--- Server: Bb Learning System Release 6.0-6.2(?) | Client: Firefox 2.x(WIN) ---

I am back with the same problem I've had since first connecting to a Blackboard system at Dalhousie in January. DAL support don't reply, and the person assigned to the specific course doesn't seem able to help.

The problem is that communication with the Blackboard servers ceases when any attempt is made to send or preview a mail over about 26 lines long, from this *one* system. Up to that length, mail can be sent or previewed. However, when the limit is reached, if a reply is attempted with no extra lines, there is no response and the system times out. Cancelling doesn't work, but if you close the window and retry a reply with fewer lines, it will preview or send.

This problem seems to have nothing to do with Java or the local network or the browser in use. IE and Firefox suffer the same way. The problem is related to message length, and is specific to this one system.

All other systems here work properly. it does not make any difference if the connection to the network is wired or wireless.

The system in question is a Lenovo Z61M thinkpad running XP SP2. I have today put in a new hard disk with a clean install of XP, no apps other than IE, FireFox and Java are installed.

The problem is unchanged with the clean, barebones install.

I have installed the latest updated drivers for the network adapters. I initially installed the Java 1.5 version, and the problem re-occurred. I updated the Java release, and there is no change. At the moment, there are no firewall or A/V apps enabled or installed.

Other components on the DAL Blackboard system *do* work from this system. It's just mail that is a problem.

The only way this system can use Blackboard mail is by connecting via a remote desktop account on a private Windows Server 2003 system, and that works whether Java is installed on the server or not. However, that arrangement does not allow the voice meeting components to work, and that is required.

If anyone has any ideas as to what might be done to resolve this, I'd be very happy to hear and try them.

Thank you,
Patrick Keenan

Hi Patrick,

Try going into your control panel to Add/Remove Programs and removing ALL versions of Java. Then go in and download and install the correct version of Java again. http://www2.blackboard.com/tuneup

Please let us know if this works.

Thanks,
Donna

Thanks for the reply, but I've done that repeatedly, and it doesn't make any difference.

I have also done this with a clean install of Windows to a new drive with nothing but XP, ATI video driver with Framework 2, browsers and Java, and the Java version has no influence whatsoever. If fails in an consistent manner. I am using exactly the Java version the tuneup page refers to; that's where I got the Java installer when I started trying to deal with this three months ago.

I have found no real indication that this problem is related to Java in any way. The Java version has so little influence that if I point that system to a remote desktop account on a Windows 2003 server that *does not have Java installed*, the Blackboard mail works fine, yet hangs consistently if connecting via the local system.

Just to check, I just now put the bare-bones XP drive back in that laptop again, removed the Java update and the original version, restarted, reinstalled the 1.5 r7 version, restarted, and rechecked. There is no improvement, indeed no change at all.

The browsers pass all the checks, and the mail hangs if the message is around or over 26 lines.

Again, thanks for your reply.

Thanks again,
Patrick Keenan

go try with CCleaner, I do not like to go to control panel for Add / Remove Programs because some files are still stored in the registry. and then advise donna, download and install the correct version of Java again. http://www2.blackboard.com/tuneup