RE: problem connecting to remote computer

John - I will also be looking for a helpful response to your question as I am
unable to make this work, even with both PC's in same home on a network. I
am trying to use Windows Live Messenger 8.0 to launch the remote assistance.
Any help from MS?

"John in CT" wrote:

> I am trying to help my mother who lives in FL, while I live in CT, using
> Windows Messenger / Ask for Remote Assistance function. We both run Windows
> XP with Service Pack 2. While visiting FL, I tested the functionality and I
> was able to see her desktop on my PC and control her mouse (we both had high
> speed connections but to the same ISP). However, now that I'm back in CT I
> am unable to make a connection (again each with high speed connections, but
> now with different ISPs).
>
> We both open Windows Messenger and have no problem instant messaging each
> other. Then when she clicks "Ask For Request Assistance" I get an error
> message "Remote assistance connection could not be established because the
> remote host name could not be resolved."
>
> I found Article ID 921047 in Microsoft support, and I followed the
> instructions to insert my PC's IP address in an RAInvitation file. My mother
> received this as an email attachment,, saved it to her desktop, and double
> clicked it, as per instructions. Nothing happened. And when we then tried
> as before to connect via a "Ask for Remote Assistance" I still get the same
> error message.
>
> Any ideas ??? When my mother clicks on the RAInvitation file, is that
> supposed to trigger a request to my PC? or does she need to restart Windows
> Messenger first?