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Pearson onscreen platform installation woes

IT_Man_Dan

By IT_Man_Dan
in Educational Software

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IT_Man_Dan

IT_Man_Dan

Posted
Posted

Morning all,

 

Has anyone had any issues with 'POP' exams software?

 

I'm having to set it up for BTEC exams that will take place and it is proving to be a faff!

I've followed the manual and installed the exams centre service onto a server but when I run the diagnostic tool on other pc's none can see or connect to the exams service centre. I've tried turning the firewall off both domain and server side and it still doesn't work so it's not firewall related. I've also tried manually adding the server by both name and IP address with no luck.

 

Please help.

 

Thanks

  • 2 weeks later...
FN-GM

FN-GM

Posted
Posted

I am just looking at the software. horrible!

 

I have 3 installers to run. Administrator and Invigilator need to point to the server. The client points to each rooms Invigilator computer. How on earth can one specify these servers / computers during an install? How do i automate this?

 

Thanks

Linfit

Linfit

Posted
Posted

And they have just released a new version anyway....

 

Dear Colleague

We have identified your centre as having an installation of our Pearson Onscreen Platform software and wish to notify you of an upgraded version, which is now available. You are required to install the upgraded version of the software to ensure your systems remain compatible, providing a platform for your learners to sit future tests specifically developed to work in conjunction with this latest upgrade.

If you have tests booked and scheduled before the 11th November, you are able to run these on your current version of the software but must upgrade thereafter.

The new version of the software requires Microsoft Visual C++ 2012 redistributable to be installed on the computers hosting the Test Player. The link to download this software can be found here. From the link the files required are VSU3\vcredist_x86.exe (6.2MB).

We've also attached an upgrade guide which contains the link to the latest version of the Pearson Onscreen Platform software. Once you have clicked on the upgrade link, you will not be able to use the Pearson Onscreen Platform until you have upgraded this on all the computers where you have the software installed. Therefore we strongly recommend that you upgrade at least 48 hours prior to any scheduled tests.

Important: Please note you will not be able to run any future Next Generation BTEC onscreen tests if you do not upgrade by the 11th November 2013.

Further information and frequently asked questions can be found here.

Kind regards

IT_Man_Dan

IT_Man_Dan

Posted
  • Author
Posted

I know, I've just received that email about the updated version. Why didn't they just tell us to wait and install the updated version?!?

 

I love how they set a deadline to install as well. As if I've got nothing better to do than install badly programmed software...

 

Oh well I'll play around with it tomorrow...

 

I'll keep you posted.

  • 2 weeks later...
themightymrp

themightymrp

Posted
Posted

Do you use a proxy server to access the internet? If you have received a login which works going via their website (http://btecng.pearson.com) but doesn't via the software it could well be the proxy. I had this issue, the soltution was fairly simple,

 

My normal internet proxy is 1234proxy.schoolsISP.net:80 , what I had to do was tell the POP software to use http://1234proxy.schoolsISP.net:80 !!!! Crazy! You can make that change by directly editing the XML config file. Also, have you made sure that port 443 has open access to 212.62.15.118 ?

  • Thanks 2
  • 2 weeks later...
michaelq

michaelq

Posted
Posted
Ran into this thread and tried loading the Exam centre service installer. put proxy in the format http://xxx.xxx.xxx.xxx:xxx as above. worked fine for me. Pearsonss support was ment to phone me back at 11:30 this morning (after phoning me 45 minutes before time requested. Still no call. Thanks to this thread its up and running. Roll on the demo tests :)
tj2419

tj2419

Posted
Posted
Has anyone managed to create a deplorable package? Can't see how to do it with the invidulator computer name being different in each room. Cheers
FN-GM

FN-GM

Posted
Posted
Has anyone managed to create a deplorable package? Can't see how to do it with the invidulator computer name being different in each room. Cheers

 

If you do find one please share it :)

timbo343

timbo343

Posted
Posted
I managed to get it all working and first time. Things went a little too smooth for me. The software isnt too bad. Its better than their last lot they used to work. Unfortunately im on a weeks holiday but if you are still having problems on monday i might be able to help you out.
FN-GM

FN-GM

Posted
Posted
I managed to get it all working and first time. Things went a little too smooth for me. The software isnt too bad. Its better than their last lot they used to work. Unfortunately im on a weeks holiday but if you are still having problems on monday i might be able to help you out.

 

But i assume you had to visit every machine to do it?

skell

skell

Posted
Posted (edited)

This software seems to store 6 files in the local user appdata \AppData\Local\TdpClientData folder. Once you've selected the invigilators PC, these files are modified, and it remembers the server you chose...

 

Urg.

 

This means that if you're installing the software to multiple rooms, the students are always going to have to be in the same room in order for them to connect to the correct invigilator PC. So any resists will be all over the place...

 

Someone please tell me I'm wrong. Why Pearson have chosen to put this data in the user appdata rather than in an XML file on the PC itself is beyond me. THAT would have made much more sense.

 

However, the upside is that you can deploy it and don't have to worry about configuring it...

Edited by skell
  • Thanks 2
dhoward_westexetc

dhoward_westexetc

Posted
Posted

I have been given the unenviable task of making this happen for beginning of December. I am currently looking into this software now.

 

Has anyone made this software work reliably? If so are there any tips anyone has to get this going? How has the new version of the software been?

michaelq

michaelq

Posted
Posted (edited)
Software support was ment to be phoning Last Thursday at 11:00. Called at 10:00 to be told i was not in the office but on another site. Said they would ring back at 11:30 still waiting. Software up and running now and demo tests run. Only 1 room and 30 Pc's will be needed here so lucky. Edited by michaelq
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timbo343

timbo343

Posted
Posted
WORST. SOFTWARE. EVER.

 

Even their support says its a piece of rubbish.

 

Its not as bad as it has been. Their last stuff was awful. This one seems a lot better but i must admit, it's not great.

dhoward_westexetc

dhoward_westexetc

Posted
Posted
If you do find one please share it :)

 

I see the install packages are MSIs. Presumably you can get group policy software install to do the installation of the Test Player on the clients, so that then it is only the config stage that has to be done per machine?

 

If not then I am a bit worried as I have potentially 4 31-seat computer suites to do for next month!!

skell

skell

Posted
Posted
As I posted above, the setting is per user, not per machine. You can deploy the test player no problem, but configuring it is a different matter.

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