Below are some quick fixes for issues you might encounter in your online course. If the instructions below don’t rectify your issue or you need help with or have questions about downloading the software listed below, contact Marquette’s Help Desk at 288-7799 or helpdesk@marquette.edu
What browsers are supported by Marquette's e-learning environment?
Students and faculty are welcome to use their browser of choice in Marquette's e-Learning environment Desire2Learn (D2L). But for the best experience and fewest problems, we recommend that you stick to the ones which are currently supported by Desire2Learn.
If you need help acquiring a supported browser, please contact the IT Services help desk at (414) 288-7799.
NOTE: Internet Explorer 9 is not supported and may cause problems involving email and other uses of the HTML editor. You may try clicking the "Compatibility View" button in the address bar, but if that does not solve the problem you will need to use a supported browser.
Let's detect your browser:
Supported Browsers
Windows:
- Internet Explorer 8 (recommended)
- Internet Explorer 7
- Firefox 3.6 (recommended)
- Firefox 3.5
- Chrome
Mac OS X:
- Firefox 3.6 (recommended)
- Firefox 3.5
- Safari 5
- Safari 4
- Safari 3.1
Mobile web:
- iOS 3 (Safari)
- iOS 4 (Safari)
- Android 1.5
- Android 2.1
- Blackberry 6
What are the computer system requirements and general recommendations
for playback of media in my D2L course?
WINDOWS Computers:
- A broadband internet connection (cable modem/DSL) is strongly recommended.
- Windows 7 with Service Pack 1 and one of the supported browsers listed above.
- Be sure to keep your computer operating system and Internet Explorer up to date, by running "Windows Update".
- Most all of the video and audio media is in Apple QuickTime Format. You will need to install the Apple QuickTime Player.
- Be sure to keep your QuickTime up to date, by running "Apple Update" from the "Help" menu in the QuickTime Player.
- Many Professors are posting Narrated PowerPoint Presentations in D2L, so you will need Microsoft Office 2010 (ver. 14.0 or later) Suite installed, which includes PowerPoint 2010 to view these presentations. Students may purchase software at education discount pricing through a University agreement with JourneyED.
- Check for Quicktime Plugin
APPLE Computers:
- A broadband internet connection (cable modem/DSL) is strongly recommended.
- Either OSX 10.6.X (Snow Leopard), OSX 10.7.X (Lion), or OSX 10.8.X (Mountain Lion) are useable.
- It is recommended you use one of the supported browsers listed above
- Safari 5.1.6 is useable. However, Safari 5.1.7 HAS IN ISSUE with playback of D2L Streaming Video content when used on Snow Leopard, but works fine in Lion. SO DO NOT UPGRADE TO Safari 5.1.7 AT THIS TIME if you are below Lion OS. If you have an issue, try using Firefox.
- Most all of the video and audio media is in Apple QuickTime Format.
- The Apple QuickTime Player comes standard on all MAC computers. You will need to download and install the Flip4Mac plugin, which allows Windows Media files to play back on a MAC.
- Be sure to keep your computer operating system, and QuickTime up to date, by running "System Update". HOWEVER PLEASE NOTE THE ISSUE WITH THE SAFARI BROWSER NOTED ABOVE.
- Many Professors are posting Narrated PowerPoint Presentations in D2L, so you will need Microsoft Office MAC 2011 (ver. 14.0 or later) Suite installed, which includes PowerPoint MAC 2011 to view these presentations. Students may purchase software at education discount pricing through a University agreement with JourneyED.
- Check for Flip4Mac Plugin
I use an older version of Microsoft Office Suite, will I be able to open files from newer versions?
Your best option is to upgrade your Microsoft Office Suite to the latest version, which will include the latest Word and PowerPoint releases.
Students may purchase software at education discount pricing through a University agreement with JourneyED.
You may also try using the “Word Viewer” plugin for older Word versions available from Microsoft (this will not however help with viewing the latest PowerPoint presentations):
I’ve logged on to Desire2Learn, but can’t find my course.
- Fix #1: Scroll down to the semester in which you are taking the course. The course(s) in which you are enrolled is likely listed below the appropriate semester heading. If not, click on the plus sign next to semester title to open the course list menu below the semester heading.
- Fix #2: Confirm you have successfully enrolled in the course by using the Student Self-Service tools in Checkmarq. You’ll need to allow 24 hours from the time you enroll in the course to access it in Desire2Learn.
I’m able to get into my course, but Desire2Learn is not functioning properly for me.
You may need to verify that you’re using a D2L-supported browser.
The Video or voiceover PowerPoint I’m trying to watch won’t play.
I’m trying to attach or upload a file and D2L won’t let me OR I’ve attached or uploaded a file to D2L, but when I click on it in D2L it won’t open and I get an error message.
- Fix #1: Make sure the file name doesn't have characters like slashes ("/") ampersands ("&"), question marks, quotation marks or asterisks. When naming files you intend to attach or upload to D2L, it is best to use only alpha-numeric characters, and, if necessary, underscores and dashes, as D2L does doesn’t recognize the special characters mentioned above.
- Fix #2: Make sure the file contains the appropriate three letter file extension following the period ("filename.PDF" or "filename.DOC", etc.). When you initially save the file the program you are using will automatically add the appropriate extension to your file UNLESS you manually add a period and extension yourself (so don’t do that).
The best way to ensure your file has the appropriate extension is to not use periods in your file name. Please note that some programs (particularly Microsoft programs, such as Word) may not show the “.doc” extension when it is automatically added by the program.
If you are working in one of these programs and save a file without using a period in the file name and the file name appears in the Open or Save dialogue box without showing the “.doc” extension the program is still adding it automatically “behind the scenes.”
I can’t open certain course documents or PDF files.
- Fix #1: You may need to download Acrobat Reader. Some course files need Acrobat Reader to open. Acrobat Reader is a free tool that allows users to view PDF files.
- Fix #2: You may need to allow pop ups. Course files and documents often open in new browser windows. Your pop up blocker may be preventing those windows from opening.
If you are using Internet Explorer:
- Go to the Tools menu.
- Select Pop-up Blocker. (If this isn't listed, you have a third-party popup blocker. See below for more about third-party popup blockers.)
- Click Pop-up Blocker Settings.
- In the Pop-up Blocker Settings window, type d2l.mu.edu as the "Address of Web site to allow" and click the Add button.
- Close the Pop-up Blocker Settings window and all Internet Explorer windows.
- When you reopen Internet Explorer, you should be able to access Marquette’s Desire2Learn site without receiving an error message. If not, you may have a third-party tool blocking popups.
If you are using Firefox:
- On Windows, open the Options dialog under the Tools menu. On Macintosh, open the Preferences dialog under the Firefox menu.
- Click the Web Features icon on the left.
- Here you should see a checkmark next to the option to block popup windows.
- Click the Allowed Sites button to the right of it.
- Type d2l.mu.edu as the "address of web site," then click the Allow button
- Click OK in the allowed Click OK in the Allowed Sites screen, then click OK again for the Options/Preferences screen.
- If you are still not able to access the Desire2Learn site without receiving an error message, you may have a third-party tool blocking popups. (See below for more about third-party popup blockers.)
If you are using Safari:
- Open the Safari menu.
- Here you should see the Block Pop-up Windows option checked. Click to uncheck.
- If the option was not checked, or if you are still not able to access the Desire2Learn site without receiving an error message, you may have a third-party tool blocking popups. (See below for more about third-party popup blockers.)
Dealing with third-party popup blockers:
There are many third-party popup blockers that could be affecting your ability to use d2l.mu.edu. The basic steps are:
