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Knowledge Base
Technology Requirements
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General Questions

Student Services

Corporate Registrations

Course Access Problems

Technical Help

ACE CREDIT

CourseNotes


Are eCornell courses the same as Cornell University in-class courses?

Yes. eCornell has taken Cornell's certificate course curricula and brought them online. The online courses are even developed by the same renowned faculty, all with in-depth, real-world expertise.

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Who are the course authors?

Cornell's faculty develops the content. They are leaders in their fields and recognized internationally for their work.

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How can I be a successful eCornell student? (This may not apply to some corporate contract students)

Please visit out New Student Orientation Page
(http://www.ecornell.com/about/orientation/info.html)

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How do I register for a course?

Please note: If you are a student participating in your company's partner program with eCornell, please contact clientservices@ecornell.com for information regarding your registration procedures. Your registration process will be different than those listed below.

Begin by browsing our course catalog. When you find the courses that you're interested in, click the "Add to Shopping Cart" button, and you will be taken to the registration area of our web site.

The basic registration steps include:

  1. Select the courses for which you want to register.
  2. Creat a unique eCornell Username and Password (one time only).
  3. Provide the required contact information.
  4. Entering your credit card information for payment.
  5. Follow the appropriate verification steps.

Should you have any additional questions, please contact an Enrollment Counselor at enroll@ecornell.com. You may also contact us at our toll free number 1-866-eCornell during regular business hours.

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How can I change my course start date?

To change your scheduled course start date, contact our enrollment counselors by the end of the business day prior to the start of the course at enroll@ecornell.com.

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What is your cancellation policy?

You may transfer to a later start date of your course by contacting eCornell by the end of the business day prior to the start of your course. Requests to cancel out of your course must be received by 5pm Eastern Time (US) the business day prior to the course start date. Cancellations are not accepted after a course has started. All transfer or cancellation requests must be made in writing or by email to helpdesk@ecornell.com.

For LSM509 - Unlocking Your Leadership Potential:
You may transfer to a later start date of your course by contacting eCornell 21 days prior to the start of your course. Requests to transfer or cancel out of your course received within 21 days of the course start period but before 5pm Eastern Time (US) the business day prior to the course start date will be eligible for a partial refund. Cancellations are not accepted after a course has started. All transfer or cancellation requests must be made in writing or by email to helpdesk@ecornell.com.

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I have enrolled in a course. When will I receive information about how to get started?

You will receive an email from your instructor 1-3 days before the course is scheduled to start. It will contain all the information you will need to start your course. There are no required pre-course activities.

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Do I have to take the courses in a particular order?

There are no prerequisites for eCornell courses, and most can be taken in any order you would like. Some courses do need to be taken in a particular sequence for the learning experience to be of greatest value. When this is the case, that information is clearly presented on the course information page in our catalog.

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Can I take more than one course at a time?

Due to the amount of course material and the time needed to complete assignments, eCornell recommends that you start with one course at a time. This will help you determine an appropriate course load for the future.

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What is the course schedule? When do I have to be online?

Our courses are designed with varying duration and the course catalog lists an approximate length for each course. Your time will be spent viewing case studies or topic briefings, working on assignments, and interacting with your instructor and fellow students. All materials are available 24/7, so you can spend as much time as you need, whenever it's convenient.

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Does eCornell offer credit courses and degree programs?

eCornell specializes in executive and continuing education programs for professionals. At present, we do not offer degree programs, and our individual courses do not qualify for academic credit at most institutions. We do offer a number of certificate programs in conjunction with Cornell's School of Industrial and Labor Relations and School of Hotel Administration. To view a complete list of eCornell courses and certificate programs, please see our course catalog.

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How do I receive CEU credit?

Cornell's School of Industrial and Labor Relations (ILR) will give 1.2 Continuing Education Units (CEUs) to each student who successfully completes one of our online two-course programs in the Human Resources or Management Essentials certificate series. Upon completing the second course in the program, students can apply to the School of Industrial and Labor Relations for the CEU units. Your letter of completion will provide the details.

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When will I get my certificate?

Once you have successfully completed the last required course in the certificate program and fulfilled your financial obligation, eCornell will mail your certificate within eight weeks. To inquire about the status of your certificate, please contact our Help Desk at helpdesk@ecornell.com.

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What courses qualify for HRCI recertification?

Most eCornell courses qualify for Human Resources recertification credit by the Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM), and many also qualify for Strategic Management or International HR Management recertification credits. Each course listing has complete details regarding eligibility towards HRCI recertification.

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How can I find out whether my company or organization offers eCornell courses?

Please contact clientservices@ecornell.com for more information about which organizations have made it easier for their employees to sign up for eCornell online courses.

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My company offers eCornell courses. How do I register through my company's corporate program?

Please contact clientservices@ecornell.com for the link (URL) to your company's corporate registration website, or for any information about the registration process.

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I registered for a course through my company. What should I do next?

Once you receive an approval email from your company's administrator, your registration is confirmed. Your course instructor will send you an email one or two days prior to the start of the course with more information on how to proceed. You will be able to begin accessing the course on the course start date. To see the key dates for your course, go to my.ecornell.com and log in with your username and password. (Your My eCornell username and password are sent to you in an email from helpdesk@ecornell.com.)

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Which courses are available to me through my company's program?

Once you access your company's corporate registration website, you will see a list of all the courses you can request. For more information, please contact clientservices@ecornell.com.

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I forgot my password. How can I log in?

You may retrieve your password via email by going to the Forgotten Password page and following the directions there. You will need to tell us your eCornell username in the specified field. We will send you an email with the username and password you selected when you signed up with My eCornell. Please note that usernames and passwords are case sensitive.

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What if I don't know my username?

If you do not know your username, please contact the eCornell Help Desk at 1-800-801-0287, or via email at helpdesk@ecornell.com. We will then email it to you.

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My username/password is not working. I get an Oops error message.

Usernames and passwords are case sensitive, so you may not substitute upper case for lower case. When entering your password, please check to see if your Caps Lock key is on. If you use a numeric pad for entering numbers, make sure that the Num Lock key on your keyboard is on. If you want to verify that you are using the correct password, please follow the directions for a forgotten password, listed above.

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My username and password are not being accepted. I get sent back to the home page.

Make sure that you do not access the secure login page through a Favorite or a Bookmark in your browser. Either go directly to my.ecornell.com by typing the address in the URL field or go to www.ecornell.com and click the My eCornell Student Login link. You should also check to make sure that you are not storing old password information and clear the passwords file in your browser options.

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How do I clear my password file?

Internet Explorer

  1. From the "Tools" menu, choose "Internet Options"
  2. Click the "Content" tab
  3. Under "Personal information" section, click "AutoComplete"
  4. Ensure "Forms" and "Prompt me to save passwords" are NOT checked
  5. Click "Clear Passwords"
  6. Click "OK"
  7. Exit and restart Internet Explorer

Firefox (PC)

  1. From the "Tools" menu, choose "Options"
  2. Click "Privacy"
  3. Click the "Passwords" sub-tab
  4. Click "View Saved Passwords" to view saved passwords
  5. Click "Remove All"
  6. Click "OK"
  7. Exit and restart Firefox

Firefox (Mac)

  1. From the "Firefox" menu, choose "Preferences"
  2. Click "Privacy"
  3. Click the "Passwords" tab
  4. Ensure "Remember Passwords" is NOT checked
  5. Close Firefox preferences
  6. Quit and restart Firefox

Netscape (PC)

  1. From the "Edit" menu, choose "Preferences"
  2. Under "Privacy & Security", choose "Passwords"
  3. Click "Manage Stored Passwords"
  4. Click "Remove All"
  5. Click "Close"
  6. Click "OK"
  7. Exit and restart Netscape

Netscape (Mac)

  1. From the "Netscape" menu, choose "Preferences"
  2. Under "Privacy & Security", choose "Passwords"
  3. Click "Manage Stored Passwords"
  4. Click "Remove All"
  5. Click "Close"
  6. Click "OK"
  7. Quit and restart Netscape

Safari

  1. From the "Safari" menu, choose "Preferences"
  2. Click the "AutoFill" tab
  3. Ensure "User names and passwords" is NOT checked
  4. Close Safari preferences
  5. Quit and restart Safari

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What are the technical requirements to take an eCornell course?

Please visit our Technology Requirements page.

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How can I check whether my computer has what it needs to take an eCornell course?

Please visit our Browser Check page.

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What Internet connection speed do I need?

We recommend that your Internet connection be at least 56Kbps.

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What is a firewall/proxy and how does it affect my access to the course?

A firewall is a system designed to protect private networks from unauthorized access. If you are on a LAN connection, you should check with your Systems Administrator to see if there are any restrictions that may prevent you from downloading and properly installing the required software.

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What are cookies?

A cookie is a text file stored on a computer by a web browser. Cookies enable a user to store information about a website or provide information to a website on subsequent visits. Login information, preferences, and shopping cart information are examples of data that can be stored in a cookie.

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How do I enable cookies in my browser?

Internet Explorer

  1. From the "Tools" menu, choose "Options"
  2. Click the "Privacy" tab
  3. Click "Advanced"
  4. Enable "Override automatic cookie handling"
  5. Under "First-party Cookies", choose "Accept"
  6. Under "Third-party Cookies", choose "Accept"
  7. Enable "Always allow session cookies"
  8. Click "OK"
  9. Click "OK"
  10. Exit and restart Internet Explorer

Firefox (PC)

  1. From the "Tools" menu, choose "Options"
  2. Click "Privacy"
  3. Click the "Cookies" sub-tab
  4. Enable "Allow sites to set Cookies"
  5. Click "OK"
  6. Exit and restart Firefox

Firefox (Mac)

  1. From the "Firefox" menu, choose "Preferences"
  2. Click "Privacy"
  3. Click the "Cookies" tab
  4. Enable "Allow sites to set Cookies"
  5. Close Firefox preferences
  6. Quit and restart Firefox

Netscape (PC)

  1. From the "Edit" menu, choose "Preferences"
  2. Under "Privacy & Security", choose "Cookies"
  3. Under "Cookie Acceptance Policy", select "Allow cookies for the originating web site only"
  4. Under "Cookie Lifetime Policy", select "Accept cookies normally"
  5. Click "Close"
  6. Click "OK"
  7. Exit and restart Netscape

Netscape (Mac)

  1. From the "Netscape" menu, choose "Preferences"
  2. Under "Privacy & Security", choose "Cookies"
  3. Under "Cookie Acceptance Policy", select "Allow cookies for the originating web site only"
  4. Under "Cookie Lifetime Policy", select "Accept cookies normally"
  5. Click "Close"
  6. Click "OK"
  7. Quit and restart Netscape

Safari

  1. From the "Safari" menu, choose "Preferences"
  2. Click the "Security" tab
  3. Under "Accept Cookies", ensure "Only from sites you navigate to" is selected
  4. Close Safari preferences
  5. Quit and restart Safari

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How do I clear cookies in my browser?

Internet Explorer

  1. From the "Tools" menu, choose "Internet Options"
  2. Click the "General" tab
  3. Under "Temporary Internet Files", click "Delete Cookies"
  4. Click "OK"
  5. Exit and restart Internet Explorer

Firefox (PC)

  1. From the "Tools" menu, choose "Options"
  2. Click "Privacy"
  3. Click the "Cookies" sub-tab
  4. Click "Clear Cookies Now"
  5. Click "OK"
  6. Exit and restart Firefox

Firefox (Mac)

  1. From the "Firefox" menu, choose "Preferences"
  2. Click "Privacy"
  3. Click the "Cookies" tab
  4. Click "Clear Cookies Now"
  5. Close Firefox preferences
  6. Quit and restart Firefox

Netscape (PC)

  1. From the "Edit" menu, choose "Preferences"
  2. Under "Privacy & Security", choose "Cookies"
  3. Click "Cookie Manager"
  4. Click "Remove All Cookies"
  5. Click "Close"
  6. Click "OK"
  7. Exit and restart Netscape

Netscape (Mac)

  1. From the "Netscape" menu, choose "Preferences"
  2. Under "Privacy & Security", choose "Cookies"
  3. Click "Cookie Manager"
  4. Click "Remove All Cookies"
  5. Click "Close"
  6. Click "OK"
  7. Quit and restart Netscape

Safari

  1. From the "Safari" menu, choose "Preferences"
  2. Click the "Security" tab
  3. Under "Accept Cookies", click "Show Cookies"
  4. Click "Remove All"
  5. Click "Done"
  6. Close Safari preferences
  7. Quit and restart Safari

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How do I enable JavaScript in my browser?

Almost every browser comes with JavaScript already enabled. If for some reason you have JavaScript disabled, please re-enable it by following these steps:

Internet Explorer

  1. From the "Tools" menu, choose "Internet Options"
  2. Click the "Security" tab
  3. Click "Custom Level"
  4. Under "Scripting", click to enable "Active Scripting"
  5. Click "OK"
  6. Click "OK"
  7. Exit and restart Internet Explorer

Firefox (PC)

  1. From the "Tools" menu, choose "Options"
  2. Click "Content"
  3. Ensure "Enable Java" and "Enable JavaScript" are enabled
  4. Click "OK"
  5. Exit and restart Firefox

Firefox (Mac)

  1. From the "Firefox" menu, choose "Preferences"
  2. Click "Content"
  3. Ensure "Enable Java" and "Enable JavaScript" are enabled
  4. Close Firefox preferences
  5. Quit and restart Firefox

Netscape (PC)

  1. From the "Edit" menu, choose "Preferences"
  2. Under "Advanced", choose "Scripts & Plug-ins"
  3. Under "Enable JavaScript for", ensure "Navigator" is enabled
  4. Click "Close"
  5. Click "OK"
  6. Exit and restart Netscape

Netscape (Mac)

  1. From the "Netscape" menu, choose "Preferences"
  2. Under "Advanced", choose "Scripts & Plug-ins"
  3. Under "Enable JavaScript for", ensure "Navigator" is enabled
  4. Click "Close"
  5. Click "OK"
  6. Quit and restart Netscape

Safari

  1. From the "Safari" menu, choose "Preferences"
  2. Click "Security"
  3. Ensure "Enable JavaScript" under "Web Content" is enabled
  4. Close Safari preferences
  5. Quit and restart Safari

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How do I clear my cache?

Your browser stores files from the web pages it visits on your local hard drive in a "cache" for easy access the next time you visit the site. Occasionally, it is useful to clear out these cached files to be sure that your browser isn't working from any outdated files. Follow these steps to clear your cache:

Internet Explorer

  1. From the "Tools" menu, choose "Internet Options"
  2. Click the "General" tab
  3. Click "Delete Files"
  4. Click "OK"
  5. Exit and restart Internet Explorer

Firefox (PC)

  1. From the "Tools" menu, choose "Options"
  2. Click "Privacy"
  3. Click the "Cache" sub-tab
  4. Click "Clear Cache Now"
  5. Click "OK"
  6. Exit and restart Firefox

Firefox (Mac)

  1. From the "Firefox" menu, choose "Preferences"
  2. Click "Privacy"
  3. Click the "Cache" sub-tab
  4. Click "Clear Cache Now"
  5. Close Firefox preferences
  6. Quit and restart Firefox

Netscape (PC)

  1. From the "Edit" menu, choose "Preferences"
  2. Under "Advanced", choose "Cache"
  3. Click "Clear Cache"
  4. Click "Close"
  5. Click "OK"
  6. Exit and restart Netscape

Netscape (Mac)

  1. From the "Netscape" menu, choose "Preferences"
  2. Under "Advanced", choose "Cache"
  3. Click "Clear Cache"
  4. Click "Close"
  5. Click "OK"
  6. Quit and restart Netscape

Safari

  1. From the "Safari" menu, choose "Empty Cache"
  2. Quit and restart Safari

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How do I reset my monitor resolution and color depth?

Windows 98/NT/2000/XP

  1. Right-click anywhere on the Windows desktop and choose "Properties"
  2. Click the "Settings" tab
  3. Under "Screen Resolution" select at least 800 x 600
  4. Under "Color Quality" select at least 256 Colors
  5. Click "OK"

Macintosh (OS 9.X)

  1. Choose "Control Panels > Monitors" or "Control Panels > Monitors & Sound" from the Apple menu in Finder
  2. Click "Colors" and select "Thousands"
  3. Set the resolution to at least 800 x 600
  4. Quit Display preferences

Macintosh (OS X)

  1. Choose "System Preferences" from the Apple menu in Finder
  2. Click "Displays"
  3. Under Resolutions, select 800 x 600 or higher
  4. Click the drop-down list beside "Colors:", and select "Thousands" or "Millions"
  5. Quit System Preferences

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Why do I have difficulties accessing the course using my AOL browser?

We strive to make our courses accessible for multiple platforms and browser configurations. Still, many versions of the AOL browser are not configured for optimal performance. We recommend that AOL users take our courses using a recent version of Internet Explorer (version 6.0 or later) or Firefox (version 1.5 or later). You can still use your AOL account to connect to the Internet.

Please follow these steps:

  1. Launch AOL and connect to the Internet as usual.
  2. Minimize the AOL application window.
  3. Open the web browser that is installed on your local drive (probably Internet Explorer).

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Why can't I access the chat room in my course?

Some students find that they have difficulty accessing the chat room within their eCornell course. This is probably due to the security and firewall configurations of your network. Contact someone in your IT department, and refer them to the following ports and protocols:

  • tcp/8080 (Chat)
  • tcp/80
  • tcp/443

Traffic from the student's network OUTBOUND on these ports and protocols must be allowed for the student to access the chat functionality.

Please note that the chat found within eCornell courses is an optional tool. While it is intended to enhance your learning experience, chat is not required for you to successfully complete the course.

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What is ACE?

The American Council on Education (ACE) is the major coordinating body for all the nation's higher education institutions. For 31 years, colleges and universities have trusted ACE to provide reliable course equivalency information to facilitate credit award decisions. The American Council on Education's College Credit Recommendation Service (CREDIT), offered through ACE's Center for Lifelong Learning (CLLL), helps adults obtain college credit for formal courses and examinations taken outside college and university degree programs.

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How do I receive a transcript from ACE?

To receive a transcript from ACE, you simply follow 2 simple steps:
Step1: eCornell sends updated completion information to ACE every two weeks. After ACE has processed your information and created your account, you will receive an automatically generated email to inform you that your ACE record has been established.
Step 2: After your record is established, you may log onto https://www.acenet.edu/transcripts/login/index.cfm using your eCornell ACE Student Identifier, which you can easily find on your eCornell Profile, and your last name to request a transcript (Please note, you will enter your eCornell ACE Student Identifier as your Student Identifier, not your Social Security number). This site will allow you to view your record, and order transcripts and pay any ACE fees. You may also update or change any personal information. The fee for establishing the record which includes the first transcript is $40.00. Subsequent transcripts are $15.00 each.

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Do I automatically earn college credit for my completed ACE approved eCornell Certificate program?

No. Successful completion of your eCornell Certificate results in actual course credit only when the course is accepted toward a degree or certificate at a postsecondary institution. If you have already taken an eCornell Certificate program, or plan to take one, you should contact the admissions office at the college you plan to attend to determine the acceptability of the course for academic credit.

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What is the best way to contact ACE?

You can contact ACE directly by phone or email:
ACE Resource Center Hours: M - F, 8:45 a.m. - 4:45 p.m. EST
Toll Free 1-866-205-6267
Phone 1-202-939-9470
Email CREDIT@ace.nche.edu

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For which eCornell courses are Course Notes available?

CourseNotes are available for almost all eCornell courses. They are currently available for all eCornell courses which have been opened to students except for HAME511. New courses usually have CourseNotes available 2-3 weeks after the course starts.

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Do I have to take an eCornell courses to get CourseNotes?

Yes. CourseNotes for a specific course are available only to students who are taking or have taken that course.

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How can I purchase CourseNotes?

Course notes are available for purchase on your My eCornell page. Once your course has started, a message will appear on your My eCornell page indicating that CourseNotes are now available. Clicking on that message will take you through the purchase process.

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How do I print CourseNotes?

CourseNotes can be easily printed by selecting the text and/or images you wish to print and clicking "print selection" on the "file" menu. To select text and/or images, place your cursor at the beginning of the selection, click your left mouse button, and drag your cursor to the end. The easiest way to print the entire CourseNotes is at the Chapter level; open the chapter in the left navigation bar and select all the text in the chapter.

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I lost my CourseNotes Redemption Code; What do I do?

Your CourseNotes Redemption Code is always available on your My eCornell page.

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I got a new computer; how can I load CourseNotes onto my new computer?

You can have Vital Source, the manufacturer of the software that CourseNotes uses, deauthorize your old computer and authorize your new one so that you can activate the CourseNotes you have purchased onto your new computer.

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What is the refund policy on CourseNotes?

CourseNotes are not refundable once you have purchased them.

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What hardware and software do I need to be able to use CourseNotes?

VitalSource recommends the following hardware and software for optimum performance using CourseNotes:

  • Software Specifics:
    • Mac OS 10.4 or Windows XP SP2 with .NET Frameworks 2.0

  • Hardware Specifics:
    • 1.2 gHz processor
    • 512 MB of RAM
    • DVD Drive
    • 1024x768 resolution monitor/display
    • Ethernet port, internet access, and online registration

For more details and minimum requirements, visit http://vitalsource.com/index/requirements.

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Where can I get assistance with CourseNotes technical questions?

If you have any problems or questions about downloading the VitalSource Bookshelf, activating new content, or viewing your CourseNotes, the following help resources are available:

  • VitalSource Technologies Support - http://www.vitalsource.com/index/support
    • Online FAQ - http://www.vitalsource.com/index/faq/
    • 24/7 phone support - 800-610-5382
    • Email: support@vitalsource.com

  • eCornell Helpdesk
    • Online FAQ (link to CourseNotes FAQ on web)
    • Phone Support - 1-800-801-0287 (+1-607-330-3200 from outside the United States)
    • Available M-F 9:00am - 6:00pm ET
    • Email: helpdesk@ecornell.com

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