The instructions below all assume you have already opened the browser's Preferences dialog. This is found via "Edit > Preferences" on Mozilla/Firefox, and "Tools > Internet Options" in MS Internet Explorer.

Caching: Caching problems lead to "wrong" pages showing up, and are frequently reported as a source of login problems as well. After applying the setting, clear your cache and restart the browser (close ALL windows first, including any file download windows) to make sure the cache is really cleared.  

• MS Internet Explorer:  General tab > Temporary Files > Settings: Make sure this is set to "Every time". To clear cache, click "Delete Files".  
• Mozilla/Firefox:  Advanced > Cache: Select "Every time I view the page". Click "Clear Cache".  

SSL: Much of Blackboard goes through secure connections. SSL must be enabled, and it is crucially important to have the right versions enabled.  

• MS Internet Explorer:  Advanced tab > Security (near bottom): Check "Use SSL 2.0" and "Use SSL 3.0". UNcheck "Use TLS 1.0".  
• Mozilla/Firefox:  Privacy & Security > SSL: Check "SSL v2.0 enabled" and "SSL v3.0 enabled".  

Cookies: With cookies turned off, logging in is impossible, as a sessionID cookie is used to identify and authenticate you throughout your session.  

• MS Internet Explorer:  Privacy tab > Web Sites > Edit: Type in "blackboard.mcdaniel.edu" and click on "Allow" to make sure cookies from blackboard.mcdaniel.edu are always accepted, no matter what your other settings are. Same for "blackboard.mcdaniel.edu:8011" (for Virtual Classroom).  
• Mozilla/Firefox:  Privacy & Security > Cookies > Manage Stored Cookies > Cookie Sites: Type in "blackboard.mcdaniel.edu" and click on "Allow" to make sure cookies from blackboard.mcdaniel.edu are always accepted, no matter what your other settings are. Same for "blackboard.mcdaniel.edu:8011" (for Virtual Classroom).  

JavaScript: Much of Blackboard's functionality depends on JavaScript. With JavaScript turned off, logging in is impossible. So is taking quizzes.  

• MS Internet Explorer:  Security tab > Custom Level > Scripting (near bottom): Choose "Active Scripting: Enabled".
  Also, while you're here: below that, under User Authentication, choose : "Prompt for username and password".  
• Mozilla/Firefox:  Advanced > Scripts & Plugins. Choose "Enable JavaScript for: Navigator".  

Passwords & Form Data: There appear to be occasional problems with the browser storing the encoded password for Blackboard and submitting the stored value instead of the current one. While it isn't entirely clear whether this is indeed the source for those users' login problems, we recommend the following as troubleshooting step:  

• MS Internet Explorer:  Content tab > Personal Information > AutoComplete: UNcheck "Forms" and "Usernames and Passwords on Forms". Click "Clear Forms" and "Clear Passwords". Quit and restart the browser before trying again.  
• Mozilla/Firefox:  Privacy & Security > Passwords > Manage Stored Passwords: make sure "blackboard.mcdaniel.edu" is listed among the sites where passwords are never stored. Under ... > Forms > Manage Sites: make sure "blackboard.mcdaniel.edu" is listed among the sites for whom form data is never stored. Or turn off saving of form data and passwords completely, if you like.  

Browser Helper Objects (BHOs):  This is the main hook for malware (spyware, adware, browser hijackers, etc.), so it's very important to turn this off. Malware such as CommonName is a frequent source for login problems.  

• MS Internet Explorer:  Advanced tab > Browsing (near top): UNcheck "Enable third party browser extensions." Restart the browser after clicking OK.  
• Mozilla/Firefox: does not apply (Mozilla/Firefox/NS are safe)  

Popups: Allowing popups is necessary to make Virtual Classroom work.  

• MS Internet Explorer:  If using a third-party popup blocker, make sure it allows popups for blackboard.mcdaniel.edu and blackboard.mcdaniel.edu:8011. If you can't configure your popup blocker to allow popups from certain sites, get a better one.  
• Mozilla/Firefox:  Privacy & Security > Popup Windows > Allowed Sites: Allow popups for blackboard.mcdaniel.edu and blackboard.mcdaniel.edu:8011.