Remote Assistance in Windows 2000

I have had an ongoing email "conversation" with MSN Messenger Tech Support
all week. Their left hand obviously doesn't know what their right hand is
doing!

My first email to them:
I would like to use the remote assistance feature in MSN Messenger but I
can't find that "Activity". Secondly, can I use remote assistance from
Windows2000 computers to Windows2000 computers? If not, is there still an
option within NetMeeting to share desktops? Can I use NetMeeting from within
MSN Messenger to take control of a Windows2000 machine?

Their reply:
According to your email, you want to use the remote assistance feature
through the MSN messenger
» Please follow these steps in the order they appear to help resolve this
issue:
1. Sign in to MSN Messenger.
2. Double-click the name of the contact with whom you want to start the
Remote Assistance session.
3. In the conversation window, click "Activities," and then click "Remote
Assistance."
A message inviting your contact to start Remote Assistance is sent to your
contact. When your contact clicks "Accept," the session starts.
4. Click "Yes" to start the session.
5. To take control of the system, your contact clicks "Take Control."
6. To log out of this session, click "Disconnect."
Note:
The person who sends the invitation cannot take control. Only the person who
receives the invitation has the option of taking control.
Thanks again for contacting MSN Messenger Technical Support, and for your
use of Microsoft products. Have a wonderful day.
Best Regards,

Since they didn't answer the question about using remote assistance on
Win2K, I emailed them again. Here is their reply:

Based on your email, you need to know if the "Remote Assistance" feature its
available with Windows 2000.
To use this feature, as well as to use NetMeeting, both computers must have
Windows Messenger installed. Windows Messenger is included with Windows XP,
and works in conjunction with MSN Messenger.

Their next email was a link to Windows Messenger, which I downloaded. Then
I sent them an email asking about how to use Remote Assistance behind a
firewall. This is the beginning of the email I got:

Based on the information I received, I understand that you would like to
know how to use Remote Desktop Assistance behind a firewall. You mentioned
that you are using PIX firewall and are using Windows 2000 Professional. I
apologize if you had difficulty using this feature.
Laurel, to be able to use Remote Desktop Assistance behind a firewall you
have to open Port 3389 and you must have Windows XP. You can also experience
difficulties if you or contact is behind a router.

I emailed them and complained about their inconsistency. Here's the reply I
just got:

Laurel, I see you have been experiencing this issue for quite some time now.
I apologize for the conflicting response that you received from my team
mates; I realize this must be a confusing situation. Please know that I will
help resolve this problem in the quickest way possible.
Again, I apologize for the inconsistency; however, Alexander was correct
when he said you cannot start Remote Assistance in Windows 2000. Moreover,
to be able to use Remote Desktop Assistance behind a firewall you have to
open Port 3389. You can also experience difficulties if you or contact is
behind a router.

NOW........Here is my dilemma......

I installed Windows Messenger and MSN Messenger and Remote Assistance
appears as an "activity" in MSN Messenger, however, I have not been able to
test it for myself as yet because our network admin has been out sick and
won't be back until next Friday (to open up port 3389). I'm kinda thinkin'
that I WILL be able to use Remote Assistance or it wouldn't show up in my
activities.

Has anyone else been able to use Remote Assistance in Windows 2000?

Laurel Conrad wrote:
> I have had an ongoing email "conversation" with MSN Messenger Tech
> Support all week. Their left hand obviously doesn't know what their
> right hand is doing!
>
> My first email to them:
> I would like to use the remote assistance feature in MSN Messenger
> but I can't find that "Activity". Secondly, can I use remote
> assistance from Windows2000 computers to Windows2000 computers? If
> not, is there still an option within NetMeeting to share desktops?
> Can I use NetMeeting from within MSN Messenger to take control of a
> Windows2000 machine?
>
> Their reply:
> According to your email, you want to use the remote assistance feature
> through the MSN messenger
> » Please follow these steps in the order they appear to help resolve
> this issue:
> 1. Sign in to MSN Messenger.
> 2. Double-click the name of the contact with whom you want to start
> the Remote Assistance session.
> 3. In the conversation window, click "Activities," and then click
> "Remote Assistance."
> A message inviting your contact to start Remote Assistance is sent to
> your contact. When your contact clicks "Accept," the session starts.
> 4. Click "Yes" to start the session.
> 5. To take control of the system, your contact clicks "Take Control."
> 6. To log out of this session, click "Disconnect."
> Note:
> The person who sends the invitation cannot take control. Only the
> person who receives the invitation has the option of taking control.
> Thanks again for contacting MSN Messenger Technical Support, and for
> your use of Microsoft products. Have a wonderful day.
> Best Regards,
>
> Since they didn't answer the question about using remote assistance on
> Win2K, I emailed them again. Here is their reply:
>
> Based on your email, you need to know if the "Remote Assistance"
> feature its available with Windows 2000.
> To use this feature, as well as to use NetMeeting, both computers
> must have Windows Messenger installed. Windows Messenger is included
> with Windows XP, and works in conjunction with MSN Messenger.
>
> Their next email was a link to Windows Messenger, which I downloaded.
> Then I sent them an email asking about how to use Remote Assistance
> behind a firewall. This is the beginning of the email I got:
>
> Based on the information I received, I understand that you would like
> to know how to use Remote Desktop Assistance behind a firewall. You
> mentioned that you are using PIX firewall and are using Windows 2000
> Professional. I apologize if you had difficulty using this feature.
> Laurel, to be able to use Remote Desktop Assistance behind a firewall
> you have to open Port 3389 and you must have Windows XP. You can also
> experience difficulties if you or contact is behind a router.
>
> I emailed them and complained about their inconsistency. Here's the
> reply I just got:
>
> Laurel, I see you have been experiencing this issue for quite some
> time now. I apologize for the conflicting response that you received
> from my team mates; I realize this must be a confusing situation.
> Please know that I will help resolve this problem in the quickest way
> possible.
> Again, I apologize for the inconsistency; however, Alexander was
> correct when he said you cannot start Remote Assistance in Windows
> 2000. Moreover, to be able to use Remote Desktop Assistance behind a
> firewall you have to open Port 3389. You can also experience
> difficulties if you or contact is behind a router.
>
> NOW........Here is my dilemma......
>
> I installed Windows Messenger and MSN Messenger and Remote Assistance
> appears as an "activity" in MSN Messenger, however, I have not been
> able to test it for myself as yet because our network admin has been
> out sick and won't be back until next Friday (to open up port 3389).
> I'm kinda thinkin' that I WILL be able to use Remote Assistance or it
> wouldn't show up in my activities.
>
> Has anyone else been able to use Remote Assistance in Windows 2000?

No.
It is a Windows XP and later OS feature. It does not exist in Windows 2000
(of any type.)

--
Shenan Stanley
MS-MVP
--
How To Ask Questions The Smart Way
http://www.catb.org/~esr/faqs/smart-questions.html