Windows Vista Forums

Remote Assistance not working

  1. #1


    jab87red Guest

    Remote Assistance not working

    After a huge virus and spyware issue, my last option was to use Remote
    Assistance.

    No luck.

    When I accessed it, I was told I didn't have the latest version of Windows
    Live Messenger. However, I have 2008. Plus the website I'm sent to via that
    message, is the same one I used to download the 2008 version.

    So I'm being sent in circles. Perhaps there's already an update for the 2008
    version I'm unaware of?? If so, does anyone know the link?



    I also tried looking at the tool bar for WLM, in search of a "Check For
    Updates" option. Didn't find anything.

    When I click Start > Help & Support and then select the option to invite a
    friend to help me via RA, Help & Support tells me that I don't have Windows
    Messenger installed. It even tells me this while I'm logged in.

    Any advice?

      My System SpecsSystem Spec

  2. #2


    Rapid Robert Guest

    Re: Remote Assistance not working

    I had a similar problem after loading new firmware on my router. After a
    lot of digging I found that the UPnP protocol had been turned off by the
    router reconfiguration. As I understand it, Remote Assistance relies on
    UPnP for port forwarding and can't get through the router without it. I
    don't know if that's your problem but if you're behind a router it's worth
    looking into. Be aware however that recent advisories have reported new
    security risks involved with having UPnP enabled.

    "jab87red" <jab87red@xxxxxx> wrote in message
    news:6C78B2EB-71FF-4E3B-9B75-E0BC5281F737@xxxxxx

    > After a huge virus and spyware issue, my last option was to use Remote
    > Assistance.
    >
    > No luck.
    >
    > When I accessed it, I was told I didn't have the latest version of Windows
    > Live Messenger. However, I have 2008. Plus the website I'm sent to via
    > that
    > message, is the same one I used to download the 2008 version.
    >
    > So I'm being sent in circles. Perhaps there's already an update for the
    > 2008
    > version I'm unaware of?? If so, does anyone know the link?
    >
    > I also tried looking at the tool bar for WLM, in search of a "Check For
    > Updates" option. Didn't find anything.
    >
    > When I click Start > Help & Support and then select the option to invite a
    > friend to help me via RA, Help & Support tells me that I don't have
    > Windows
    > Messenger installed. It even tells me this while I'm logged in.
    >
    > Any advice?


      My System SpecsSystem Spec

  3. #3


    Oscar Guest

    Re: Remote Assistance not working

    Hello jab87red, Windows Messenger is not the same program as Windows
    Live Messenger. Perhaps you don't have Windows Messenger installed?
    Windows Messenger is needed for certain functions.

    http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Windows_Messenger
    http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Windows_live_messenger


    jab87red wrote:

    > After a huge virus and spyware issue, my last option was to use Remote
    > Assistance.
    >
    > No luck.
    >
    > When I accessed it, I was told I didn't have the latest version of Windows
    > Live Messenger. However, I have 2008. Plus the website I'm sent to via that
    > message, is the same one I used to download the 2008 version.
    >
    > So I'm being sent in circles. Perhaps there's already an update for the 2008
    > version I'm unaware of?? If so, does anyone know the link?
    >
    > I also tried looking at the tool bar for WLM, in search of a "Check For
    > Updates" option. Didn't find anything.
    >
    > When I click Start > Help & Support and then select the option to invite a
    > friend to help me via RA, Help & Support tells me that I don't have Windows
    > Messenger installed. It even tells me this while I'm logged in.
    >
    > Any advice?

      My System SpecsSystem Spec

  4. #4


    Rapid Robert Guest

    Re: Remote Assistance not working

    And here's another possibility. This just happened to me for the first time
    a few hours ago. For the first time, someone invited me to a video call on
    live messenger while I was using my recently installed high resolution film
    scanner. The scanner is on the same USB hub as the web cam and it's a real
    pig due to the very large amounts of data it transmits. My correspondent
    got messages similar to those you reported until I turned off the scanner.
    Then the call went through. Conclusion: turn off any other USB devices
    that might be interfering with the operation of your web cam.

    "jab87red" <jab87red@xxxxxx> wrote in message
    news:6C78B2EB-71FF-4E3B-9B75-E0BC5281F737@xxxxxx

    > After a huge virus and spyware issue, my last option was to use Remote
    > Assistance.
    >
    > No luck.
    >
    > When I accessed it, I was told I didn't have the latest version of Windows
    > Live Messenger. However, I have 2008. Plus the website I'm sent to via
    > that
    > message, is the same one I used to download the 2008 version.
    >
    > So I'm being sent in circles. Perhaps there's already an update for the
    > 2008
    > version I'm unaware of?? If so, does anyone know the link?
    >
    > I also tried looking at the tool bar for WLM, in search of a "Check For
    > Updates" option. Didn't find anything.
    >
    > When I click Start > Help & Support and then select the option to invite a
    > friend to help me via RA, Help & Support tells me that I don't have
    > Windows
    > Messenger installed. It even tells me this while I'm logged in.
    >
    > Any advice?


      My System SpecsSystem Spec

  5. #5


    Jonathan Kay [MVP] Guest

    Re: Remote Assistance not working

    Greetings,

    The problem, as Oscar already said, is that you need Windows Messenger installed to use
    Remote Assistance in Windows Live Messenger (in XP anyway).

    The error message you're receiving is -wrong-, as is the link you're getting. It's been
    bugged before and one day might be fixed.

    So, what you need to do is download Windows Messenger from here:
    http://microsoft.com/downloads/detai...f-9157a3b3d774

    After this is installed, you can then use Remote Assistance in Windows Live Messenger.

    --
    Jonathan Kay
    Microsoft MVP - Windows Live Messenger
    MSN Messenger/Windows Messenger
    MessengerGeek Blog: http://www.messengergeek.com
    Messenger Resources: http://messenger.jonathankay.com
    (c) 2008 Jonathan Kay - If redistributing, you must include this signature or citation
    --


    "jab87red" <jab87red@xxxxxx> wrote in message
    news:6C78B2EB-71FF-4E3B-9B75-E0BC5281F737@xxxxxx

    > After a huge virus and spyware issue, my last option was to use Remote
    > Assistance.
    >
    > No luck.
    >
    > When I accessed it, I was told I didn't have the latest version of Windows
    > Live Messenger. However, I have 2008. Plus the website I'm sent to via that
    > message, is the same one I used to download the 2008 version.
    >
    > So I'm being sent in circles. Perhaps there's already an update for the 2008
    > version I'm unaware of?? If so, does anyone know the link?
    >
    > I also tried looking at the tool bar for WLM, in search of a "Check For
    > Updates" option. Didn't find anything.
    >
    > When I click Start > Help & Support and then select the option to invite a
    > friend to help me via RA, Help & Support tells me that I don't have Windows
    > Messenger installed. It even tells me this while I'm logged in.
    >
    > Any advice?


      My System SpecsSystem Spec

  6. #6


    jab87red Guest

    RE: Remote Assistance not working

    Configuring my modem doesn't seem to be an option, because according to my
    phone company, my modem has no interface and it gets the IP address directly
    from the line.

    This is why when I typed in the 192.168.... I had no success in accessing it.

    I also downloaded Windows Messenger version 5.1 and this oldschool program
    actually helped me get even further.

    With 5.1 I was actually able to send an invite for RA to a friend.
    Unfortunately his computer said the "Remote host name could not be resolved".

    And other posts suggest configuring the modem to forward port 3389 requests.
    But if I can't access my modem, what option is there?

    Advice?

    "jab87red" wrote:

    > After a huge virus and spyware issue, my last option was to use Remote
    > Assistance.
    >
    > No luck.
    >
    > When I accessed it, I was told I didn't have the latest version of Windows
    > Live Messenger. However, I have 2008. Plus the website I'm sent to via that
    > message, is the same one I used to download the 2008 version.
    >
    > So I'm being sent in circles. Perhaps there's already an update for the 2008
    > version I'm unaware of?? If so, does anyone know the link?
    >
    > I also tried looking at the tool bar for WLM, in search of a "Check For
    > Updates" option. Didn't find anything.
    >
    > When I click Start > Help & Support and then select the option to invite a
    > friend to help me via RA, Help & Support tells me that I don't have Windows
    > Messenger installed. It even tells me this while I'm logged in.
    >
    > Any advice?

      My System SpecsSystem Spec

  7. #7


    Jonathan Kay [MVP] Guest

    Re: Remote Assistance not working

    Hi,

    Forwarding 3389 won't do anything I'm afraid -- Messenger uses a random external port which
    is forwarded to the internal port 3389.

    "Remote host name could not be resolved" is just the generic message for not being able to
    connect to you. It sounds like your modem acts as some type of router/NAT and if it does,
    unless it supports Universal Plug and Play (UPnP), this won't work.

    You might try another solution for this, like Microsoft SharedView which should get around a
    lot of these problems:
    http://microsoft.com/downloads/detai...6-6d440fe9522b

    --
    Jonathan Kay
    Microsoft MVP - Windows Live Messenger
    MSN Messenger/Windows Messenger
    MessengerGeek Blog: http://www.messengergeek.com
    Messenger Resources: http://messenger.jonathankay.com
    (c) 2008 Jonathan Kay - If redistributing, you must include this signature or citation
    --




    "jab87red" <jab87red@xxxxxx> wrote in message
    news:7E2216FF-C592-45E9-A030-051D1A9F8913@xxxxxx

    > Configuring my modem doesn't seem to be an option, because according to my
    > phone company, my modem has no interface and it gets the IP address directly
    > from the line.
    >
    > This is why when I typed in the 192.168.... I had no success in accessing it.
    >
    > I also downloaded Windows Messenger version 5.1 and this oldschool program
    > actually helped me get even further.
    >
    > With 5.1 I was actually able to send an invite for RA to a friend.
    > Unfortunately his computer said the "Remote host name could not be resolved".
    >
    > And other posts suggest configuring the modem to forward port 3389 requests.
    > But if I can't access my modem, what option is there?
    >
    > Advice?
    >
    > "jab87red" wrote:
    >

    >> After a huge virus and spyware issue, my last option was to use Remote
    >> Assistance.
    >>
    >> No luck.
    >>
    >> When I accessed it, I was told I didn't have the latest version of Windows
    >> Live Messenger. However, I have 2008. Plus the website I'm sent to via that
    >> message, is the same one I used to download the 2008 version.
    >>
    >> So I'm being sent in circles. Perhaps there's already an update for the 2008
    >> version I'm unaware of?? If so, does anyone know the link?
    >>
    >> I also tried looking at the tool bar for WLM, in search of a "Check For
    >> Updates" option. Didn't find anything.
    >>
    >> When I click Start > Help & Support and then select the option to invite a
    >> friend to help me via RA, Help & Support tells me that I don't have Windows
    >> Messenger installed. It even tells me this while I'm logged in.
    >>
    >> Any advice?


      My System SpecsSystem Spec

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