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This guide comes from the new book Breakthrough Windows Vista from Microsoft Press. For more information and to save 35% on the retail price, visit the Amazon.co.uk Microsoft Press Store.
Call me old fashioned, but when it comes to solving a PC related problem for a friend or colleague, there nothing like direct, hands on experience. Sure, phone calls and instant messenger conversations can sometimes provide the solutions, but all too often trying to describe where to double-click and what box to tick is more frustrating that the complication itself.
For those who know this pain, Remote Assistance provides a great solution to the limitations of language. Now a troubled user can invite a friend to directly log into their computer from anywhere else in the world, and operate the desktop as if they were in front of the PC. It's a fantastic way to let a more experienced friend solve your computer problems quickly. Here's nine steps to doing it.
1. Seek Help
Open Windows Remote Assistance through the Start button and the Start Search box.
2. Send an Invitation
To ask for help from someone who is using a computer somewhere else, click Invite someone you trust to help you.
3. Email for Expertise
Click Use e-mail to send an invitation (if you used webbased email, choose the other option).
4. Pick a password
Type a password of at least six characters. Click Next. Remote Assistance now opens a new email for you. This might take a minute or two if your email program is not already open.
5. Dear Friend
Type the email address of the person you are sending the invitation to in the To line of the automatically generated email. Note that an attachment has been added to the email; the recipient will open that attachment to access your computer.
6. Don't Forget
Be sure to add the password to the email. This is not automatically generated for you and is essential if your chosen assistant is to connect to your computer. Alternatively, you can phone them up to pass on the password.
7. Sit and Wait
Click Send. Note that you must remain connected to Remote Assistance while waiting for the other person to respond.
8. Ask them in
When the other person accepts your request for help, you are asked whether that person can connect to your computer. Click Yes.
9. Job Done
When you are ready to disconnect from the session with your helper, click Disconnect in the Connected to your helper dialogue box.
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