You can test below if these commonly used plugins are installed on your computer, and if not, install them now for free.

Test File	Instructions
Adobe Flash	Please click on the Adobe Flash link to the left. If you could not see the Flash example, click the icon to download and install the plugin.
Shockwave Player	Please click on the Shockwave link to the left. If you could not see the Shockwave example, click the icon to download and install the plugin.
	Click the icon to download and install the plugin.
	Please click on the Adobe Acrobat link to the left. If you could not open the PDF example, click the icon to download and install the plugin.
	Please click on the Windows Media link to the left. If you could not open the Windows Media file, click the icon to download and install the plugin.
Software Viewers A viewer allows you to view a file created with a program you do not have installed on your computer. If you need any of these viewers, click on the appropriate link below to download and install it for free.
	The Word 2003 Viewer lets you open and view Word documents if you do not have Word installed on your computer.
	The PowerPoint 2003 Viewer lets you view presentations created in PowerPoint if you do not have PowerPoint installed on your computer.
	The Excel 2003 Viewer lets you view and print Excel spreadsheet files if you do not have Excel installed on your computer.

Many individuals and companies use firewalls to help protect the security of their computer systems. These firewalls can restrict your ability to access your online course. If you are not able to access your online course, you may have a firewall restriction issue. Personal firewalls, such as Zone Alarm, Norton Internet Security, and McAfee Personal Firewall can be configured by the user to allow access to specified sites. Check your software instructions for details on how to configure your personal firewall to grant access to the MUOnLine server (domain = muonline.marshall.edu).  

Companies using firewalls may have policies that prohibit personal use of computers and/or making changes to the firewall configuration. Contact your company’s network support technician to determine what firewall restrictions are set and if they can be modified to enable access to MUOnLine.

Please call our Information Technology Service Desk at (304) 696 – 3200 for assistance in determining if you are being blocked by a firewall.

Spyware and Adware refers to programs that surreptitiously monitor your computer activity. These programs can record your keystrokes, prevent you from accessing websites, from downloading and installing programs, and generally can intrude on your online course experience. Screening programs can help protect your computer from these intrusions. 

If you cannot get to the MUOnLine log on screen, if you experience lots of popup windows or any other odd browser behavior then you probably have spyware on your computer. We recommend running antispyware software regularly to protect your computer.

Anti-spyware programs available free include Ad-Aware , Spybot, and Microsoft AntiSpyware. Here are instructions for downloading and running Ad-Aware (http://www.lavasoftusa.com/), but any of the recommended antispyware programs should help.

1. Save it to a drive on your computer (remember where it is being saved on your computer).
2. Close all programs, go to the directory where it was saved and double click on the downloaded file. This will install the program.
3. Go to Start >> Programs >> AdAware 6 and start the program
   Before you scan your computer:
4. Click on Check For Updates Now.
5. Under Select Scan Mode, choose Use custom scanning options.
6. Click Customize.
7. Insure that all available items are checked.
8. Click on the folder to Click here to select drives and folders.
9. Choose your hard drive letter.
10. Click Proceed.
11. Click Next. It will start scanning.

Once it has finished scanning Click Next, right-click on the list and choose Select All >> Next to remove ALL spyware.

Reboot your computer and try accessing MUOnLine again.

Note: You have to run this program manually (usually weekly) to keep your system clean. It will not detect spyware automatically like an anti- virus protector.

Computer viruses can damage your computer and ruin your files. We strongly recommend that you install and run an antivirus program on your computer. New viruses emerge often so please keep your virus protection software current by installing upgrades as they become available.
Symantec Antivirus software is available at no cost to Marshall University students for installation on their personal computers. An MUNet account username and password is required. To access and download the software, please click here: Marshall University Antivirus Site.

We recommend computer access from home because it is the most convenient for online courses. On your home computer, you have the most control over your computer settings and the required hardware and software. However, other options for computer use include:

• the computer labs on the Marshall University campuses, (which are configured to work properly with our online courses),
• computers in public libraries, the workplace, etc., so long as they meet the requirements below..

*If you have any technical questions at all please do not hesitate to call on our staff at theInformation Technology (IT) Service Desk  at (304) 696 – 3200.

*Visit the Computing Services Computing Recommendations if you are planning on purchasing a new computer.

To ensure a trouble-free start, before you begin your MUOnLine course please take the time to check a few things on each computer you may be using to access your course.
AOL Users please click here first. 

We recommend that you use Internet Explorer as the browser instead of AOL’s built-in browser.

Here’s how:

1. Log on to AOL.
2. Open a Private Chat
3. Go to People
4. Start Your Own Chat
5. Private Chat (enter any name for the chat)
6. Go Chat (This ensures AOL will believe you are active and will not time your session out, thereby disconnecting you).
7. Minimize AOL
8. Open Internet Explorer
9. Login to MUOnLine using Internet Explorer

If you need to install IE on your computer, you can download a free copy from our Download Center.

Each computer that you use to access your E-course must be have the correct settings in Internet Explorer and the necessary hardware/software. Next, to make sure that your computer/software is compatible with MUOnLine, please run the Hardware/Software Requirements check by clicking the link below.

Hardware/software requirements check

To make sure your web browser is compatible with Adobe Connect (formerly Macromedia Breeze), please check the requirements for viewing Adobe Connect content or events.

MUOnLine Download Center

The Download Center contains links to software that will enhance your online course experience. Your online course syllabus will tell you if any of these products are required.  To download any of the software below, please click on the underlined text. All the links below are FREE downloads and will launch in an external window.  If you are not sure if any of these programs (Plug-ins), are installed on your computer, please click the link below to run our Plug-in Test.
Plug-in Test