Common problems with SEB

  • Since Exam.net does not control or develop Safe Exam Browser (SEB is an entirely separate software), our ability to solve problems is limited.

    With that in mind, we have listed common problems and solutions with SEB below to make it easier for you as a teacher.

    If an error is not listed below, please check Safe Exam Browser's homepage or Github 

     

    1. Safe Exam Browser is locked with a red screen and asks for a quit password.

    Reason: This happens if SEB was previously forced to stop (due to, for example, a hard restart or the student's device running out of battery). Alternatively, it could be due to an application running in the background on the device, which might be interpreted as a cheating attempt by SEB.

    Solution:  Enter the password.
    However, if the same device gets locked regularly, please check all active programs/apps on the computer and if any programs are configured to auto-start.

    NOTE! The password will only work for exams created via Exam.net. The password will not work if you started SEB in any other way or via another platform than Exam.net.

    Safe Exam Browser if used by many exam platforms and is not developed or distributed by us at Exam.net

    Locate the password:

    The password can be found in...

    • ...The monitoring view (if a student entered using SEB)
    • ...The exam's high-security mode settings (click Configure Apps)
    • ... https://exam.net/sebquit 
    • security_settings.png
      Screenshot 2023-11-02 at 17.47.46 copy.png

      

    2. Error message:  "Session Start Error: SEB failed to start a new session! Please consult the log files for more information "

    seberror_logfiles.png

    Reason: Safe Exam Browser has, for some reason, not been executed correctly.

    Solution:  The easiest way to solve this problem, is to restart the computer. 

    Locate and consult the log files

    If it still doesn't work, you can find more information about the issue in the SEB log files in the following folder on the device: %LocalAppData%\SafeExamBrowser\Logs 
    usually  C:\Users\AppData\Local\SafeExamBrowser\Logs 

     

    3. Error message:  SEB is not configured

    Reason: If the student starts the program manually, SEB will notify that it is not yet configured.

    Solution:  This is normal, and SEB should not be manually configured, as this is done automatically once the student enters an exam via Exam.net.

     

    4. Error message:  "Service Error: Failed to completely lockdown the computer."

    seberror_serviceerror.png

    Reason: A security or anti-virus program (e.g. 360 Security Guard) is blocking SEB from locking the computer, causing a lock-out error.

    Solution: Try to disable the antivirus program or allow SEB as an exception. Here is more information about this issue from the SEB support site: https://sourceforge.net/p/seb/support-requests/81/

    It can also help if the student creates a new and fresh user account on the computer and installs SEB for this user.

    Locate and consult the log files

    If it still doesn't work, you can find more information about the issue in the SEB log files in the following folder on the device: %LocalAppData%\SafeExamBrowser\Logs 
    usually  C:\Users\AppData\Local\SafeExamBrowser\Logs 


    Issue 5. Error message: "Prohibited Display Configuration: The active display configuration is not permitted. Please consult the log files for more information. SEB will now shut down..."

    seberror_prohibiteddisplay.png

    Reason: The active display configuration is not allowed. The SEB version only allows internal screens.

    Solution:  Try to uninstall SEB and install the recommended SEB version from the Exam.net SEB installation page.

    Locate and consult the log files

    If it still doesn't work, you can find more information about the issue in the SEB log files in the following folder on the device: %LocalAppData%\SafeExamBrowser\Logs 
    usually  C:\Users\AppData\Local\SafeExamBrowser\Logs 

     


    6. Error message: "Cursor configuration is compromised"

    Reason: An application is affecting the cursor. 

    Solution: Restore the cursor or uninstall the program mentioned in the logs.

    Locate and consult the log files

    You can find more information about the issue in the SEB log files in the following folder on the device: %LocalAppData%\SafeExamBrowser\Logs 
    usually  C:\Users\AppData\Local\SafeExamBrowser\Logs 

     

    Other issues... 

    If there are other problems with SEB, the best option is usually to uninstall SEB and install it again.

    You can find our recommended SEB version and test your installation here:

    If you experience any other problems than those listed above - please notify us. We are also interested in step-by-step solutions if you have had a problem and managed to solve it. Then we can advise other users facing the same problem.

    If it is impossible to run SEB on the student's computer, you might want to let the student take the exam in a regular browser instead.
    You choose this exam setting when you  create or edit the exam

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