Adobe Flash Player Installation Tips
This document provides districts tips for utilizing server-based TestNav test delivery software installations. A new version of the TestNav test delivery software was released in November 2008 (version 6.6). If you have not done so since November 2008, please download and install the TestNav upgrade, available at http://etesttx.com/testnav. See section 7.0 of the Infrastructure Guidelines for specific TestNav download information. NOTE: If you are upgrading TestNav on a server, you should not have to recreate the TestNav shortcut on individual computers. TestNav 6.6 test delivery software requires that Adobe Flash Player 9 for TAKS exit level ELA and End-of-Course assessments, and any other online tests containing Flash test items. For workstations running Windows operating systems, Pearson strongly recommends that the Flash Player update function be disabled during test delivery windows. The Adobe Flash Player download is integrated in the installation of the new version of TestNav. Disabling the update feature will eliminate the possibility of the Flash Player update negatively affecting the TestNav test delivery System. TestNav will use the Flash Player that is bundled with the TestNav installation regardless of the version of the Flash Player installed on the student workstations. For workstations running Mac OS X 10.3.9, Flash is not integrated in TestNav. The version of TestNav intended for OS X 10.3.9 will come with a Flash installer that will determine which version of Flash is in use by the operating system at the time that TestNav is installed. If Flash is not found or if the existing version is out-of-date, TestNav will install a compatible version of Flash to the operating system. If a different version of Flash is installed to the operating system at any point after that, TestNav will attempt to use the newly installed version, which may or may not be compatible with TestNav.
To determine which version of Flash Player is currently installed on a computer, go to http://kb.adobe.com/selfservice/viewContent.do?externalId=tn_15507. Districts can obtain the Flash Player installer from Adobe at no cost under the Adobe Player Distribution License. For more detailed information or to complete the license agreement and download the appropriate installer, please refer to the Adobe Player Licensing website at http://www.adobe.com/licensing/distribution/. Distribute and install programs to client computers over a network: While many information resources are available to districts interested in distributing and installing programs to client computers over a network, special consideration must be given to each district’s unique network environment and configuration. Below you will find links to
two examples provided by Microsoft detailing how to use group policies to install software remotely in Windows 2000 and Windows Server 2003. These procedures can be utilized to distribute and install the Flash Player over a network. Using Group Policies to install software remotely in Windows 2000: http://support.microsoft.com/kb/314934 Using Group Policies to remotely install software in Windows Server 2003: http://support.microsoft.com/kb/816102