About Remote Assistance & How To Use It

[PeteF]

Everyone,
I just wrote this Info & Procedure today and posted it on my website.

ABOUT REMOTE ASSISTANCE & HOW TO USE IT
http://www.htworkshop.com/freeinfo_about_remote_assistance.htm

If you find it useful or have any suggestions on how I can improve
upon it, I'd appreciate hearing from you. ThankYou.

---pete---

[tonyd]

Nice post. I haven't needed to use Remote Assistance, but I'll stash it away because you never know.
-td

[PeteF]

Nice post. I haven't needed to use Remote Assistance, but I'll stash it away because you never know.
-td

Thanks. Understand that there are various ways for the user to request
Remote Assistance, but some can be problematic. For example, if they
don't have an Email client properly configured within Windows and try
to use the Email sending method. That's why I chose the file attachment
method in that procedure. There are also other ways to handle the
Firewall issue but I found it easier to just use the Windows firewall
and disable any other firewall just for the session.

I'd really like to use RA more often, but I think people are generally
afraid of it. Maybe they fear that the remote guy can do bad things
to their PC like spy on them. I certainly don't know how to do anything
like that or if it's even possible. I searched for articles about the safe
use of RA but can't locate anything recent after SP2. I'd like to have
something to show people about the safe use of RA written by a
reputable source. If anyone knows of such an article please post it
here. Thanks.

---pete---

[dbarrow]

Did you go through the MSKB?
There are often links to Tutorials buried at the bottom of the articles. Also on the MSDN pages.

If RA works the same as Remote Desktop, it is a great and very under utilized tool. I find more and more application and use for Remote Desktop all the time.
The only thing, it has to be on a high speed broadband connection to make it reasonably functional.

[PeteF]

If RA works the same as Remote Desktop, it is a great and very under utilized tool. I find more and more application and use for Remote Desktop all the time.
The only thing, it has to be on a high speed broadband connection to make it reasonably functional.

To my understanding, Remote Desktop is only available on Win XP Pro
whereas Remote Assistance is on all XP versions. Remote Assistance
only works between 2 WIN XP computers.

Remote Desktop can be accessed by any Windows 95 or higher computer.
It's more for accessing your own computer from various locations via
the net.

Remote Assistance is the thing to use for most people who are using
WinXP Home edition where you just need to remotely control their PC
and see their screen in order to help them out. You can also transfer files
and talk on the mic but I always found it easier to talk on the phone
during a RA session.

---pete---

[dbarrow]

I'm sure it's a variation of the same client and dll apps.
It has its own set of permissions and access restrictions instead of a user logon with Admin permissions.
Similar in scope to RD.

[mikehende]

I tried RA for the first time a few days ago trying to access my fried's pc in Florida to help with with a cd burning issue but I could only get "screen view", any ideas why I did not see an option to gain access to his pc?

[writeco]

I'll have to try this when helping my mother with her problems. Your procedures are appreciated. While I was able to create a Word document of the procedures, it would be nice to have a downloadable file available from your website.

[mikehende]

I tried RA for the first time a few days ago trying to access my fried's pc in Florida to help with with a cd burning issue but I could only get "screen view", any ideas why I did not see an option to gain access to his pc?

Found the problem, had to click on the "Take Control" tab on the top left for my friend to get the prompt to accept.