Requesting help using Remote Assistance

Sometimes the best way to fix a problem is to have someone show you how. Remote Assistance is a convenient way for a distant friend to connect to your computer from another computer running a compatible operating system, such asWindows XP, and walk you through your solution.

By following the easy steps in Remote Assistance, you can use WindowsMessenger Service or an e-mail message to invite a friend to connect to your computer. After he or she is connected, your friend will be able to view your computer screen and chat with you in real time about what you both see. With your permission, your assistant can even use his or her mouse and keyboard to work with you on your computer.

To start Remote Assistance

Click Start, and then click Help and Support.
Click Invite a friend to connect to your computer with Remote Assistance.

Notes

Both you and your helper must be using either Windows Messenger Service or a MAPI-compliant e-mail account such as Microsoft Outlook or Outlook Express.
You and your helper need to be connected to the Internet while using Remote Assistance.
If you are working on a local area network, firewalls might stop you from using Remote Assistance. In this case, check with your network administrator before using Remote Assistance.
If for some reason you are unable to send an invitation by using e-mail orWindows Messenger Service, you can create and save an invitation. On the first page of Remote Assistance, click Invite someone to help you. On the next page, click Save invitation as a file (Advanced), and follow the instructions to save the file. You can then send the saved invitation file to your helper in the manner you choose, such as copying it onto a floppy disk or a shared network location, sending it over another e-mail service or an FTP connection, and so on.