Computer Configuration Instructions for GALILEO Users
Operating Systems | Browsers | Plug-ins | Security Software, Proxy, Caching, and Filtering devices
To achieve optimum performance within the GALILEO environment, the following computer and software configurations are recommended.
Operating Systems
The following computer operating systems are supported by GALILEO:
Windows
- Vista
- XP
- 95,98,2000
Macintosh
- Mac OSX
- Mac Classic OS
Browsers
In general, GALILEO users should configure their browsers to accept first- and third-party cookies, avoid restrictively high browser security settings during GALILEO sessions, disable pop-up blockers, and configure their browsers to check for new versions of cached pages regularly. The configuration instructions below provide more details on configuring GALILEO-compatible browsers for optimal performance.
GALILEO-Compatible Browsers
To achieve optimal performance within the GALILEO environment, please use one of the following supported browsers:
| Microsoft Internet Explorer 5.5 or above | download | configuration instructions |
| Firefox 1.0 or above | download | configuration instructions |
| Netscape 7.0 or above | download | configuration instructions |
| Apple Safari 1.0 or above (Mac OS X) | download | configuration instructions |
Browser Configuration Instructions
Internet Explorer 7.0
To enable first- and third-party cookies:
- From the "Tools" menu, select "Internet Options."
- In the Internet Options dialog box, choose the "Privacy" tab.
- From the Privacy tab, drag the slider for the Privacy Settings to "Low."
- Click "OK"
- Restart Internet Explorer.
To delete cookies:
- From the "Tools" menu, select "Internet Options."
- In the Internet Options dialog box, choose the "General" tab.
- In the "Browsing History" section, click "Delete."
- In the "Cookies" section, click "Delete cookies."
- Select "Yes."
- Select "Close."
- Select "OK."
- Restart Internet Explorer.
To configure security settings:
- From the "Tools" menu, select "Internet Options."
- In the Internet Options dialog box, choose the "Security" tab.
- Click "Default Level" and then drag the slider to "Medium."
- Click "OK."
- Restart Internet Explorer.
To configure cache settings:
- From the "Tools" menu, select "Internet Options."
- In the Internet Options dialog box, choose the "General" tab.
- Within the "Browsing History" area of the window, Click on "Settings."
- Click "Automatically."
- Click "OK."
- Click "OK."
- Restart Internet Explorer.
To delete browser cache:
- From the "Tools" menu, select "Internet Options."
- In the Internet Options dialog box, choose the "General" tab.
- In the "Browsing History" section, click "Delete."
- In the "Temporary Internet Files" section, click "Delete files."
- Select "Yes."
- Select "Close."
- Select "OK."
- Restart Internet Explorer.
To disable pop-up blocker:
- Select "Tools" > "Pop-up Blocker" > "Turn off Pop-up Blocker."
- To re-enable the pop-up blocker after completing a GALILEO session, select Tools > Pop-up Blocker > Turn On Pop-up Blocker.
These pop-up blocker instructions are applicable only to IE 6 and 7 users who have downloaded Windows XP Service Pack 2. IE users with other types of pop-up blockers, such as those provided by Internet service providers or in the Google and Yahoo toolbars, should consult the instructions provided with their specific pop-up blockers.
Internet Explorer 6.0
To enable first- and third-party cookies:
- From the toolbar, select Tools > Internet Options.
- In the Internet Options dialog box, choose the "Privacy" tab.
- From the Privacy tab, drag the slider for the Privacy Settings to "Low."
- Click "OK"
- Restart Internet Explorer.
To delete cookies:
- From the toolbar, select Tools > Internet Options.
- In the Internet Options dialog box, choose the “General” tab.
- In the “Temporary Internet Files” section, click “Delete Cookies.”
- Click “OK,” and then Click “OK” again.
- Restart Internet Explorer.
To configure security settings:
- From the toolbar, select Tools > Internet Options.
- In the Internet Options dialog box, choose the "Security" tab.
- Click “Default Level” and then drag the slider to “Medium.”
- Click “OK.”
- Restart Internet Explorer.
To configure cache settings:
- From the toolbar, select Tools > Internet Options.
- In the Internet Options dialog box, choose the "General" tab.
- Within the “Temporary Internet Files” area of the window, Click on “Settings.”
- Click “Automatically.”
- Click “OK.”
- Click “OK.”
- Restart Internet Explorer.
To delete browser cache:
- From the toolbar, select Tools > Internet Options.
- In the Internet Options dialog box, choose the “General” tab.
- In the “Temporary Internet Files” section, click “Delete Files.”
- Click “OK,” and then Click “OK” again.
- Restart Internet Explorer.
To disable pop-up blocker:
- From the toolbar, select Tools > Pop-up Blocker > Turn Off Pop-up Blocker.
- To re-enable the pop-up blocker after completing a GALILEO session, select Tools > Pop-up Blocker > Turn On Pop-up Blocker.
These pop-up blocker instructions are applicable only to IE 6 users who have downloaded Windows XP Service Pack 2. IE users with other types of pop-up blockers, such as those provided by Internet service providers or in the Google and Yahoo toolbars, should consult the instructions provided with their specific pop-up blockers.
Internet Explorer 5.5
To enable first- and third-party cookies:
- From the toolbar, select Tools > Internet Options.
- In the Internet Options dialog box, choose the "Security" tab.
- Click "Default Level" and then drag the slider to "Medium."
- Click "OK."
- Restart Internet Explorer.
To delete cookies:
- From the toolbar, select Tools > Internet Options.
- In the Internet Options dialog box, choose the General tab.
- In the Temporary Internet Files section, click Delete Files
- Click OK when prompted with the questions of whether you wish to delete all temporary Internet files.
- In the Temporary Internet Files section, click on Settings.
- Click View Files. This will open a window that displays all the cookies on your PC.
- On your keyboard, hit CTRL-A to select all files.
- On your keyboard, hit the Delete key. This will remove all the cookies on your PC.
- Restart Internet Explorer.
To configure security settings:
- From the toolbar, select Tools > Internet Options.
- In the Internet Options dialog box, choose the "Security" tab.
- Click "Default Level" and then drag the slider to "Medium."
- Click "OK."
- Restart Internet Explorer.
To configure cache settings:
- From the toolbar, select Tools > Internet Options.
- In the Internet Options dialog box, choose the "General" tab.
- Within the “Temporary Internet Files” area of the window, Click on “Settings.”
- Click “Automatically.”
- Click “OK.”
- Click “OK.”
- Restart Internet Explorer.
To disable pop-up blocker:
- IE 5.5 does not have its own pop-up blocking feature. IE 5.5 users with other types of pop-up blockers, such as those provided by Internet service providers or in the Google and Yahoo toolbars, should consult the instructions provided with their specific pop-up blockers.
Firefox 1.0 and above
To enable first- and third-party cookies:
- From the toolbar, select Tools > Options.
- In the Options dialog box, choose the “Privacy” tab.
- In the “Privacy” tab, choose the “Cookies” tab.
- Select the box next to “Allow sites to set cookies.”
- Click “OK.”
- Restart Firefox.
To delete cookies:
- From the toolbar, select Tools > Options.
- In the Options dialog box, choose the “Privacy” tab.
- In the “Privacy” tab, choose the “Cookies” tab.
- Click on the “Clear Cookies Now” button.
- Click “OK.”
- Restart Firefox.
To configure security settings:
- There is no need to adjust any security settings, other than cookies, in Firefox 1.0 or above.
To configure cache settings:
- There is no need to adjust any cache settings within Firefox 1.0 or above.
To delete browser cache:
- From the toolbar, select Tools > Options.
- In the Options dialog box, choose the “Privacy” tab.
- In the “Privacy” tab, choose the “Cache” tab.
- Click on the “Clear Cache Now” button.
- Click “OK.”
- Restart Firefox.
To disable pop-up blocker:
- From the toolbar, select Tools > Options.
- In the Options dialog box, choose the “Content” tab.
- Uncheck the box next to “Block Popup Windows.”
- Click “OK.”
- Restart Firefox.
Netscape 7.x
To enable first- and third-party cookies:
- From the toolbar, select Edit>Preferences>Privacy and Security>Cookies.
- In the Cookies area of the window, select either "Enable cookies based on privacy settings.”
- Click “View” button.
- Click “Medium” button.
- Click “OK.”
- Restart Netscape.
To delete cookies:
- From the toolbar, select Tools > Cookie Manager.
- Select "Manage Stored Cookies."
- Select "Remove All Cookies."
- Select "Close."
- Restart Netscape.
To configure security settings:
- There is no need to adjust any security settings, other than cookies, in Netscape 7.x.
To configure cache settings:
- From the toolbar, select Edit>Preferences>Advanced>Cache.
- Click “Every time I view the page” button.
- Click “OK.”
- Restart Netscape.
To disable pop-up blocker:
- From the toolbar, select Edit > Preferences > Privacy & Security > Popup Windows.
- Uncheck “Block unrequested popup windows.”
- To re-enable the pop-up blocker after completing a GALILEO session, re-check “Block unrequested popup windows.”
Apple Safari 1.0 or above (Mac OS X):
To enable first- and third-party cookies:
- From the toolbar, select Safari > Preferences
- Select the Security Tab.
- Click on “Always” to accept and remember all cookies.
- Click “Done.”
- Restart Apple Safari.
To delete cookies:
- From the toolbar, select Safari > Preferences
- Select the Security Tab.
- Click “Show Cookies” button.
- To delete individual cookies, select individual cookie entries within the listing of cookies then click on the “Remove” button.
- To delete all cookies, select the “Remove All” button.
- Select “Done.”
- Restart Apple Safari.
To configure security settings:
- There is no need to adjust any security settings, other than cookies, in Safari 1.0 or above.
To configure cache settings:
- There is no need to adjust any cache settings within Safari 1.0 or above.
To delete cache:
- From the toolbar, select Safari > Empty Cache
- You will be asked if you, “Are sure you want to empty the cache?”
- Click “Empty.”
- Restart Apple Safari.
To disable pop-up blocker:
- From the toolbar, select Safari > Block Pop-up windows
- A check mark by the Block Pop-up windows label indicates that pop-up blocking is enabled. Click on the label to turn off pop-up blocking.
- Restart Apple Safari.
Recommended Software Plug-ins
GALILEO includes many databases that feature different types of multimedia and document file types. In order to view full text PDF articles and see and hear a variety of audio, video, and image files, a number of software plug-ins are recommended. If these plug-ins are not already installed on your computer, use the links provided to download them.
- Adobe Acrobat Reader
- Microsoft Media Player
- Apple QuickTime
- Real Player
- Macromedia Flash Player
- Macromedia Shockwave Player
- DjVu Browser Plug-in *
- ExpressView Browser Plug-in (MrSID) *
* Internet Explorer users may encounter problems with the DjVu and MrSID plug-ins if ActiveX is disabled in their browser settings. If you encounter problems with DjVu and MrSID images, follow these steps to enable ActiveX in Internet Explorer:
- From the toolbar, select Tools > Internet Options.
- In the Internet Options dialog box, choose the "Security" tab.
- Click the “Custom Level” button.
- Under the “ActiveX controls and plug-ins” heading in the Security Settings panel, enable the “Download signed ActiveX controls,” “Run ActiveX controls and plug-ins,” and “Script ActiveX controls marked safe for scripting” options.
- Click “OK” in the Security Settings panel, then click “OK” in the Internet Options panel.
Firewalls, Proxy Servers, Internet Security Software, and Filtering Devices
Settings within network or personal firewalls, proxy servers, Internet security software, and Internet filtering software may need to be modified in order to utilize all of the features within GALILEO and GALILEO resources. For information about the use of filtering software with GALILEO see Guidelines for the Use of Filtering Software with GALILEO.
Configuration Instructions
Please add GALILEO and GALILEO vendor domains to your firewalls, proxy servers, Internet security software, and Internet filtering software exception lists to allow seamless access to all GALILEO resources. See the GALILEO Exceptions List for Proxy Servers and Filtering/Security Software for a current list.
Vendor- or Software-Specific Modifications
Encyclopaedia Britannica resources:
- To view the videos and multimedia available on Encyclopædia Britannica Online School Edition, the following network ports must be opened: 80, 1755, 554, and 7070.
Norton Internet Security or Norton Personal Firewall
- Please create a rule allowing referrer information from GALILEO to be passed along to GALILEO vendor’s web pages. Instructions are available at the Symantec website.
