Try opening your "package manager"/synaptic and search for "acroread" Install it. Try again with firefox. Also try with cromium and opera. One prof needed all three browsers on different sections of blackboard..nightmare. So you know, blackboard sucks bad for linux...you have to do a lot of work to make it work correctly if your professor uses it poorly. Try accessing the files like this: - instead of going to the "courses" tab, - choose "content collection" tab - then open "course content" folder - then you should see the list of documents Also you may have to switch back and forth with cromium/opera hope this helps -edit- forgot to add, the "blackboard IM" does work if you install the package "wine". You have to use an older version of the IM than the current and don't use the upgrade nag unless you're a lucky sob.