Remote Assistance

Remote Assistance is a technology in Windows XP which enables Windows XP users to help each other over the Internet. With this tool, one user, called the "Expert," can view the desktop of another user(Novice). With the Novice's permission, the Expert can even share control of the Novice's computer to resolve issues remotely.

Requirements for Remote Assistance

• Both the novice's computer and the expert's computer must be running a version of Windows XP or Windows Server 2003.
• The novice's computer and the expert's computer must be connected to a common network. The Internet can serve as this common network
• The novice must be able to transfer a file to the expert. The novice can send a file automatically through the Help and Support Center by using Microsoft Outlook Express or Windows Messenger. Therefore, the user must have set up Outlook Express or Windows Messenger. The novice can also save the file and send it to the expert by using any other means of transferring a file.

Start > Help and Support > following window opens

The Remote Assistance page is displayed. Click Invite someone to help you.

After this, following window opens

To send invitation choose windows messenger or outlook, and to save invitation file chhose last option just below the outlook window as "Send invitation file as (advanced)".

Sending a Remote Assistance Invitation

• Go to Start, and then clicking Help and Support.
• Under Ask for Assistance click Invite a friend to connect to your computer with Remote Assistance.
• The Remote Assistance page is displayed. Click Invite someone to help you.
• Here With the mail or Save as Invitation methods, the Novice will be given the opportunity to protect the session with a password. The Novice must also select a time period when the invitation will automatically expire. The Novice can expire any invitation at any time by clicking the View invitation status link on the Remote Assistance page that is referred to in Step 3.
• When the Expert receives the invitation, the Expert is prompted for the password which the Novice set. After supplying this password, the Expert can initiate the Remote Assistance session.
• If the invitation is open and the password is correct, the Novice receives a notification stating that the Expert wants to start the session now
• If the Novice chooses to start the session, the Remote Assistance Novice chat dialog box will open on the Novice's computer. At this point, the Expert can see everything on the Novice computer, in real time.
• The Expert can request to take control of the Novices computer at this point by clicking the Take Control button on the Expert console. This sends a message to the Novice's computer notifying the Novice that the Expert is requesting to take control of the computer. The message provides the following three methods by which the Novice can stop the Experts control of their computer:
Press the ESC key. Hold down the CTRL key, and then press the C key. Click the Stop Control button next to the Novice's chat window.
• If the Novice chooses to give control of the computer to the Expert, the Novice and the Expert share control of the keyboard and the mouse. It is best if the Novice does not move the mouse or type when the Expert has control because the session responds to both users inputs, which causes the mouse to behave erratically. If the Novice stops control, the Remote Assistance session continues and the Expert can still see the Novice's desktop.

Other Options i.e windows messenger or outlook may also be used, click here for more details.