Offer Remote Assistance in Windows XP/2003

Sometimes you’re up against stupid or lamer users who can’t figure out their GUI (not to mention basic computer skills). Sometimes these users will need your help in performing some task on their computer, but are not able to invite you to help them because of their lack of knowledge or simple lameness.

To offer Remote Assistance to a remote XP PRO and Windows Server 2003 computers without the need for the user who is currently logged on to that computer to personally invite you to help him do the following:

1. Click Start and select Help and Support.
2. In the Search bar type Offer and press the green arrow to begin a search.
3. You will get one result called “Offer Remote Assistance”. Double click it and add it to your favorites if you want.

1. You should make sure you performed the Enable Remote Assistance Offering in XP/2003 tip BEFORE going on because if you didn’t you’ll get this error:

Also, you need to be a user with local administrative rights on the target computer.

1. Assuming you did follow my tip, now enter the computer name for the remote XP/2003 computer. Press the Connect button.
2. If all is ok you’ll see a list of all current users on that computer. Select the one with the problems. Press the Start Remote Assistance button.

1. A brief window will appear and then you will get the Waiting for an Answer window. You will require the remote user to acknowledge your offering and accept your help.

1. This is what the remote user sees:

1. After accepting your offer you will see the remote user’s desktop where you will be able to chat, transfer files, talk via a microphone and speaker set if you have one and even take control of the remote user’s desktop (this requires an additional acknowledgment by the remote user).

This is what the remote user sees:

This is what you see:

Related articles

You might also want to read the following related articles:

• Add a new RDP Listening Port to Terminal Server
• Change Terminal Server Listening Port
• Download RDP 5.2
• Download Remote Desktop Web Connection for XP SP1
• Enable Remote Desktop on Windows Server 2003
• Install Remote Desktop Web Connection on Windows XP
• Install Remote Desktop Web Connection on Windows Server 2003
• Quickly Connect to Remote Computers
• Remotely Enable Remote Desktop on Windows Server 2003
• Securing RDP/Terminal Services Communications
• Use RDP Client to Connect to a Different Port
• Use Terminal Server Client to Connect to a Different Port
• What’s Remote Desktop in Windows XP/2003?
• What’s Remote Assistance in Windows XP/2003?

Links

Overview of Remote Assistance in Windows XP – 300546
HOW TO: Configure a Computer to Receive Remote Assistance Offers in Windows XP – 301527
Mobile Computing with Windows XP
Description of the Remote Assistance Connection Process – 300692