect.
4) Restart your computer. In most cases this helps give your system a
fresh feeling and work smoother on the other applications as well. |
| Why is my chat area blank? |
| Cause: The chat applet (program) has failed to
either download or initialize successfully.
Solution: There are two possible solutions to this problem.
One is to remove the downloaded chat software and have it automatically
reinstalled when you go to a chat room. The other solution, which may be
required on certain computers using Microsoft Internet Explorer, is to
download an updated version of the
Microsoft Java
Virtual Machine (VM) from Microsoft.
If you are using Internet Explorer ...
To remove the chat software if you are running Internet Explorer, you
must first display the Internet Options window. If you have Internet
Explorer version 4, choose View -> Internet Options from
the browser's menu. If you have Internet Explorer version 5, choose
Tools ->Internet Options from the browser's menu. After the
Internet Options window is displayed, press the Settings...
button in the center Temporary Internet Files section of the
window. On the Settings window that is displayed, press the View
Objects... button. The Downloaded Program Files window is displayed.
Remove any versions of "GlassRoomVoiceControl" that are listed
by clicking on the name using the right mouse button and selecting
Remove from the menu that is displayed. You will be prompted to
confirm your choice.
After you have removed all versions of "GlassRoomVoiceControl"
software, press Cancel in each of the windows to close them, then
try to enter a voice chat room.
If you are using Netscape Navigator ...
To remove the chat software if you are running Netscape Navigator,
you must clear the browser's caches. Select Edit ->Preferences
from the browser's menu. In the Preferences window that is displayed,
click on the plus-symbol (+) next to the Advanced item to expand the
list of advanced preferences. Click on the Cache item to display the
cache preferences. Press the Clear Memory Cache and Clear Disk
Cache buttons to clear out the copies of downloaded files that are
being temporarily stored on your computer's hard drive.
After you have cleared the memory and disk caches, press the
Cancel. button to close the Preferences window, then try to enter a
voice chat room. |
| Why am I prohibited from running ActiveX
controls? |
| Cause: Either your Internet security settings
are too restrictive to permit the voice software to be installed, or,
possibly, your Internet Explorer is damaged and needs to be updated.
Solution: The chat voice feature requires the use of an
ActiveX control when you are using Microsoft Internet Explorer. If you
wish to use the voice feature, you must enable ActiveX controls in the
Security settings of the Internet Options window (which you will find on
either the View or Tools menu).
Setting your security level to Medium will enable the use of ActiveX
controls but will still provide a fairly secure environment for
browsing.
If you do not wish to enable ActiveX controls for all web sites, you
may add our site to your Trusted sites list and enable ActiveX
controls for the Trusted sites zone.
If your security settings appear to be set correctly to allow the use
of ActiveX controls, there may be a problem with your Internet Explorer.
Try resolving the problem by downloading a newer version of
Internet
Explorer from Microsoft. |
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