Support: System Requirements
If you encounter any difficulty, please check the following:
- Basic system requirements
- Screen resolution
- Internet connection
- Flash player
- Shockwave player (MasteringBiology only)
- QuickTime player (MasteringBiology, MasteringChemistry only)
- Pop-up blockers
- Cookie filters
- Javascript
- Instructors only: Authoring Tool system requirements
About updating your computer to meet requirements: You may need administrative access to be able to install applications or make other changes to your computer. If the computer you are using is not your own personal property, you may need to contact your organization's IT department to make such updates.
Basic system requirements
Windows 2000, XP, Vista:
Supported browsers:
Firefox 1.5, 2.0, 3.0
Internet Explorer 6.0, 7.0
MacOS 10.2, 10.3, 10.4, 10.5
Supported browsers:
Firefox 1.5, 2.0, 3.0
Safari 2.0, 3.0
Red Hat Linux, 8 and 9
Supported browsers:
Firefox 1.5, 2.0, 3.0
Screen Resolution
Minimum screen resolution: 1024 pixels wide by 768 pixels high
To check and adjust screen resolution:
- MacOS users: Go to the Monitors Control Panel.
- Windows users: Start > Control Panel > Display > Settings > Screen Resolution
Internet Connection
56kbps modem minimum. Broadband cable, high-speed DSL, or other equivalent is recommended for multimedia content. (Multimedia content may be used in assignments or may be available in a self-study area.)
Flash Player
ALL Mastering products require that you have the Flash Player (version 9.0 or higher) installed.
MasteringBiology users: You also need the Shockwave Player.
You can install the Flash and/or Shockwave players from the same location.
- To test whether the needed player is installed on your computer, go to: http://www.adobe.com/shockwave/welcome/.
- To download: Go to http://www.adobe.com/downloads/ or click a link from the test page. Then, test again to make sure the player has been installed.
QuickTime Player (applies only to MasteringBiology and MasteringChemistry users)
Download the latest QuickTime free player from: http://www.apple.com/quicktime/download/. (Note: The QuickTime Pro upgrade is not required.)
Pop-up windows must be allowed for the site.
To allow pop-up windows in Firefox:
- Click Tools > Options > Content.
- Check to see whether Block Popup Windows is on.
- Click Allowed Sites to the right of Block Popup Windows and add the following URL, as it applies to your site: session.masteringphysics.com, session.masteringchemistry.com, session.masteringastronomy.com, etc.
- Click Allow, then Close, then OK.
To allow pop-up windows in Internet Explorer:
- Click Tools > Pop-up Blocker.
- Click Pop-up Blocker Settings.
- Type the appropriate site URL in the Address of Web site to allow box, as it applies to your site:
session.masteringphysics.com, session.masteringchemistry.com, session.masteringastronomy.com, etc. - Click Add.
To allow pop-up windows in other browsers: Check your browser Help.
You may have other pop-up blockers enabled:
For example, pop-up blockers may be active through the Yahoo Toolbar or Google Toolbar. If so, you must either disable these (may not be preferable) or set these to allow pop-ups from: session.masteringphysics.com, session.masteringchemistry.com, session.masteringastronomy.com, etc.
Cookie Filters
If you filter cookies, you must allow session cookies to be set for your Mastering product.
Click here to learn how.
Javascript must be enabled.
Click here for instructions on enabling Javascript for various browsers.
Authoring Tool system requirements (instructors only)
The Authoring Tool is available to instructors who want to either customize existing assignable items or to add new ones of their own. Requirements for this tool are tighter than for Mastering as a whole.
- Windows users: Windows NT, 2000, or XP
- MacOS or Linux users: You need a Windows emulator. Recommended emulator(s).
- Browser: Regardless of your operating system, you MUST use Internet Explorer (Version 6.0 or greater).
- Internet connection: Broadband is required. (Dial-up is inadequate.)
