Step-by-Step Guide to Remote Assistance

Using Remote Assistance via saving a file

This section shows how to initiate a Remote Assistance invitation by saving the request as a file. This allows you to use Remote Assistance via Web-based e-mail such as Hotmail or other similar services.
In this scenario, user Jon Grande initiates the same request as explained above.

1. Jon clicks Start, clicks Help and Support, and under the Ask for assistance heading, he clicks Invite a friend to connect to your computer with Remote Assistance. The Remote Assistance page appears as shown in Figure 7 below.
   
   
   Figure 7: Inviting someone to help you
2. Jon clicks Invite someone to help you and selects Save Invitation as a file.
   
3. Jon enters his message and clicks Continue.
   
4. The Save File dialog box appears and Jon is prompted to save the file in his My Documents folder as shown in Figure 8 below.
   
   
   Figure 8: Saving the Remote Assistance file
5. Jon opens his Hotmail e-mail, attaches the file from his My Documents folder and sends the message to Cynthia Randall.
   
6. Cynthia opens Jon's message, saves the attached file to her My Documents folder and opens it. The Remote Assistance Invitation box appears as shown in Figure 9 below.
   
   
   Figure 9: Accepting the Remote Assistance request
7. Cynthia enters the password and clicks Yes.
   Note: Paul will have needed to let Cynthia know what the password is in a separate communication such as a phone call or secure e-mail. Typically, users should relay the password via a phone call.
   
8. The Attempting to Start Remote Assistance Session with Paul West box appears. Cynthia is able to begin Remote Assistance as explained in the previous example.