Having issues with remote assistance

[threepe]

My friends computer is using Vista Home Premium
I am using XP Pro SP2.

For some reason every time she sends me a remote assistance request using Windows Live Messgener it fails with the following message:
"A Remote Assistance connection could not be established. You may want to check for network issues or determine if the invitation expired or was cancelled by the person who sent it."

Can anyone offer some suggestions?

This machine has previously received these requests without issue. I am using the Windows Firewall, so is she.

[arthurleung]

To be honese I've never ever able to get Remote Assistance to work.
May be you have added a router somewhere in-between?

I would recommend you to install a copy of UltraVNC which you can do pretty much the same thing.

[threepe]

I managed to get it to work internally today, and also found out that the port that it uses by default is 3389. I've not had a chance to test it externally yet.

I will look into your alternative, thanks for the suggestion

[gurpz1]

another good alternative is teamviewer and is free, works in xp and vista simple and easy to use, doesnt even require installation and works even if you are on a network

[threepe]

Just tried Ultra VNC, my machine (server) locked up instantly once the connection was established. I may look into seeing if I can fix that, but will try teamviewer first, see how that goes.

I just need something that is really amazingly simple for the client. It really does need to be child's play for the person who is wanting assistance (yes, they are that bad...but shhhh I did not say that )

P.S. how do you thank people, I don't see a button that I can press.

[Splash]

I'm guessing this is a router/firewalling issue.

In terms of remote assistance is their machine configured to allow it? Control Panel>System>Remote>Allow Remote Assistance invitations to be sent from this computer.

Next thing to check is the firewall. As you've mentioned it runs over port 3389, though I believe if the router is UPnP enabled it it should configure the relevant router rules for you.

Once those are setup it should work a treat, unless their ISP is blocking the port (not as ridiculous as I'd like to think)

[gurpz1]

how teamviewer works is that when you run it, it automatically assigns you a username + pass. you can then give this to ther person who wants to connect to you and that is it. simple

[threepe]

Thanks people

Teamviewer looks great, just tested it. Worked a dream. Problem is that its not free, and in the next few months I want to be able to offer online support to customers. The pricing of Teamviewer is not that attractive for the level of business that it is likely to generate. Although that of course may change in the future.

Still not had a chance to test Remote Desktop Connection externally. I do know that neither router in the chain is uPnP enabled, nor can they be (too damn old).

I'd like to get UltraVNC working, my computer just freezes whenever a connection is established. TeamViewer does seem to be the best, but its costly.

[gurpz1]

ohh i thought u meant remote assistance for personal use for which teamviewer is free.

[threepe]

ohh i thought u meant remote assistance for personal use for which teamviewer is free.

yes, I am sorry I should have said. Starting out now for free, but hoping to expand. Did not really want to learn some software only to change it later. UltraVNC seems to be hard going to get it to work

[arthurleung]

yes, I am sorry I should have said. Starting out now for free, but hoping to expand. Did not really want to learn some software only to change it later. UltraVNC seems to be hard going to get it to work

Not sure why it doesn't work for you, mine worked out of the box with just setting the password. Just make sure you don't set "lock workstation when disconnect". It prevents me from reconnecting somehow :S