EBB Frequently Asked Questions
What is Electronic Bluebook (EBB)?
Electronic Bluebook (EBB) is a secure test-taking program created by CompuTest that is downloaded onto a laptop computer configured for English language and regional settings and then used for typing in-class exams. Running EBB in Blocked mode essentially turns students’ laptops into simple word processors while the program is running.
Can my laptop handle EBB?
Minimum specifications to safely use EBB should include:
- Microsoft Windows XP or higher or Mac OS 10.3.9 or higher configured for English-United States language and region
- At least an 800MHz processor [600MHz if laptop only has EBB and MS Word installed]
- At least 256MB of RAM (memory)
- USB port to accommodate a USB flash drive
- Wireless network card (to save your exam(s) to the network)
Does EBB work with Windows 7?
Yes. EBB is now compatible with Windows XP, Vista, and 7.
Does EBB work with Mac OS X Snow Leopard?
Yes, EBB is now compatible with Mac OSX Panther, Tiger, Leopard and Snow Leopard.
Will EBB work with non-English operating systems?
As long as a non-English language operating system (OS) can satisfy the following 2 conditions, then the OS should work fine with EBB:
- Must be able to run using English language
- Must be able to not run in Unicode
Students with non-English language operating systems
MUST take a test exam using EBB and prove to us that they have successfully passed the EBB test. We
MUST see the printed test file.
What operating systems work well with EBB?
- English-language Windows XP and Vista
- Mac OSX Leopard and Tiger (Panther is also acceptable)
What are the known EBB incompatibilities or conflicts?
Must I have a wireless card to take laptop exams?
No. Wireless cards are not required, but they are necessary if you want to save your exam to the Law School network. If you do not have a wireless card in your laptop or don't have it turned on, the exam will be saved to your hard drive and flash drive but not to the network.
Must I bring flash drives with me to the exam?
No. You no longer need to bring your own flash drives to the exam because they are now proivded by the Registrar's Office. You will be provided with a flash drive at your first exam and will turn it in to the proctor after your last exam of the semester.
Does the Law School loan out laptops for exams?
The Law School ordinarily does not provide laptop computers. Students are responsible for providing their own equipment. If necessary, you can either borrow a laptop from a friend or rent a laptop. If you need to rent a Windows laptop, try Computer Alley (only the Jackson Road location does laptop rental)
4395 Jackson Rd.
(734) 769-8230 (ask for Duane)
$128/week; $68 each additional week
Warning: If you borrow or rent a laptop to take EBB exams, please see an IT staff member to move all exams taken on that laptop to the network before returning the laptop to its owner. It has been necessary sometimes to retrieve an EBB exam from a laptop up to several months after the exam is taken. However, rental laptops are usually reformatted upon return; and you can't control what the owner of a borrowed laptop may do to the laptop after you return it. Once those EBB files are erased from those laptops, they are gone for good.
Is there a fee to use the EBB software?
No. Currently the EBB software is provided free of charge to Michigan Law students.
My laptop freezes when I switch between Microsoft Word and EBB.
This problem may occur if the Microsoft Works Suite Add-in for Microsoft Word is installed on your computer. To resolve this problem, remove the Microsoft Works Suite Add-in for Microsoft Word by following these steps.
- Click on the Start menu | Control Panel
- Double-click on Add or Remove Programs
- Scroll down the list of currently installed programs, click on Microsoft Works Suite Add-in for Microsoft Word, and then click the Change/Remove button.
- Click OK to confirm the removal.
- Click on the "X" in the upper right-hand corner of the Add/Remove Programs window to close it.
- Restart your computer.
Note
We recommend that you remove this Add-in if you plan to use EBB. Removing this Add-in will not un-install either Word or Works and both applications will still work; it will just break the connection between them. After you remove the Microsoft Works Suite Add-in for Microsoft Word, Word may not be available from the Works Task Launcher.
Will EBB work if my firewall is on?
Yes.
Can I type my exam in MS Word and then copy it into EBB?
No. There is no "copy and paste" feature in EBB. You must type your entire exam directly into EBB and use the formatting features provided in that software program.
Why does EBB freeze when I use my touchpad's special scrolling features?
Virtual scrolling has been found to cause EBB to crash. If you have a Windows laptop with Synaptics pointing device drivers installed, to be safe, disable virtual scrolling for the duration of your EBB exam(s).
Why does my computer want to reboot when I use EBB?
Some Fingerprint reader software programs will cause the following message to appear when you start or finish EBB: "To apply changes in logon configuration you must reboot the computer. Do you want to reboot now?" If this message appears on your computer, click No to ignore the message. This should not interfere with you taking an EBB exam.