Question About Remote Assistance...

[Tyorik]

This is somewhat of a 2 part question;

Firstly, my girlfriend is in a separate college from me, but often has issues with her computer that their student-based IT department can't resolve. She uses XP, I'm using Vista Ultimate. Now, what are the steps required - if it's possible at all - to send an invitation for remote assistance, and have her accept and fix the problem for her? She'll be on her spring break this week so it will give me time to tweak any necessary settings on her computer to allow this so when she goes back it'll simplify things. If it's not possible, just let me know (In the computer world, sometimes when people want something to happen, they use their imagination too much and create a theoretical method that, in reality, doesn't exist).

Second: Remote desktop. I don't expect anyone to write an essay on how this is done, I know you guys have lives too, but I was considering dabbling in a remote desktop to access from work. Not quite sure how to go about that. Again, I'm using a Windows Vista Ultimate computer, company (At least the computer I'll be working off of) is XP Pro, or Vista Premium.

Thanks for all the help - whether it goes my way or not!

[Paul Komski]

With WinXP to WinXP there was never a problem and I guess from WinXP to Vista should be similar. Basically she goes to Help and Support and clicks on "Invite a Friend to Help ..." and follows the options which involve informing you by email or other methods - including Windows Messenger.

In fact if you both have a MS passport it is even easier. Start a chat with Windows Messenger and get her to click on a request for assistance.

An alternative to the native windows remote software is LogMeIn (https://secure.logmein.com/go.asp?page=products_free). It will let you access XP remotely from any java based browser but it doesnt specify, yet anyways, vista as being compatible on the remote. If it was, then you could setup remote access for yourself for free as long as you also have a high speed connection at home. The assistance component works for a 30 day trial period so should work just fine if she installs it and then requests help from you, since it is the browser (and connection speed) and not the OS that is of the greater importance.

[Tyorik]

Thanks! That'll definitely do the trick. A million thanks