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System Requirements

What are the system requirements for using ALEKS?

Troubleshooting

Why can't I print the pie charts from my report?
What if I have the SonicWALL firewall, and it won't let me use ALEKS?
How can an incorrect Macintosh network configuration cause problems (slowness, freezing, incomplete loading)?
What happens if I use my browser's Back and Forward buttons in ALEKS?
How do I enable JavaScript in my browser?

Return to FAQs or contact Customer Support for further assistance.

What are the system requirements for using ALEKS?

ALEKS runs on many devices with various operating system and web browser configurations. Use the tabs below to identify the system requirements for specific ALEKS course products.

K-12 Higher Ed. Math Higher Ed. Business Higher Ed. Science Higher Ed. Behavioral
Desktop and Tablet Compatibility
All K-12 courses
System Requirements
  Windows(1) Macintosh  Chromebook  iPad  Android Tablet(2)
Operating System 7+ OS X 10.11+ Chrome OS iOS 11+ Android 7+
Screen Resolution 1024x768 + 1024x768 + Any Any 8.9"
Browsers(3) *Chrome 60+
*Firefox 60+
Edge 41+
No support for IE 11		 *Chrome 60+
*Firefox 60+
Safari 11+		 *Chrome 60+ Safari 11+ *Chrome 60+


* Color contrast/blindness accessibility settings are available in these browsers.
(1) Windows based Microsoft Surface tablets require the use of an external keyboard and mouse (e.g., touch cover keyboard, Bluetooth keyboard/mouse or USB keyboard/mouse).
(2) At this time only Samsung Galaxy tablets have been tested.
(3) ALEKS multimedia requires that Flash is enabled in updated Chrome browsers.

 

Why can't I print the pie charts from my report?

If you are able to see the pie charts displayed on the "print preview" screen that comes up when you click on "Print," but do not see them on your printed copy, then your printer driver software may need to be upgraded.

The following are links to a few of the most common manufacturers' sites. The newest drivers will be available for free on the manufacturer's website for your printer.

Hewlett Packard: http://welcome.hp.com/country/us/en/support.html

Canon: http://www.usa.canon.com/html/conCprTSIndex.jsp?app=download

Lexmark: http://downloads.lexmark.com

What if I have the SonicWALL firewall, and it won't let me use ALEKS?

If your system makes use of SonicWALL and you are running ALEKS on MacOS X, then the following procedure will be needed to ensure full access to ALEKS.

  1. Log in to SonicWALL via your web browser: Navigate your browser to http://xxx.xxx.xxx.xxx/diag.html (substituting your firewall IP address or DNS name for xxx.xxx.xxx.xxx).
  2. Scroll down and uncheck "Enforce Host Tag Search with for CFS."
  3. Click "Apply" at the top of the page.

If this procedure does not resolve your problem, please contact ALEKS Corporation Customer Support at https://www.aleks.com/support/form or (800) 258-2374.

How can an incorrect Macintosh network configuration cause problems (slowness, freezing, incomplete loading)?

In MacOS X, each user's home directory contains that user's preferences in the Library directory. In a network environment this home directory is on the server and is not copied to the local hard drive. If the computers share user names, they are writing and rewriting to the same files in these directories. If, for example, a cache file used by one student's ALEKS session is overwritten by another student's ALEKS session because they are sharing the same directories, the first session will not be able to find needed data and will become unresponsive. If somehow the ALEKS plug-in is being shared in this way, similar (or worse) degradation will result. If the computers are all configured to use individual accounts, the problem should be resolved.

When using ALEKS on Macintosh computers in a lab or network situation, each computer should have its own network account. If different computers use the same network account, files will be shared between them, including temporary files affecting the speed and reliability of network access. This is true even if the configuration instructions seem to indicate that the files will be "local."  In particular, "mobile accounts," which make local copies of files, are also essentially network accounts and will cause this problem. The magnitude of the problem varies with the number of persons using the network, and with the kind of web-based programs in use. There may be no problem evident at low levels of use, but if there is a lab full of persons accessing ALEKS concurrently, the degradation will be serious.

So, the rule is to have a separate network account for each computer.

What happens if I use my browser's Back and Forward buttons in ALEKS?

Students using ALEKS should never use the "Back" or "Forward" button on their browser.  (These may also appear as arrows pointing respectively left and right.)  They should only use the navigation buttons and links within ALEKS itself.  Some students may have the idea of looking at an ALEKS explanation, then clicking "Back" to return to the original question and enter the answer given in the explanation.  If they do this, ALEKS will treat the answer as correct, since it would be potentially misleading to the student to do otherwise.  It will NOT, however, credit that answer toward the student's mastery of the topic; in other words, a student doing this will never be able to add the topic to their pie chart unless they stop doing it and begin answering the questions honestly.  Students who try this technique realize very soon that it is not working for them and stop doing it.  We suggest that teachers simply let their students know at the outset that they should not use the browser "Back" or "Forward" button in ALEKS.

How do I enable JavaScript in my browser?

JavaScript must be enabled in your browser in order to use ALEKS. Normally, it is enabled and you do not need to do anything to make it work. If for any reason it is not enabled, here are the steps to follow.

Internet Explorer

  1. At the top of the Explorer window, on the menu bar, click on the Tools menu, and select Internet Options.
  2. In the Internet Options window, select the Security panel.
  3. If you do not have to customize your security settings, click Default Level, then OK.
  4. If you have to customize your security settings, click on the Internet zone, then on Custom Level. In the Scripting section, click Enable for Active Scripting, then OK. Click OK again at the bottom of the Internet Options box.

Firefox for PC

  1. At the top of the Firefox window, on the menu bar, click on the Tools menu, and select Options
  2. In the Options window, select the Content panel.
  3. Check the "Enable JavaScript" box, then scroll down and click OK.

Firefox for MAC

  1. At the top of the Firefox window, on the menu bar, click on Firefox, and select Preferences
  2. In the Preferences window, select the Content panel.
  3. Check the "Enable JavaScript" box, then close the window.

Safari

  1. At the top of the Safari window, on the menu bar, click on Safari, and select Preferences
  2. In the Preferences window, select the Security panel.
  3. Check the "Enable JavaScript" box, then close the window.

Chrome

  1. To enable JavaScript, go to Chrome ->Click on Wrench Icon -> Options -> Under the Hood Tab -> Content Settings
  2. On Content Settings -> JavaScript tab -> enable “Allow all sites to run JavaScript”