Parachat Help

Why won't Windows XP work with Java?
How to Enable Java in Your Browser
Why do I get timed out ?
When I load the page with the Chat Room, why do I see a small icon instead of the room?
How do I make sure that my version of Java© is current

I can't get in a ParaChat room, what should I do?
This may be due to the security measure instituted by your network administrator.

ParaChat has the option of using TCP/IP or HTTP as a communication protocol.

To test whether you can connect from behind your firewall, please visit the Parachat Community Rooms. They are firewall enabled, they first try to communicate via TCP/IP and if unsuccessful it will try to use the HTTP protocol.

Why won't Windows XP work with Java?
By default, the Windows XP operating system comes with the Internet Explorer 6 browser without the Java Virtual Machine (JVM) installed, which is required to run Java programs such as ParaChat.

However, if you install Windows XP over an existing installation of Windows that already has Internet Explorer with a JVM installed, then you should be ok.

If you do not have the JVM, the first time you try to load a Java applet you should be prompted to download the JVM from Microsoft. If not, you should be able to visit Windows Update, a Microsoft site that checks your computer for updates and patches that will help your browser work better.

For more information please see below

How to Enable Java in Your Browser
INTERNET EXPLORER 3.xx

1. Choose View from the Menu bar, then Options.
2. Select the Security tab
3. Check the boxes called Enable Java programs and Run ActiveX scripts then OK

INTERNET EXPLORER 4, 5, 6

1. Choose Tools from the Menu bar, then Internet options.
2. Select the Security tab then the Custom Level button
3. In the dialogue box scroll down to the Scripting section, Active Scripting sub-section and select Enable (click in the radio button)
4. Then in the dialogue box scroll down to the Microsoft VM section, Java Permissions and select either High security, Medium Security or Low Security.
5. Select OK in each dialogue box.

NETSCAPE NAVIGATOR 3.xx

1. Choose Options from the menu bar, then Network preferences
2. Select the Languages tab
3. Check the boxes called Enable Java and Enable JavaScript then OKNETSCAPE NAVIGATOR 4, 5, 6

1. Choose Edit from the menu bar, then Preferences
2. Select Category: Advanced
3. Check the boxes called Enable Java and Enable JavaScript then OK

Why do I get timed out ?
Our set rooms are set to have an idle time for 10 minutes. This means if a user does not type in any message for up to 10 minutes, the chat server assumes the user to be idle and disconnects. If you want to lurk (watch and not chat) and do not want to get timed out, go into your control panel and select the heartbeat option. This will set a pulse to the chat server to keep your connection alive.

When I load the page with the Chat Room, why do I see a small icon instead of the room?

This icon indicates that you hava a Java problem. You may be experiencing one of the following issues:

You are not using a Java enabled browser
You have Java turned off
Java is not installed properly

To ensure that your computer's Java version is current, we suggest bringing your system to the leading edge by downloading and installing Java from Sun Microsystems at http://java.sun.com/getjava/download.html.

There are a variety of factors that may impact Java applications on your computer (such as viruses, hoax viruses that request file removal, incomplete browser installation during upgrade, custom browser installation instead of complete, etc.).

The Get Java Technology site from Sun Microsystems features an automatic download process that detects the operating system, language preference (US English or international), browser type, and current Java virtual machine installed, if any. If a computer is not already up to date, and if it has the right combination of operating system and browser, the download and installation process begins immediately.