A Java Virtual Machine (JVM or VM) is the software that allows you to run Java applets or applications, such as GlassRoom, on your machine. Most newer browsers have a JVM built in to run these applets. In order to run Java applications, such as the GlassRoom Server, you may need to install a Java Virtual Machine yourself.

Does Windows XP support Java?

Some versions of Windows XP do not come with a Java VM. You will need to download the latest one from Sun (preferably 1.4.0), or get the Windows update and download the latest critical updates.

Which web browser(s) do you recommend for running the GlassRoom Client applet?

For the best speed and compatibility with the Client applet, we recommend Netscape 6.2 or Internet Explorer 6.0 for Windows, and Internet Explorer 4.5 or later for Macintosh with MRJ 2.1 or later. You may use Netscape 4.0 for Macintosh, though these browsers exhibit poor Java performance.

Does GlassRoom run under America Online?

Yes. However, it may be necessary to access GlassRoom from an external browser, such as Microsoft Internet Explorer or Netscape Navigator/Communicator, rather than the built in AOL web browser. This is due to apparent bugs in AOL 4.0 and earlier which cause some Java applets, such as GlassRoom, to redraw improperly. This bug appears to affect Windows 95/NT and Macintosh, though Windows 98 appears to be unaffected. Opening a newer browser while running AOL should fix this problem.

We are excited to offer the Chat Essentials GlassRoom chat environment due to its speed, stability, ease of use, relaxed setup requirements and unique, graphical interface. The user-friendly GlassRoom Applet runs on any Java enabled browser without any special plug-ins or software to download. The following browsers will support the GlassRoom Chat Applet:

For Windows 95/98/NT/2000/XP users:

• Microsoft Internet Explorer versions 4.0x and above

• Netscape Navigator versions 4.0x and above

• AOL versions 4.0x and above*

For Mac users:

• Microsoft Internet Explorer versions 4.5x and above

• Netscape Navigator versions 4.0x and above

• AOL versions 4.0x and above*

*AOL users please note:
Due to issues which cause some Java Applets to suffer from display performance degradation, GlassRoom recommends that AOL users run the Chat Applet from an external browser, such as Microsoft Internet Explorer or Netscape Navigator/Communicator — using your AOL connection. While the built-in AOL browser should support the GlassRoom Applet, performance should be substantially enhanced via the use of an external browser.

For Linux users:

• Netscape Navigator versions 4.0x and above

• AOL versions 4.0x and above*

Chat Support

If you are having difficulties with GlassRoom, please be sure you are using the latest version of your web browser or Java Virtual Machine. Java™ is an evolving environment, and the latest version offer the greatest speed, reliability, and compatibility. Often, problems are the result of an outdated Virtual Machine and can easily be solved by installing the latest available software.

If you would like to download and install a current browser and/or Java Virtual Machine, please follow the appropriate link — based upon your browser preferences:

Microsoft Internet Explorer
GlassRoom recommends using Microsoft Internet Explorer 4.0 or higher for Macintosh or Microsoft Windows™. Follow this link for the latest version of the Microsoft Internet Explorer™ browser and/or Java™ Virtual Machine.

Microsoft Java VM
Windows 95/98/NT/2000 owners who need only an updated version of the Java VM may use Microsoft Java 2.0 or higher to run GlassRoom. Follow this link for the latest version.

Netscape Communicator/Navigator
While GlassRoom recommends using GlassRoom with Internet Explorer, some Windows 95/98/NT/2000 users may prefer Netscape's browsers. Netscape™ is not recommended by GlassRoom for use by Macintosh owners. Follow this link for the latest version of Navigator/Communicator.

Sun's JRE for Solaris
GlassRoom recommends that Solaris owners use Sun's Java Runtime Environment 1.1.6 or higher. Follow this link for the latest version.

The latest Unix-compatible versions of the Microsoft Internet Explorer or Netscape browsers are available for download via the corresponding links.

Java Virtual Machines for other platforms
Follow this link for the latest virtual machines for other platforms and operating systems, such as Linux and Silicon Graphic's IRIX.

• If you are unsure of which browser you are using, open the "Help" menu at the top of your screen and select "About (browser name)." On the next page, you'll see the browser name followed by a version number. Write down the information and then press the "Back" button on your browser to return to this page.
• If you are behind a firewall or using WebTV or Windows 3.1, you won't be able to use the Java version of Chat.
• Make sure that Java is enabled on your browser. Voice Chat requires Internet Explorer (version 4.0 or higher) or Netscape Navigator (version 4.0 or higher). Click on your browser for information on how to enable Java.

   

  version	Netscape	Internet Explorer
  2.x	Windows / Mac	not available
  3.x	Windows / Mac	Windows / Mac
  4.x	Windows / Mac	Windows / Mac
  5.x	not available	Windows

  Netscape 2.x for Windows
  Select "Options" from your menu bar and choose "Security Preferences." Click on the "General" tab. Both "Disable Java" and "Disable JavaScript" should be unchecked.

  Netscape 2.x for Macs does not support Java. You will need to use the HTML software to chat.

  Netscape 3.x for Windows or Mac
  Select "Options" from your menu bar and choose "Network Preferences." Then click on the "Languages" tab. Both "Enable Java" and "Enable JavaScript" should be checked.

  Netscape 4.x for Windows or Mac
  Select "Edit" from your menu bar, select "Preferences..." and then choose the "Advanced" category. Both "Enable Java" and "Enable JavaScript" should be checked.

  Internet Explorer 3.x for Windows (Remember: Voice Chat requires 3.01 or higher)
  Select "View" from your menu bar and choose "Options." Then click on the "Security" tab. At the bottom of the page, make sure all the boxes in the Active Content area are checked. Note: You might also want to click the "Safety Level" button here and select "Medium" to prevent warning message interruptions.

  Internet Explorer 3.x or 4.x for the Mac (Remember: Voice Chat requires 3.01 or higher)
  Select "Edit" from your menu bar and choose "Preferences...." Then click on the "Java" bullet within the Web Browser section. Make sure that the "Enable Java" checkbox is checked.

  Internet Explorer 4.x for Windows
  Select "View" from your menu bar and choose "Internet Options." Click on the "Security" tab. For the Internet Zone, select "Custom" and click on "Settings." Scroll to the bottom of the Custom Settings list, under Scripting set "Active scripting and Scripting of Java Applets" to either "Enable" or "Prompt."

  Internet Explorer 5.x for Windows
  Select "Tools" from your menu bar and choose "Internet Options..." Click on the "Security" tab. For the Internet zone, be sure that the Security level is set to "Medium" or below. (If you have chosen to customize your Security settings for the Internet zone, be sure that under the Java heading, "Java permissions" is not set on "Disable Java." Select one of the three safety levels instead. Also make sure that under Scripting, "Scripting of Java Applets" is set to "Enable" or "Prompt.")

I'm using Windows and when I come to the chat page I get a message that says (something like) Java is no longer available for downloading. What should I do?

I just can't get the chat to run on my computer! What can I do?

Java is working fine on my computer but your chat program isn't. What could be wrong?

My computer is behind my company's firewall. Can I still participate in a chat like GlassRoom?

When I enter the GlassRoom area , I see a big gray box and nothing else. Why isn't GlassRoom loading?

The GlassRoom client downloads to your computer when you enter a chat area, and expects that your browser has a Java Virtual Machine (or interpreter) so that it can run the GlassRoom Java client. If your computer does not have any kind of Java Virtual Machine, the GlassRoom client will not run at all. Almost all browsers have the JVM installed by default, but some network administrators at some workplaces have removed Java for administrative reasons. In that case, you will need to contact your network administrators about getting the Java Virtual Machine installed in to your Web browser, or find another computer that can successfully run the GlassRoom Java client.

Internet Explorer 6 does not include a Java Virtual Machine by default. 

I'm using Netscape and I'm not seeing the Java client. I get a pretty empty screen instead that has a big gray box. What is this?

I'm trying to move back and forth between two GlassRooms at the same time. The chat rooms change when I select them, but the audio isn't changing. Why not?

You may have an version of Java that is incompatible with GlassRoom installed on your computer. Please note the following:

1) If you are on a computer at work, and your work (or university) network is protected by a firewall, then you may simply be unable to connect because of the firewall.

2) If you are at home and are dialing in via a 56k modem to a modem pool at your workplace or at your university and that work or university network is behind a firewall, then you may simply be unable to connect because of the firewall.

3) Your system might have a full disk, or your Temporally Internet Files might just be too much. Try to clean out these files and reconnect.

4) Restart your computer. In most cases this helps give your system a fresh feeling and work smoother on the other applications as well.

Solution: There are two possible solutions to this problem. One is to remove the downloaded chat software and have it automatically reinstalled when you go to a chat room. The other solution, which may be required on certain computers using Microsoft Internet Explorer, is to download an updated version of the Microsoft Java Virtual Machine (VM) from Microsoft.

If you are using Internet Explorer ...

To remove the chat software if you are running Internet Explorer, you must first display the Internet Options window. If you have Internet Explorer version 4, choose View -> Internet Options from the browser's menu. If you have Internet Explorer version 5, choose Tools ->Internet Options from the browser's menu. After the Internet Options window is displayed, press the Settings... button in the center Temporary Internet Files section of the window. On the Settings window that is displayed, press the View Objects... button. The Downloaded Program Files window is displayed.

Remove any versions of "GlassRoomVoiceControl" that are listed by clicking on the name using the right mouse button and selecting Remove from the menu that is displayed. You will be prompted to confirm your choice.

After you have removed all versions of "GlassRoomVoiceControl" software, press Cancel in each of the windows to close them, then try to enter a voice chat room.

If you are using Netscape Navigator ...

To remove the chat software if you are running Netscape Navigator, you must clear the browser's caches. Select Edit ->Preferences from the browser's menu. In the Preferences window that is displayed, click on the plus-symbol (+) next to the Advanced item to expand the list of advanced preferences. Click on the Cache item to display the cache preferences. Press the Clear Memory Cache and Clear Disk Cache buttons to clear out the copies of downloaded files that are being temporarily stored on your computer's hard drive.

After you have cleared the memory and disk caches, press the Cancel. button to close the Preferences window, then try to enter a voice chat room.

Solution: The chat voice feature requires the use of an ActiveX control when you are using Microsoft Internet Explorer. If you wish to use the voice feature, you must enable ActiveX controls in the Security settings of the Internet Options window (which you will find on either the View or Tools menu).

Setting your security level to Medium will enable the use of ActiveX controls but will still provide a fairly secure environment for browsing.

If you do not wish to enable ActiveX controls for all web sites, you may add our site to your Trusted sites list and enable ActiveX controls for the Trusted sites zone.

If your security settings appear to be set correctly to allow the use of ActiveX controls, there may be a problem with your Internet Explorer. Try resolving the problem by downloading a newer version of Internet Explorer from Microsoft.