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SAM 2003 FAQs
Frequently Asked Questions
Installation
When I install SAM 2003 I get the error “The wrong volume is in the Drive. Please insert volume S2K3_2.0_Instr01” when I insert the second installation disk. What should I do?
Detailed instructions can be found here.
How do I install SAM 2003 on a drive other than the default C drive?
You can change the default install location by selecting and running setup.exe on the SAM 2003 CD, instead of using the auto-run to install. It is a good idea to uninstall the previous 2003 version before running the new install.
Do I need to uninstall an earlier version of SAM 2003 in order to install a new version?
We recommend you uninstall SAM 2003 before installing a new version. To uninstall SAM 2003 from your machine, go to the Control Panel in Windows, and select Add/Remove Programs, then uninstall the SAM 2003 software.
I access SAM through a firewall. What port setting should I use?
Please note that if you access SAM 2003 at http://sam2003.course.com it uses Port 80, the standard HTTP. This port has to be open if you are using a firewall. If you choose to access SAM 2003 at the secure (SSL) site https://sam2003.course.com it uses port 443. This port has to be open if you are using a firewall.
Can you run SAM XP and SAM 2003 on the same workstation?
Yes. You can run SAM 2003 and SAM XP on the same workstation.
Will SAM 2003 work with my Microsoft Internet Explorer 7.0?
Yes, SAM 2003 has been qualified for use with Internet Explorer version 7.0.
Login/Launching SAM
SAM is asking me for an Institution key when I try to create my account. It will not accept the key code that came with my CD. What code do I use?
Students using SAM 2003 will need an Institution key. You will be prompted for this when you click New User at the SAM 2003 Home Page. This is different than the Key Code (which is an 18-character alpha-numeric string). The Institution Key (which is an 8- character alpha-numeric string) tells SAM 2003 which database to connect to on our server. Your Instructor will provide this Institution Key (8-digit number) to all students. After you have created your account, you will not need the Institution key again.
When I try to launch a SAM Exam, a dialog box comes up asking me if I want to Save or Open the file. No matter which option I choose SAM will not launch the exam.
SAM is a Client\Server Application. This message indicates that you do not have the Client software installed on your machine. If you have a SAM 2003 CD, please install the software. If you don’t have a SAM 2003 CD please click the “Request CD” link at the bottom of any page in SAM 2003 (http://sam2003.course.com). We will ship you the latest version of SAM.
When I try to launch an exam I get the following message “C:\Documents and Settings\{username}\Local Settings\Temporary Internet Files can't find content_interface[1].sif”. What should I do?
You will need to clean out your temporary internet files to launch the exam. Please follow the directions below:
- In Internet Explorer go to the Tools Menu and select Internet Options
- Under the General tab click Delete Files and Clear History
- Close the window and try SAM again
Note, the location of your Temporary Internet Files folder is typically user-specific, such as:
C:\Documents and Settings\{username}\Local Settings\Temporary Internet Files (where {username} is replaced with actual username)
This location, as applicable to the current user login, can also be checked by, in IE, selecting: Tools, Internet Options, Settings (button).
I am having trouble launching an exam, logging into SAM, or saving my results up to the server. What should I do?
SAM 2003 is a program that runs through your Microsoft Internet Explorer Web browser. There are several settings inside of Internet Explorer that you can alter to alleviate these issues. Please follow the steps below
Check to be sure you are using Microsoft’s Internet Explorer version 5.0 or higher to access SAM.
Adjust your Internet Explorer security settings for optimum performance of SAM. Please follow the directions below:
- Go to the Tools Menu in Internet Explorer and select Internet Options
- Under the General tab, in the Temporary Internet Files section, click on the Settings button
- In the Settings Box, select Automatically from the list of 4 choices and click OK
- Click the Security tab and then Custom Level at the bottom
- In the Security Settings box, select Medium Low from the drop down menu under Reset Custom Settings and then click Reset and OK
- Close out of Internet Options and try to log into SAM again
SAM uses "temporary internet files". If you get the error message: "Can't find content_interface[1].sif", you will need to delete/empty your temporary internet files.
- In Internet Explorer go to the Tools Menu and select Internet Options
- Under the General tab click Delete Files and Clear History
- Close the window and try SAM again
SAM also requires the use of cookies. You will need to allow third party cookies to be written to your machine.
- Open the Tools menu in Internet Explorer and select Internet Options
- Click the Privacy tab and then the Advanced button in the Settings box.
- Select Override automatic cookie handling, Third-party Cookies: Accept, and Always allow session cookies. Then click OK.
- Close out of Internet options
Please note that pop up blockers can cause issues with SAM. If you are using one, please disable it before using SAM. Below are some ways of disabling the most common pop up blockers.
Why do I receive a Security Alert when I try to access SAM 2003?
The first time a you visit the SAM 2003 secure (SSL) site at https://sam2003.course.com you may have to click through a verification page acknowledging that you are going to a secure site. This is standard Web practice.
Can I change my SAM 2003 User Name?
Due to security restrictions placed on SAM 2003 users; user names can never be changed. You will need to continue using your current User Name.
When I try click on Training inside of SAM why am I prompted for a key code?
There are two components to the SAM software you are using, an Assessment portion and a Training portion. They are not necessarily purchased together. Please check to see that the product that you purchased includes SAM Assessment and Training. If required you can purchase SAM Training separately at www.coursedirect.com.
SAM Version Upgrades
If I upgrade my SAM 2003 database, will I lose any of my data?
If you upgrade your SAM 2003 database, none of your data will be lost or compromised.
How do I upgrade my SAM 2003 Database to the latest version?
Follow the steps below to update your SAM Database to the latest version.
- Please login to SAM with the Supervisor Account.
- Click the Admin button
- Select “Update SAM 2003” from the drop down Menu
Please note that you will only need to do this once and it will be active for all users. Also, users will need to have the latest version of SAM 2003 installed on their machines in order to take exams with the updated database.
SAM 2003 Exams/Training
My SAM 2003 exam (or Training) crashed when I was taking it. Is all of my information lost or can I complete my test?
You can complete your test. SAM 2003 includes a Crash Recovery System that will allow you to complete an exam that has crashed. Because SAM is an Internet program, all results must get written to a Database located on the Course Technology Server. When an exam fails to be written to the database it is saved on the local machine. The database knows that the results were never returned and looks for them the next time you login.
When you log into SAM again the server gives a message indicating that it has detected an unfinished exam. If you click OK, it will go look for the local copy. If you click cancel, it won’t.
There are a couple of things to keep in mind that can prevent Crash Recovery from working:
- You need to retake the test on the same machine you were originally on. The exam is saved locally, so it will only be on that one hard drive.
- If the computers you’re using have the hard drives purged of any new files upon reboot or overnight, the results will be gone.
If either of these situations occurs, the exam results are gone. You will need to click cancel and try to start the exam over again. If that won’t work, you will need to talk to your instructor. He or she may need to reschedule the exam for you.
I am having difficulty running SAM Training assignments. What should I do?
Training requires Macromedia Flash 7.0 or higher. Check to see that you have Flash 7.0 installed. If not, click on the link to download it.
After my student(s) took an exam it is still showing on the Assignments page, but it was set to be available only once. Why is this happening?
The student needs to refresh the page, and the exam he or she had launched will disappear from the list of available assignments. The screen can be refreshed using the Refresh button in SAM, by clicking the Refresh button in the browser’s toolbar, or by hitting the F5 key on the keyboard. It is also possible that the exam was mistakenly set for multiple retakes. If the exam is still visible after a refresh, and the student has completed this exam, check the exam options under the Scheduling screen to be sure it was scheduled for once only.
I completed my training or exam, but cannot review my results (my instructor cannot see them either). What is happening?
The error you are receiving is likely due to the personal firewall running on your machine. You will need to disable the firewall to successfully submit your results. Below are directions on how to disable Norton Internet securities and the Microsoft firewall included in Service Pack to for Windows XP. Norton Internet Security has been known to affect SAM 2003's performance with its Personal Firewall feature. This firewall monitors Port 80 and needs to be disabled in order for SAM 2003 to run properly.
To disable Norton's Internet Security Personal Firewall:
- Locate the icon in the system tray
- Right Click on the icon
- Choose Disable from the menu
To disable the Microsoft firewall on Windows XP, please follow the instructions below:
- Please go the Start Menu and select All Programs
- Navigate the Accessories section and go to System Tools
- Select Security Center
- Click on the Windows Firewall link
- Select Off and click OK.
To disable your Zone Alarm Firewall, please follow the instructions below:
- Locate the icon in the system tray
- Right Click on the icon
- Choose "Shutdown ZoneAlarm Pro"
What does it mean if an assignment is listed in red text on the Assignments page?
This means the student has crashed or did not properly complete the assignment. The student should be able to re-launch the assignment (exams or training) by clicking on the red hyperlink.
Why don’t I see any remediation to a textbook in the Student Study Guide report?
It is possible that a textbook was not selected for remediation. To check this, look at the section in the Sections menu, and be sure a text is selected for remediation. Then, be sure the remediation is selected for the exam or training under the Scheduling screen.
In SAM XP I had a Training button on the left menu bar. Now it is gone. How can I access training?
Training can be scheduled now in SAM 2003, just like an exam. If you schedule a companion Training assignment for an exam the available Training Launch buttons will show up in the Student Study Guide report. The Training Launch buttons will not show on this report unless Training for the Assessment tasks has been scheduled.
Other Topics
Can instructors add themselves as students in SAM 2003?
Instructors have student access by default in SAM, via the Student button on the left menu bar. It is not necessary to create an additional student account in order to view SAM as a student.
Technical Support
How do I contact Course Technology’s Technical Support?
Course Technology’s Technical Support is available for students and instructors from 8:30 am ET and 8:00 pm ET Monday – Thursday. On Fridays, technical support will be available 8:30 am ET through 6:30 pm ET. Call (800) 648-7450 or email at tech.support@course.com.
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30,270,135
exams taken as of
May 17, 2008
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