Remote Assistance

  • Thread starter Thread starter NJITGS
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NJITGS

Would anyone have a possible resolution for this message that I am receiving when attempting to connect to a friends computer?

Remote Assistance connection could not be established because the remote host name could not be resolved. Please try again.

Both computers are Windows XP Home Edtion.

Thanks in advance!

Elaine Beauxrauxgard-Weiderhoff
 
Well, it would seem to me that everyone wants to sell Go-To-My-PC.com, -isn't that the same thing? If I can set my computer to allow it to be controlled remotely with Remote Assistance (Start> All Programs> Accessories> PC Help & Tools> Remote Assistace) than wouldn't I be able to use my computer from another location with Remote Desktop? (Start> All Programs> Accessories> Communications> Remote Desktop Connection)

Problem is I can't get it to connect to the remote computer. My internet provider has no problem accessing my desktop with thier installed software when I call them for connection suppport....

Elaine
Would anyone have a possible resolution for this message that I am receiving when attempting to connect to a friends computer?

Remote Assistance connection could not be established because the remote host name could not be resolved. Please try again.

Both computers are Windows XP Home Edtion.

Thanks in advance!

Elaine Beauxrauxgard-Weiderhoff
 
NJITGS said:
Would anyone have a possible resolution for
this message that I am receiving when attempting
to connect to a friends computer?

Remote Assistance connection could not be
established because the remote host name could
not be resolved. Please try again.

Both computers are Windows XP Home Edtion.
Click to expand...

XP Home edition does not have Remote Desktop - only Remote Assistance.
You could install and utilize a third party application like UltraVNC or
TightVNC. (Free.)
 
NJITGS said:
Would anyone have a possible resolution for
this message that I am receiving when attempting
to connect to a friends computer?

Remote Assistance connection could not be
established because the remote host name could
not be resolved. Please try again.

Both computers are Windows XP Home Edtion.
Click to expand...
Well, it would seem to me that everyone wants
to sell Go-To-My-PC.com, -isn't that the same
thing?

If I can set my computer to allow it to be
controlled remotely with Remote Assistance
(Start> All Programs> Accessories> PC Help
& Tools> Remote Assistace) than wouldn't I
be able to use my computer from another
location with Remote Desktop?
(Start> All Programs> Accessories>
Communications> Remote Desktop Connection)

Problem is I can't get it to connect to
the remote computer. My internet provider
has no problem accessing my desktop with
thier installed software when I call them
for connection suppport....
Click to expand...

Remote Assistance and Remote Desktop are *not* the same thing.

Remote Assistance is included in Windows XP Home Edition.
Remote Desktop is *not* included in Windows XP Home Edition.

-----------
Q. What are the differences between Remote Desktop and Remote Assistance?

A. Remote Desktop and Remote Assistance use the same underlying technology,
but there are differences between these features.

a) Remote Desktop allows access to a remote Windows computer. For example,
when you are at another computer you can use Remote Desktop to connect to
your work computer from home and have access to files and applications.

b) Remote Assistance allows a helper to use an Internet connection to
access your computer to provide assistance. The helper views your computer's
screen and communicates through a chat box. The helper can remotely control
your computer to resolve a problem.
-----------

So - no - just because you can set your computer to be controlled by Remote
Assistance does not mean you can use Windows XP Remote Desktop. They are
not equals. Any amount of research would have pointed you to that answer -
even a simple search using Google or the build-in Help and Support in
Windows XP.

Your Internet Service Provider installed their own software (or yyou
actually installed it for them.)
You can install your own software (like UltraVNC or TightVNC) to accomplish
what you are trying to do or you can upgrade to an OS like Windows XP
Professional that has the Remote Desktop capability. The former is MUCH
cheaper than the latter.

More information on Remote Assistance:

Overview of Remote Assistance in Windows XP
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/300546

Using Remote Assistance to Get Help When You Need It
http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/using/helpandsupport/learnmore/remoteassist/intro.mspx

HOW TO: Obtain Remote Assistance Using Windows Messenger in Windows XP
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/306556/

Start a Remote Assistance Session from Windows Messenger
http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/using/helpandsupport/learnmore/remoteassist/viaim.mspx

HOW TO: Provide Remote Assistance In Response to Windows Messenger
Invitation in Windows XP
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/306800/

HOW TO: Obtain Remote Assistance by Sending an E-mail Message in Windows XP
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/306757/

HOW TO: Provide Remote Assistance in Response to an E-mail Invitation in
Windows XP
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/306791/

Start a Remote Assistance Session by Sending a File
http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/using/helpandsupport/learnmore/remoteassist/viafile.mspx

Step-by-Step Guide to Remote Assistance
http://www.microsoft.com/technet/prodtechnol/winxppro/maintain/rmassist.mspx

Provide Remote Assistance When Using a NAT Device
http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/using/networking/learnmore/tips/jackson1.mspx


Web pages for UltraVNC and TightVNC:

http://ultravnc.sourceforge.net/
http://www.tightvnc.com/

Good luck.
 
Thank you for taking the time to help! However, I am aware of the
differences in the two and my operating system is Windows XP Home Edition
Service Pack II and it does include Remote Desktop that allows a user to
access thier computer from another location.

Every computer manufacturer sets up Windows XP differently to meet the the
computer they are installing it and the Windows programs and/or files may or
may not be preinstalled from the computers manufacturer. In that case the
manufacturer places a folder in the computers help menu called Aplication
Recovery, there you can install the addtional features of XP that were not
included in the intial manufacturers setup. ie. Remote Desktop, Windows
Backup Utility etc., these parts of Windows can be found in the Application
Recovery Console under Restore Applications.

If someone would be kind enough to explain the original question posed in
this thread it would be of great appreciation!~

Thanks all the more....

Elaine
 
NJITGS said:
Thank you for taking the time to help! However, I am aware of the
differences in the two and my operating system is Windows XP Home
Edition Service Pack II and it does include Remote Desktop that
allows a user to access thier computer from another location.

Every computer manufacturer sets up Windows XP differently to meet
the the computer they are installing it and the Windows programs
and/or files may or may not be preinstalled from the computers
manufacturer. In that case the manufacturer places a folder in the
computers help menu called Aplication Recovery, there you can
install the addtional features of XP that were not included in the
intial manufacturers setup. ie. Remote Desktop, Windows Backup
Utility etc., these parts of Windows can be found in the
Application Recovery Console under Restore Applications.
If someone would be kind enough to explain the original question
posed in this thread it would be of great appreciation!~
Click to expand...

Windows XP Home Edition - no matter its service pack level or how it was
"customized" (legitimately) - does *not* contain the Remote Desktop
software.. It does contain the CLIENT - but not the server-side of the
equation. Windows XP Home Edition is only capable of Remote Assistance or
connecting to a Remote Desktop capable machine using the Remote Desktop
client - but you cannot connect with the remote desktop client to a Windows
Xp Home Edition PC.

Remote Desktop (server) is not an installable component in Windows XP Home
Edition.
Remote Desktop Client is.

You can remote to a machine from Windows XP Home. (A Windows XP
Professional or superset machine, Windows 2000 Server with Terminal Services
enabled, Windows 2003 Server, etc..) But you cannot install the components
(native components) necessary to connect to a Windows XP Home Edition
machine beyond remote assistance. You have to use third party applications
to truly "remote control" a Windows XP Home Edition PC.
 
NJITGS said:
Thank you for taking the time to help! However, I am aware of the
differences in the two and my operating system is Windows XP Home
Edition Service Pack II and it does include Remote Desktop that
allows a user to access thier computer from another location.

Every computer manufacturer sets up Windows XP differently to meet
the the computer they are installing it and the Windows programs
and/or files may or may not be preinstalled from the computers
manufacturer. In that case the manufacturer places a folder in the
computers help menu called Aplication Recovery, there you can
install the addtional features of XP that were not included in the
intial manufacturers setup. ie. Remote Desktop, Windows Backup
Utility etc., these parts of Windows can be found in the
Application Recovery Console under Restore Applications.
If someone would be kind enough to explain the original question
posed in this thread it would be of great appreciation!~
Click to expand...

http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/home/howtobuy/choosing2.mspx

Scroll down to Remote Desktop.

Windows XP Home Edition does NOT contain it.
Windows XP Professional Edition does.
 
It was my impression that, like Remote Assistance, Remote Desktop uses
Windows messenger componants for remote connection of either of the two.

Why would I have the client if I can't use it as it is intended?
 
You point about XP not containing RD Server, was well understood, but it was
my impression that the client could run using the Windows Messenger server.

Thanks again for your enlightenment!

Elaine
 
NJITGS said:
Would anyone have a possible resolution for
this message that I am receiving when
attempting to connect to a friends computer?

Remote Assistance connection could not be established
because the remote host name could not be resolved.
Please try again.

Both computers are Windows XP Home Edtion.
Click to expand...
You point about XP not containing RD Server, was well understood,
but it was my impression that the client could run using the
Windows Messenger server.
Click to expand...

Yes. They should be able to ask for your remote assistance using MSN
Messenger.
While they are talking to you using the IM, they should be able to select
(from the menus at the top of the window in which they are typing back and
forth to you) --> ACTIONS --> REQUEST REMOTE ASSISTANCE. You can then
choose to accept this.

However - there are caveats.

HOW TO: Obtain Remote Assistance Using Windows Messenger in Windows XP
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/306556/

Start a Remote Assistance Session from Windows Messenger
http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/using/helpandsupport/learnmore/remoteassist/viaim.mspx

HOW TO: Provide Remote Assistance In Response to Windows Messenger
Invitation in Windows XP
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/306800/

They have to have a public IP address or you have to know it. Then, you may
have to have them email you a request for assistance or create the file and
send it to you so you can edit it as outlined in the following article.

Provide Remote Assistance When Using a NAT Device
http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/using/networking/learnmore/tips/jackson1.mspx

Are either parties behind a cable modem/dsl router?
If so, are the proper ports forwarded to the proper machine?
(3389 forwarded to the machine's IP they use.)

Are the machines' firewalls configured to allow the traffic for Remote
Assistance through (if there is a software firewall - such as Windows Xp
Firewall - enabled (as there should be.)
 
Again. Thank you for your help! I am fully aware of how to use the RA
either way, with Windows Messenger or with Outlook Express.

Thank you.
 
NJITGS said:
Would anyone have a possible resolution for
this message that I am receiving when
attempting to connect to a friends computer?

Remote Assistance connection could not be established
because the remote host name could not be resolved.
Please try again.

Both computers are Windows XP Home Edtion.
Click to expand...
You point about XP not containing RD Server, was well understood,
but it was my impression that the client could run using the
Windows Messenger server.
Click to expand...

Shenan said:
Yes. They should be able to ask for your remote assistance using
MSN Messenger.

While they are talking to you using the IM, they should be able to
select (from the menus at the top of the window in which they are
typing back and forth to you) --> ACTIONS --> REQUEST REMOTE
ASSISTANCE. You can then choose to accept this.

However - there are caveats.

HOW TO: Obtain Remote Assistance Using Windows Messenger in
Windows XP http://support.microsoft.com/kb/306556/

Start a Remote Assistance Session from Windows Messenger
http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/using/helpandsupport/learnmore/remoteassist/viaim.mspx

HOW TO: Provide Remote Assistance In Response to Windows Messenger
Invitation in Windows XP
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/306800/

They have to have a public IP address or you have to know it. Then, you
may have to have them email you a request for assistance
or create the file and send it to you so you can edit it as
outlined in the following article.

Provide Remote Assistance When Using a NAT Device
http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/using/networking/learnmore/tips/jackson1.mspx

Are either parties behind a cable modem/dsl router?
If so, are the proper ports forwarded to the proper machine?
(3389 forwarded to the machine's IP they use.)

Are the machines' firewalls configured to allow the traffic for
Remote Assistance through (if there is a software firewall - such
as Windows Xp Firewall - enabled (as there should be.)
Click to expand...
Again. Thank you for your help! I am fully aware of how to use
the RA either way, with Windows Messenger or with Outlook Express.

Thank you.
Click to expand...


What question(s) do you have left then?
Have I missed it or answered it? heh

Yes - you can use MSN Messenger in Windows XP (any edition) to start a
Remote Assistance session - with the caveats I gave.

No - Windows XP Home Edition - no matter what (legitimately) cannot be
connected **TO** using Remote Desktop.

Yes - UltraVNC and TightVNC can be installed and used to remote control a
system "for free" - and the same program used in the same way can be used to
assist someone. (With the port forwarding/firewall port openings and such
caveats as well.)

The web links gave in the previous answers tell you how to edit the Remote
Assistance file if they are behind a router. Their router manuals will tell
them how to forward the port and teh bult in Windows Help and support should
help open the proper ports through the Windows XP Firewall - if in use.
 
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