Using Remote Assistance In Windows XP/2003
Last Updated: 27 Mar 2004
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*** PLEASE NOTE: Link(s), If Provided, May Be Wrapped ***
Remote Assistance is a feature of Windows XP which allows
you to request that someone view or take control of your
system in order to provide you with technical assistance.
It uses technology from Terminal Services and Internet
Messenger in order to communicate with the other party.
Remote Assistance differs from Remote Desktop in that
RA allows both parties can use the computer together and
chat with each other during the connection. Also, the
functionality of RA is available with both XP Pro/Home,
while RD is only available with XP Pro.
It's fairly straightforward to use, but here are some
documents and How-To guides:
REMOTE DESKTOP/ASSISTANCE PORT INFO
• http://support.microsoft.com/?KBID=187623
• http://support.microsoft.com/?KBID=306759
• http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/pro/techinfo/deployment/natfw/
• http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/pro/techinfo/administration/adminra/
• http://www.jsiinc.com/SUBK/tip5400/rh5484.htm
• http://messenger.msn.com/support/knownissues.asp
• http://www.nc-india.com/workshop/stories/33078.html
• http://asia.cnet.com/itmanager/tech/0,39006407,39092525,00.htm
• http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/expertzone/columns/bowman/december24.asp
• http://www.chebucto.ns.ca/~rakerman/port-table.html#WinMess
REMOTE ASSISTANCE & FIREWALLS
• http://www.microsoft.com/technet/prodtechnol/winxppro/maintain/adminra.asp
• http://support.microsoft.com/?KBID=300546
REMOTE DESKTOP DOWNLOADS
• http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?FamilyID=0a91d2e7-7594-4abb-8239-7a7eca6a6cb1&DisplayLang=en
• http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?FamilyID=a8255ffc-4b4a-40e7-a706-cde7e9b57e79&DisplayLang=en
• http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?FamilyID=e2ff8fb5-97ff-47bc-bacc-92283b52b310&DisplayLang=en
• http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/pro/downloads/rdwebconn.asp
• http://www.microsoft.com/WINDOWSXP/pro/downloads/rdclientdl.asp
USING REMOTE DESKTOP
Remote Desktop is an excellent tool for connecting to
*certain* Windows systems. It can be obtained for use
on every 32-bit version of Windows, with the following
caveats:
The machine you are trying to connect FROM can be running
any version of 32-bit Windows. Windows XP and 2003 come
with the client tool installed by default. You will need
to download the Remote Desktop client tool for other
versions of Windows.
The machine you are trying to connect TO must be running
one of the following:
Windows 2000 Server, with Terminal Services
Windows XP Pro, with Remote Desktop enabled
Windows Server 2003, with RD or TS enabled
The client software does not enable your machine to accept
Remote Desktop connections from other systems. Users of
Windows 9x, WinME, Windows 2000 Pro, or XP Home will have
to resort to NetMeeting or some 3rd party tool in order to
ACCEPT a remote connection from another system.
WHITEPAPERS & TECH DOCUMENTS
• http://www.microsoft.com/technet/prodtechnol/winxppro/maintain/rmassist.asp
• http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/pro/using/howto/gethelp/remoteassist/
• http://www.microsoft.com/WindowsXP/pro/using/howto/gomobile/remotedesktop/
• http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/pro/techinfo/administration/adminra/
• http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/pro/techinfo/deployment/natfw/
• http://labmice.techtarget.com/windowsxp/NetworkingXP/remote_desktop.htm
• http://www.swynk.com/friends/dinicolo/rd.asp
• http://www.swynk.com/friends/dinicolo/xpassist.asp
• http://www.serverwatch.com/tutorials/article.php/1474031
PERSONAL NOTES
• Remote Assistance/Desktop are two of the more compelling
technologies available in Windows XP. Very useful for
tech support at work or at home.
• You can set the security for these Remote Tools in the
Control Panel (SYSTEM)
• The Remote Desktop client of XP can be installed on
previous versions of Windows.
• To use across a firewall, you need to allow access to
TCP 3389 (RDP protocol) for the RA Requestor.
