smartboard notebook error message

[chrbb]

Bit odd this, when we open smartboard notebook, a warning is displayed like the one on secure websites - this page contains secure and unsecure and asks whether you want to display non secure items. Not happened before, not updated to very latest smartboard software yet.

[Andie]

This has just started appearing here too. On Notebook 10. What IE version are you using? I wonder if it is more to do with IE8 than the Notebook software. Really annoying. I can fix the message for safe websites, but the only way I can think of fixing this for Notebook is to allow mixed content for the whole of the Internet, which is very bad for security. I have emailed SMARTtech technical support.

[chrbb]

We're using IE7, version 10 smartboard. If I turn off our proxy and use smartboard not connected to the internet I don't get the warning message. I've emailed our IT support at the LEA because I think it's something to do with our LEA internet provider, if a connection to the internet is available then maybe smartboard is 'phoning home' and there's a security setting changed by our internet provider. My son, who teaches at a school in the same cluster has started to get the warning message as well.

[Andie]

We are using IE 8 with Notebook Software (SMART) version 10. I suspect SMART update is going out to the Internet. Possibly I can fix this with the GPO that I used to sort out the same problem with our Learning Platform. Need to find the URL for the SMART update site though. Not heard back from SMART Technical Support yet, except from the auto-responder. But as I emailed the USA site, there will be a time lag for the reply.

 

Once we know the URL of the site that is generating the error, the following should sort out the problem:

 

Open IE Settings

Security Tab

Click on Trusted Sites

Click on the Sites button

Untick the requires https box

Add the offending URL

Click Close

Still on Trusted Sites, click on the Custom Level button

Scroll down to Miscellaneous

Locate Display Mixed Content and Enable it

Click OK, OK

 

If it solves the problem, you can do all this through a GPO across the network, but I'm not at work at the moment.

[chrbb]

Right got school laptop at home with notebook files still giving same error, so nothing to do with our Internet provider! Just going to uninstall latest windows updates to see if it makes a difference. This has only just started during last week - same for you?

 

Uninstalled latestIE updates no difference.

Edited July 5, 2010 by chrbb

[Andie]

Yep, just this week. I have had a reply back from SMART to say they are currently tracking the issue. They have sent me a workaround, which is actually what I put up above, except you allow mixed content for the whole of the internet (not just the trusted sites zone)!! I'd already done this on one laptop as a workaround anyway, so i know it works, but it is very risky allowing mixed content for the internet zone as opposed to the trusted sites. I've sent them the link to this thread.

[leco]

Had the same issue with a laptop reported to me this morning. I've given an instruction to click the 'Don't allow this content' button. We get it sometimes on our VLE but that is usually to do with images that have not been uploaded properly. I'm not happy about allowing the whole internet either. Will wait and watch for developments.

[chrbb]

I've updated to the latest version of smartboard notebook etc and so far it's been ok.

[leco]

I've updated to the latest version of smartboard notebook etc and so far it's been ok.

Mmm might try doing that then - what flavour of version 10 is your new notebook now?

[chrbb]

Latest one - 10.0.94.0 used the admin install which was an emotional journey in itself!

 

There's a thread about it http://www.edugeek.net/forums/educational-software/54683-smartboard-smart-notebook-drivers-v10-6-106-1-a.html

[leco]

Thanks will take a look at that as I've just realised that I'll have to reinstall Smart Notebook (and drivers for the board) onto the new staff laptops this summer. Oh joy - not.

[Andie]

Latest one - 10.0.94.0 used the admin install which was an emotional journey in itself!

 

There's a thread about it http://www.edugeek.net/forums/educational-software/54683-smartboard-smart-notebook-drivers-v10-6-106-1-a.html

 

The affected laptop here was running install version 10.0.124.0 and software version 10.0.123.0. From the numbers I would guess that was later than 10.0.94.0 - but then who am I to think that bigger numbers are newer..?? Anyway, thanks for the link and I will mentally prepare myself for the fun of installing new SMART software.

 

EDIT: Ah, my mistake. Should have looked at the link first. Your version is newer, and is 10.6.94.0 .

Edited July 7, 2010 by Andie

[KermEd]

Once we know the URL of the site that is generating the error, the following should sort out the problem:

 

Hey Andie,

 

I no longer have that version installed but these are the URL I have off hand:

 

https://learningmarketplace.smarttech.com/notebook.aspx

 

This page has been phased out in favour of exchange.smarttech.com anyway. But this is the tab that loads the online gallery with SMART Notebook.

 

If you need the other ones:

 

Application: Welcome Center

Description: Teachers HUB Connection

Welcome Center

 

Application: Notebook

Description: Gallery Tab's Online Essentials and Learning Marketplace

Notebook

https://learningmarketplace.smarttech.com/notebook.aspx

 

Application: Internet Explorer

Description: SMART Notebook's Online Help Center

http://onlinehelp.smarttech.com/english/windows/help/notebook/10_0_0/

 

Application: Notebook

Description: SMART Notebook™'s online gallery (Learning Marketplace)

Lesson plans and resources for your SMART Board - SMART Exchange which redirects to:

http://exchange-prod.smarttech.com/

 

Application: SMART Product Updater & Gallery Setup

Description: Connects to the SMART Network to check for updates

https://webservices.smarttech.com/products/updates

 

Application: Activation Wizard

Description: Activating SMART Notebook Software

https://webservices.smarttech.com/products/Activation_advanced.asmx

[KermEd]

Hey Everyone,

 

I just wanted to let you know we think we have found a solution by modifying one of the files on our server. Depending on how the results pan out we should have a resolution in place for everyone in the next while,

 

Cheers.

 

-ls.

[chrbb]

My new version is 10.6.94.0 - the journey was so emotional I lost the power to read and write!

[KermEd]

My new version is 10.6.94.0 - the journey was so emotional I lost the power to read and write!

 

Lol - hmm well gibberish can still be a very effective form of communication and shouldn't be underestimated!

 

I'm happy a colleague sent me the URL to this thread today it helped us figure out what the problem was. We had a heck of a time replicating this problem until today.

[Andie]

My new version is 10.6.94.0 - the journey was so emotional I lost the power to read and write!

 

:D:D

 

Says a lot for SMART installs, doesn't it??

 

Anyway, SMART tech support got back to me to tell me to install the latest version (maybe they were reading this thread!). Interestingly, despite the fact that I told them that I was running version 10.0.123.0, the instructions they sent me involve uninstalling the old version:

 

"To upgrade your software:

 

1. Uninstall any previous versions by clicking on:

 

Start > Control Panel > Add / Remove Programs

 

Browse through the list and remove any previous version including:

 

- Notebook Software 10

 

- SMART Board Software

 

- SMART Board Drivers

 

- Senteo

 

- SMART Response

 

Note: You may be prompted to reboot your system after uninstalling the software.

 

2. Follow the link below to download and install the latest version of Notebook 10 and the SMART Board Drivers from our website.

 

 

http://smarttech.com/us/Support/Browse+Support/Download+Software"

 

As I only have 8 staff laptops to deal with (although access to them is a pain and involves my lunch hour being used up!), I may go down the standalone install route and manually turn off auto updates.

[KermEd]

:D:D

 

Interestingly, despite the fact that I told them that I was running version 10.0.123.0.

 

 

That package is extremely old and built on the beta release for SMART Notebook 10 - to be honest you should have upgraded a long time ago. If you remember 10.0.123.0 was released only months after the beta release. The upgrade will remedy the issue. But the problem is not with the installer in this particular case its with the change made to the Learning Marketplace.

 

In the SMART Notebook 10 initial release we had the Learning Marketplace where clients could purchase content. After a while we decided to change the Learning Marketplace to free content (around service pack 3). The older software packages (such as you had) go to the old Learning Marketplace URL and are re-directed to the new free URL- the newer URL's connect to the new URL. So the older software platforms are getting re-directed.

 

We had difficulty replicating this problem on our test machines until we did a clean install of Windows and upgraded IE. This led us to finding the change on the server we could make to resolve the issue without upgrading clients (although IMO its extremely recommended - 10.0.123.0 is not a stable package on its own).

 

I would recommend connecting to SMART chat-support, email support or by phone if you have issues in the future as technical support is free and it can help you get on track faster. Specifically - if you call in for technical support they can look at the problems first-hand and provide a much quicker solution. Issues with releases as old as 10.0.123.0 will be more difficult to resolve as that software package is over a year old which restricts the number of technicians who can provide accurate support. Supports first line of defense is to make sure you are up-to-date as the newer the version - the more recent its been tested.

 

Cheers,

 

-ls

 

Edit: On a plus note - I'm happy its up and running for you now. If you are doing a removal on the systems and need MSIEXEC /x scripts to uninstall 10.0.123.0 (for faster removal) or MSIEXEC /i installation examples don't hesitate to shout. Additionally you can use the SMART Install Manager to create a customized MST (transform). This means --- you do not have to specify all of the options via Command Line commands but through an easier to navigate GUI. The only detail to remember - is that the SMART Product Drivers 10.6 require Visual C++ Run-time 2008 - which is included as a subpackage. It must be installed prior to executing SMART Product Drivers or a side-by-side configuration error will occur because the systems run-time will be out of date.

 

For 8 installs - that might be a bit much. I do use MSIEXEC scripts on one of our smaller labs (~10 machines) to quickly remove and update the software. But its because I need to re-install the software every few weeks to reverse all changes made during testing.

Edited July 8, 2010 by KermEd

[chrbb]

I've installed my updates using the method on the other thread mentioned earlier, worked OK. Will probably visit each laptop to set it going as it's also a chance to inspect said laptops!

[KermEd]

I've installed my updates using the method on the other thread mentioned earlier, worked OK. Will probably visit each laptop to set it going as it's also a chance to inspect said laptops!

 

Awesome,

 

Well - If you hit any more bumps with it, just post in here and I can help you get it figured out

 

Cheers!

[Andie]

KermEd, thanks for the input. There have been quite a few threads on Edugeek in the past about SMARTboard installs, and some of the problems we have had. As a representative of SMART technologies, maybe you would be interested in setting up a link from the Direct Support tab above. If you scroll down the Direct Support page, there is a Contact Us link that will email the Edugeek admin. I appreciate you already have online chat available on your support website, but a lot of us use this forum as our first port of call, and it would save going separately to another site for support.

 

And I will upgrade. I upgrade as little as possible with SMARTboard laptops as they are difficult to get access to, the install takes a long time, and there are numerous postings on here about the problems others have had with installs. And I'm only part time. Just so you know. Glad sending the link to this thread helped you work through the issue.

[KermEd]

Hey Andie,

 

I totally understand. I've put through a request for both myself and another colleague - we will see how it works out. Unfortunately out of the two of us - he's more likely to be able to dedicate time as my work fluctuates constantly.

 

Thanks for the suggestion (new to edugeek).

[chrbb]

Yes I'll second Andie's comments, KermEd thanks for the input, would be very useful if you could keep your eye open for smartboard problem posts it does save us a lot of time just having support in one place. We'll try to keep them good tempered - although sometimes we have such a hard time with some educational software you'll have to excuse us if we occassionally sound a bit rattled!

 

I have to say though that using the script from the smartboard thread mentioned previously, the whole thing took about 10 minutes on an old laptop using a wireless connection to the files on the server, so quite pleased with that!

[KermEd]

Thank you - I don't mind.

 

Believe me I have my own disadvantages with my temperament when I'm annoyed / frustrated and I never hold that against anyone. And everyone so far seems to be happy (or maybe slightly annoyed) but certainly not hostile. Which makes sense because when things aren't working it is definitely annoying - especially when you guys have multiple systems (and ultimately multiple users) to deal with each time.

 

I'm glad the updates have worked well for everyone and I have brought one of our other senior tech's into edugeek with me. This way we aren't relying entirely on one individual as well and we can hopefully provide some faster feedback when these things pop up for you guys. I'm a firm believer in transparency, if I can't fix it at least I can do my best to help or explain it.