PRISM Portal
PRISM Vendor Links
This document provides helpful hints for employees having technical difficulties in PRISM Self-Service, such as logging in or display problems. If you are still having technical problems, please contact your supervisor or Human Resources department, who may refer you to your Help Desk if appropriate. Remember that the Help Desk is responsible for supporting work PCs, but not home PCs.
Minimum System Requirements for PRISM Self-Service
To access PRISM Self-Service, your personal computer must have:
| Minimum Requirements | How to Find Your Current Version | Free Updates Available |
| Windows 98 or higher (such as Windows 2000, Windows ME, or Windows XP) | 1. Click Start, and then click Run.
2. In the box, type winver, and then click OK. The window that appears will show you which version of Windows your computer is using. |
None - if your PC is running Windows 95, an upgrade will be required in order to access PRISM Self-Service. |
| Internet Explorer version 6.0 or higher (Netscape Navigator will not work) | From the Internet Explorer toolbar, click Help, and then click About Internet Explorer. The version number is listed in the window that appears. |
Yes - at the following web address |
| Adobe Reader latest version (currently 6.0) | From the Adobe Reader toolbar, click Help, andthen click About Adobe Reader. The version number is listed in the window that appears. |
Yes - at the following web address |
Recommended Display Settings
PRISM Self-Service screens will be easier to read if you adjust the display settings on your personal computer so that the screen area is 1024 x 768 pixels. To do this, follow these steps:
- Click Start, then click Settings, then click Control Panel.
- Double click on the Display icon.
- Click on Settings and set the Screen Area to 1024 x 768 pixels by moving the slide control right or left until you see the correct number of pixels.
- Then click OK.
- Close Control Panel.
Windows Update Problems
There is a known compatibility issue concerning PRISM Portal and Microsoft Security Patch 832894. If you have installed this security update, attempting to log into PRISM will produce an "invalid syntax" error because some URL formats for basic authentication that had been permitted, are now disallowed by Microsoft. This may occur if your personal computer applies automatic Windows updates, or if you have applied the updates yourself.
If you are using a WPAHS computer at work, the Help Desk may be able to tell you if this is what is causing the error. If you are using a home computer, you may wish to try the following steps, but only after you have verified that your system meets the minimum system requirements listed above.
Users who have not applied update 832894 to their individual browsers will not be affected and should not proceed with the RECOMMENDED STEPS listed below.
RECOMMENDED STEPS
Assuming that Internet Explorer security update 832894 has been applied; the following steps should be done.
1. Run the following program by clicking the link PRISM Fix, then selecting "Open".
OR
1. Upgrade to MSXML 4.0 Service Pack 2 (if it is not already installed). Newer PCs may already have been pre-configured to include this.
a. Download the file Msxml.msi from this page:
It is the first of the links listed near the bottom of the page, under "Files in this Download."
b. Select "Save to Disk" to save the Msxml.msi file to your desktop or a chosen folder.
c. After it has been saved, double click it to install. Choose the "Install Now" button (the default). It is not necessary to select a custom install (which is used to also install a Software Developers Kit).
d. If, when attempting to run Msxml.msi, you receive an error that you need to upgrade to Windows Installer 2.0 in order to install MSXML 4.0, then download the Installer, from this link:
http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/release.asp?ReleaseID=32832 for NT and Windows 2000) or
http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/release.asp?ReleaseID=32831 for Windows 95, 98, or Millenium Edition.
Then try step c again.
2. Apply the Critical Update for Microsoft XML 4.0 Service Pack 2 - KB832414, from this page: http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;832414.
a. Be sure to click "Download the Critical Update for Microsoft XML 4.0 Service Pack 2 - KB832414" and not one of the earlier versions.
b. Select "Save to Disk" to save the file KB832414_MSXML4.0_x86.exe to your desktop or a chosen folder.
c. After is has been saved, double click it to install the critical update.
3. Reboot the PC at the end of the updates.
If you continue to have Issues in accessing PRISM Portal from your home PC, you may need to use a work PC or a PRISM kiosk.
Password Change and Reset
Your User ID and initial PRISM password were set up as indicated in your PRISM Self-Service instructions. For security purposes, you should change your password to something you will remember. You may choose any password you wish, as long as it has at least 6 characters, 2 of which must be numbers. For example, ABCD88 or 123abc would be valid passwords, but ABCDEF or johndoe2004 would not be valid. Passwords are case sensitive, so be sure to remember if your password includes UPPER CASE letters or lower case letters.
To change your PRISM password, log in as usual and click on the Security link on the left navigation pane. Then click on the Change Web Password link. Enter your new password in the first box, and then confirm by re-entering your new password in the second box. Click the Submit button. You'll see a notice that your password was changed successfully and a link to log in again using your new password. You may change your password whenever you like; most people change passwords every few months to ensure security and privacy.
Once you change your PRISM password, no one else can tell you what it is. So if you forget your password after you have changed it, you can have your password reset if you call your Help Desk representative at work during normal Help Desk hours.
