Technical FAQ
What
do I need on my computer to use the Shoah Foundation's Visual History
Archive (VHA)?
Please see the technical requirements for Windows or Macintosh. Note that you must be on the U-M Ann Arbor network to use the VHA.
Even though you are viewing the VHA over the high-speed U-M network, display of video testimonies may still be slow. This can be due to your computer's processor speed, video card, or amount of memory.
I am on the U-M network through a dial-up connection. Why can't
I access the VHA?
A dial-up connection is not able to handle streaming testimony video, although it can handle searches and request testimonies for viewing. You can then view the testimonies from a computer directly connected to the U-M network.
What can I access through U-M's link to the VHA?
Our local server can hold about 200 testimonies locally, out of some 41,000 digitized testimonies. Most testimonies have to be downloaded from the Shoah Foundation's central digital storage location to our local server, which can take up to 24 hours. Please be patient!
What should I do if I can't remember my password?
If you have forgotten your password, please email svha.help@umich.edu.
The testimony I want to view is marked “Not Yet Viewable.” When
can I view it?
A portion of testimonies have not yet been digitized. These testimonies must be specially requested from the Shoah Foundation and may take several weeks to be digitized. Send email to svha.help@umich.edu to request digitization of a testimony.
I requested a testimony for viewing more than 24 hours ago and
it still is not available. What should I do?
Please email svha.help@umich.edu for assistance.
Why can't I see everything on the screen? I don't want to have
to keep scrolling!
The VHA interface is too large for a typical browser window and was designed to be viewed full-screen. Press F11 to maximize the screen.
What if the picture looks squeezed?
First, make sure that you are using the latest version of Windows Media Player (at least version 9--version 10 is prefered). Then, while the testimony is playing, do the following:
(There is presently no way to correct the 'squeezed' display on Macintosh computers.)
- Right-click anywhere on the video, and select 'Options...'
- Click on the 'Advanced...' button
- under Video Acceleration, uncheck the 'use video mixing renderer' option
- Click 'OK', then click 'OK', then click 'Yes' if asked
- The video should now be displying correctly
The testimony audio doesn't sound right. What is wrong?
Make sure that your headphones or speakers are plugged into the correct jack on your computer's sound card. If they are plugged in correctly, check to see if the system sound is muted by double-clicking on the volume icon in the system tray at the bottom right of your screen. Adjust the volume to a comfortable level.
What if it still doesn't sound right?
Some testimonies have issues with the audio that we cannot control. In some cases, the interviewer being much louder than the interviewee, which makes the sound of the interviewer much louder than the interviewee. In other cases, the audio was not processed properly in the digitization phase. If you think there is a problem with the audio that you cannot solve by turning up the volume or checking your system settings as above, please email svha.help@umich.edu.
Where
can I find out more about the Survivors of the Shoah Visual History Foundation?
Please visit the Shoah Foundation's website at http://www.usc.edu/schools/college/vhi/.
What if I am still having technical difficulties and my question
is not answered here?
Send email to svha.help@umich.edu
