Troubleshooting
Vista Access
(Print These
Directions Now To Use Later In Troubleshooting)
If you are having trouble accessing your online
class on the Vista server, the problem could be
with your browser, some other program running on
your computer, the link between your computer and
your ISP (QWEST, ComCast, MSN), the links between
your ISP and Bellevue College, the Bellevue College network as a whole, the
Vista server, or just some aspect of your particular
class. Before you can fix anything, we have to know
where the problem lies. Here's how to start troubleshooting.
- First: Try to access the Bellevue College
main website
or other pages you may know of on campus. If you
cannot access any of these, but can access the
rest of the Web, then wait a bit and try again.
In the past two years Bellevue College has been entirely cut
off from the rest of the web for a short period
due to underground cables being cut during construction,
a bad router at the CTC, power outages, and several
virus/worm attacks. These are rare events
and usually clear up within several hours, but
they do happen. HOWEVER, if you are able to read
this page, then you DO have access at least as
far as the college's network.
- Second: Check the
Server
Status page to find out if there are reported
problems with Vista. Also check your e-mail
inbox to see if there is a message from the
Online Student Listserv (if you are a member).
If there is a known problem with either server,
it should be posted. Very recent outages, however,
may not have been posted yet. Check the server
status page again after an hour. Note that
if you have just registered, your name may
not yet have been added to the list of online
students and your classes may not yet be listed
on the menu page. Online classes become available
to students ONLY on the first day of
the quarter.
- Third: At this point, any problems you
are having are most likely due either to your
browser, another application running in the background
on your computer, or involves your ISP, such as
ComCast. Before you begin to troubleshoot, shut
down your system or reboot and start your browser
again. On your browser, go to "Tools | Internet
Options" (will be called differently on different
browsers) and clear out your cache, cookies, and
temp files. Also go to your "Favorites"
or "Bookmarks" and delete any old links
to Vista classes. Now try to access your classroom
at http://vista.bellevuecollege.edu.
- Fourth: If you are not able to log in
and you are a new student, you may not have been
entered onto the list yet, or you may be using
the wrong username or password. E-mail the Distance
Education Office or call (425) 564-2438 or
1-(877) 641-2712.
- Fifth: If you can log in
but don't see your course, you may not yet have
been entered into your classroom. Contact your
instructor by Bellevue College mail, or contact the
Distance
Education Office at (425) 564-2438 or 1 (877)
641-2712.
- Sixth: If you can access
your classes, but find that things don't work
the way they should, your browser may not be
a supported one or may not be correctly configured.
Here is our guide
to help you configure your browser to properly access Vista 8.1.
MORE QUESTIONS?
You can call us at 425-564-2438 (toll free 1-877-641-2712),
or come to Room A140 on the Bellevue College campus. Of course,
you can always e-mail us too!
But remember that, whether you call us or e-mail us, for
us to help, you must provide the following
information:
- your registered name,
- your telephone
number,
- your BC student ID number,
- your Vista password,
- the course name and number,
- the instructor's name,
- and a detailed account of the problem(s) you are
encountering.
Please jot down all that information
and have it handy when you call. (Fill in the answers to those questions if you e-mail us.)
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