Offer Remote Assistance in Windows XP/2003

by Daniel Petri - January 8, 2009
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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.

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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:

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

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.

Assuming you did follow my tip, now enter the computer name for the remote XP/2003 computer. Press the Connect button.
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.

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.

This is what the remote user sees:

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:

Also see » A Case Study of CCH