For most people, performing the System Check installs the Centra eMEETING client within about 10 minutes without difficulty. For some computers, however, the process isn't quite so easy. Most installation and start-up issues have to do with the security settings on a particular computer. You may also notice some hiccups while you are in a session. eMEETING uses the internet, so it is subject to the whims of the network. If network traffic is heavy during your meeting, you may notice a time delay in the session or you could lose your connection to the session and have to re-enter.

If you are experiencing one of the problems listed below, click on the link to access instructions on how to deal with it.

• I Don't Know My Login or Password
• I Can't Enter a Session Because I am Not Invited
• When I Try to Enter a Session, the Computer Freezes, an Empty Window Appears, Internet Explorer Shuts Down
• My Computer Freezes During a Session
• I Have Been Bumped Out of a Session
• There Is a Time Delay
• I Can't Create a Meeting

I Don't Know My Login or Password

For faculty and staff, your eMEETING login and password are a combination of your name and your social security number:

first initial of your first name + last name + the last four digits of your social security number

Example: jsmith1234

You initial password will be the same as your login. If you still cannot login, contact Patrick Lower at plower@nvcc.edu or 703.323.2627. (On campus: 22627)

I Can't Enter a Session Because I Am Not Invited

When an Event Leader creates an eMEETING session, he or she lists the email addresses of the invited attendees. Leaders can also choose whether or not to allow uninvited attendees. If you did not receive an email invitation to a meeting, and the leader chose not to allow uninvited attendees, you will not be able to enter the session.

Sometimes, invited attendees receive an error message when they try to enter a meeting. Whether or not you receive this message may depend on how you try to enter the meeting. (There are two ways to enter an eMEETING session. You can log in to your account and choose the session from your schedule. Alternatively, you can bypass logging into your account and enter the session using the Event ID included in your invitation email.)

If you log in to your eMEETING account and enter the session via your My Schedule page, eMEETING never asks you for your email address. If, however, you try to enter a session by entering the Event ID, eMEETING asks you for your email address. If the email address that you enter does not match the email address the Event Leader used to invite you, you will not be allowed to enter the session.

How is that possible? If you have been a NOVA faculty or staff member for many years, you may still use an "old" email address that begins with the letters "nv." These older email addresses were replaced several years ago by new addresses that combine your first initials with your last name. For example, if your name is John Smith, your email address is jsmith@nvcc.edu. The old email addresses continue to work because email addressed to the old "nv" address is re-routed by the email server to the new address. The Centra eMeeting server, however, does not automatically recognize the connection between new and old email addresses. If the Event Leader invites you to a meeting using your new email address, you must enter the event using your new email address.

Internet Explorer Freezes/Shuts Down

There are a couple of things that can cause this problem. It is possible that you do not have the Centra eMEETING client installed on your computer. Or, you may have some kind of firewall or security software that is preventing Centra eMEETING from opening. To determine the cause of the problem, work through the questions in our troubleshooting guide.

Your Computer Freezes During the Session

If your computer freezes during a session, just wait for a few seconds. The delay may be due to network congestion and will resolve itself within 15-30 seconds. If the session does not resume after approximately 1 minute, close the eMEETING window, (you may need to use Ctrl + Alt + Del to do so) and log back in.

You Have Been Bumped Out of A Meeting, and Cannot Log In Again

When you log in a second time, you may see an error message indicating that your username is already in the session or that the session is full. Don't give up! Wait a moment or two and try to log in again.

There Is a Time Delay When People Speak

There is usually a time delay between when a speaker says something in eMEETING and when it is broadcast to your computer. This delay can last for a split-second or for as long as 15 or 20 seconds. Each participant will experience delays of different lengths. Some participants will experience a lengthy delay while others don't notice any at all. If you notice that it takes people a long time to answer your questions, it may be due to the time delay. Just be patient and allow a few extra seconds for people to respond.

I Can't Create a Meeting

There are different kinds of Centra eMEETING accounts that are equipped with different kinds of permissions. Your account must be equipped with permission to create meetings in order to lead meetings. If you do not have permission to create accounts and you click on the Create a Meeting link after logging in to your eMEETING account, you may see an error message stating that the page cannot be found. To fix the permissions on your eMEETING account, send an email to tac@nvcc.edu.