Andie

Mmmm... Still not working properly. There are three .exe file in the Netsafe folder, but the administrator Startup folder just has "Hector Protector.exe" in it, so i copied that to the Startup folder for pupils. I went to the Netsafe folder in Program Files on the C: drive and checked permissions. This was already set to read, but running as a pupil user showed that this still wasn't working, beyond the icon in the IE toolbar. So I bumped up permissions to modify for users, and this has changed things a bit. Now, when I log on as a pupil, the Hector icon appears in the System Tray too, but there is no swimming dolphin when I start IE. And when I move the mouse to the System Tray, the Hector icon disappears and doesn't come back again.

Here here! Added to that, not all children have English as first language, which also leads to interesting spellings and even more interesting results!

Should have thought of that first!!! Used to have to change permissions all the time with Classlink network, but haven't had problems with that for ages - obviuosly getting rusty! Thanks.

I am having the old problem with logging out again. XP machine, running IE6. Click on log out, click on OK, then next page is taking ages to load. If I close the browser because i can't wait any longer, then I am still logged in next session. Sorry!

OK, sorry, the link I posted just gets you back to the same download page and you'll get the same problem. I just hate the adobe website for navigating! Anyway, try this instead. Go to this page: http://kb.adobe.com/selfservice/viewContent.do?externalId=kb403264&sliceId=1 Scroll down to just below half way where (in bold type) it says: "If the ActiveX Control for Shockwave Player fails to install, download the executable installer". This is below the video demo of how to change IE controls to allow Active X to run. Click on the Download blue link just below the bold type, and when the Windows dialog box opens, choose to Save. Save this file in an appropriate folder. It downloads quickly. Close all windows and scan the download for viruses (I'm always very careful!!). Then double click to install. I think this should kick start the shockwave player install. If not, post back! And I'll try and find the correct link again!!!! There is also a link here for testing your shockwave and flash player installations. If you click the link, a page will appear and will tell you if the programs are installed and you can also use this page to check what versions are currently installed. http://www.adobe.com/shockwave/welcome/

I've downloaded the Hector Safety Button, and installed it on one computer on the network. Works fine as admin, but, when logged in as a pupil, the swimming dolphin isn't on the address bar and the Hector button isn't in the system tray. All I have is the Hector button on the Internet Explorer toolbar. This does work in that the screensaver appears fine, but I can't right click it to get the options such as Stop, Help and About. This is on XP, and we use mandatory profiles for pupils and staff. Wondering if the system tray is locked down in some way and that is prventing it from running?? Any ideas?

I think you are better off with the two domains separate. You will have a headache sorting it all out yourself, and think of the security problems that will occur if teachers have access to the domain with all your admin data on!!! I don't think it is necessary for extracting the user details for the learning platform either. We have the same split networks here, with myself managing the curriculum side and the LEA dealing with admin and broadband issues. Our LEA purchased Kaleidos for all primary schools. They initally told us that we must amalgamate the curriculum and admin domains, but I was very reluctant. Turns out that all you need is for the software that extracts all the user details from the admin software to be loaded on your admin network server. The details are extracted and then sent off across the Internet to the company that hosts the learning platform. That's all that is needed. Our teachers can log in to the platform and get all the info about attendance for their pupils, etc. that they need and we still have split networks.

Thanks for the kind offer. I'll have a go with the switches I have first at breaktime, but will PM you if that doesn't work!

No reply yet from Collins. Anyone on here able to help?

OK, really basic question here, but I've never done this before and I want to do it right! I need to share one network wall (wired) point between two computers, after one of our existing network points went down (can't get it fixed, as classroom computers/networking is all under review). I have some switches around that we own but that are no longer needed elsewhere: Netgear FS108 and 3Com OfficeConnect Switch8. Can I use one of these to connect the two computers to the one wall point, and if so which would be best? And do I just plug them in and go, or do I need to do any configuring?

I have now begun to work through installing Collins Primary Literacy on the network, as we now have the licence. I have put all four titles (years 3 to 6) on the server, following the instructions for network install. However, the shortcut that is created in the install folder doesn't work on the clients (Page cannot be displayed/Cannot find server). I installed directly to the server, rather than remotely, as doing it remotely created an IP address based on the client IP and not on the server IP. It automatically allocated me a different port to the default, so the URL consists of http://ipaddress:port number etc. I have the IP address in Exceptions in LAN settings in Internet Options. I can't seem to add the port though, as Windows Firewall isn't enabled on the XP clients - these were set up by IP provider and not sure if we have another firewall??? On the server, when I try to start Windows Firewall, it comes up with a message about not being able to start it because a service isn't started??? Putting the IP address into Trusted sites in IE 6 hasn't worked either. Any ideas??

Did you get anywhere with this? Only today, two teachers suddenly can't write with their pens on their SMARTboards? They can drag and click by touching the boards, but the pens don't work. And the green light on the edge of each board is flashing rather than fixed. Seems a bit of a coincidence that two boards should have the same fault on the same day. Our boards are used a lot, and relatively problem free usually. I have just emailed our support company (phone engaged).

If you mean Adobe Shockwave, and the problem occurs when you are trying to do the download and install direct from the adobe website, you could try and download the standalone shockwave installer instead and then install it offline. The installers for both Shockwave and Flash Player can be found at: Adobe - Web Players Edit: Sorry, this is not the link to the standalone installers but to the ordinary installers that run across the Internet. See further posting for better link! Not sure if this will help with the "not verified" error though.

"Becta recognises that conflicts exist in existing policy, practice, technology and budgets." From Becta: "Good practice in information handling in schools: Keeping data secure, safe and legal", September 2008 Too right they do! We are short of man hours and money to be able to implement this properly, and when we try there are staff who simply don't get the fact that they must keep the information on "their" laptops and USB pen drives secure. Another headache for the start of term! But thanks anyway for bringing all this to our attention and for trying to help us make sense of it all.

Our LEA purchased our VLP/VLE and we are being encouraged to implement it's use, on the basis that the governement requires it. Head here is very aware of the pitfalls as well as the benefits, which helps immensely. Our planning has taken a gradual rollout approach, starting with teachers using the platform and getting used to it, rather than pupils being launched onto it. But we will struggle with the fact that we still have members of staff who are reluctant IT users, and I have to say that the platform that the LEA has chosen has me tearing my hair out most of the time.

Do you have any idea who now owns the copyright and licence-giving rights? We need to extend the number of licences we have.

As we are going to be migrated to LP v2 in september, I guess we are on version 1. What version are you using? I am further annoyed at the moment with the fact that there seems to be no proper compatibility between the versions of Kaleidos. I thought one of the big reasons behind LEA having a whole Learning Platform approach was so that all schools could share information. But RM can't migrate everyone to the new version at the same time (understandably). Because you can't access the new version sites from the old version sites you are cut off from sites that are migrated before you. The main LEA site was migrated weeks ago, and has a support section on it for Kaleidos within the LEA, but our school isn't being migrated until mid-September, so we are cut off from any updates that appear on the LEA site until then. I know that forwards compatibility isn't easy with such a large beast as a LP. But doesn't this make a mockery of the whole information sharing thing? Anyone know if other platforms have this kind of problem when being updated to new versions?

Mmmm... Both websites I have found so far with court records on want to charge me for a search.

How about how to save docs in a format that can be read by older versions of Office? For when they want to send something to other schools, etc.

So, what if you need to purchase additional licences to run on more machines or to upgrade to a site licence, but the company has gone bust? Anyone know how to set about tracing the owner of copyright???

I'm just wondering the same thing. I assume because no one got back to you that they have gone under...???

I was told we had space on our for 5 years of update. Different LEA, but have you checked if someone is using the cachepilot for other material? When we first got given ours, the LEA were pushing for us to also use it for webcacheing and loading some CDs onto it; but then we found out about needing the space for Espresso updates. And why are you having to buy another cachepilot, at £1500, when Espresso are offering us a Linux server for £150 + £250 maintenance and warranty??

I have now been told that elcs were treated as capital funding, and therefore we can use the new fund to purchase the subscriptions we used elcs for. But not sure how correct that is, or whether it applies to every LA...

Thanks. At least I know that I'm probably not going mad!

I've been sent a link to the FAQs on the new Harnessing Technology Grant on the Becta website. It may give us a bit of a problem, as it looks from this that we can no longer fund our Espresso subscription and website hosting subscription from this, which was previously possible from eLcs. Also, interestingly, we should have had our first quarter of funding from this from the LEA in May!!! Not aware we've got it yet. Here's the link: Becta Local authorities - Funding - Harnessing Technology Grant - Frequently asked questions about the Harnessing Technology Grant Anyone out there had any guidance from their LEA on what they can use this for specifically, or, more helpfully possibly, what isn't included?