Remote Assistance "Problem with the Invitation"

[Don Cohen]

My system is a Gateway 700XL, Win XP Home, SP2, all updates installed. Well
maintained, running smoothly.

I used to be able to provide assistance to my kids and their computers using
Remote Assistance initiated on their end. When I recently tried again, I
received the following error message after launching the file received via
email from them in Outlook Express:

There is a problem with the invitation and it cannot be opened.
To use Remote Assistance, the sender of this invitation will have
to send you a new invitation.

I tried temporarily disabling ZoneAlarm (Free) on both computers, disabling
NAV, etc., but no-go.

I researched this and found the suggestion to boot into Safe Mode and run:

sessmgr.exe -service

which I've done, but the problem hasn't changed.

When I check Event Manager, each time I try I find this:

RA: A XML parsing error for (local user) xxx occurred when attempting to
process a remote assistance ticket.
Event ID: 5102

In researching this, I discovered reference to SID as a possible source of
the problem.

I then recalled that about 6 months ago, I upgraded my system with a new
Hard Drive. I have used DriveImage 2002 since buying this computer, to
periodically create images of my OS partition, as back-up, and so I used a
fresh created image of the old OS partition, to recreate the prior C: drive
onto a partition of my brand new and larger hard drive. Everything else has
worked fine. I think XP has to re-verify the authenticity of my copy of
Windows, which it did without problem.

So I'm guessing that this created the SID issue, which is preventing me from
using Remote Assistance. I'm fairly knowledgeable about computer hardware
and software in general, but must confess I know virtually nothing about
SID. And I don't have on-hand any tools that could change SID. I looked at
Drive Image, and saw no reference whatsoever to it.

First - am I on the right track in suspecting an SID issue is responsible
for the Remote Assistance problem?

Second - if I am, what is the safest way to change this, what do I change it
to, and what possible unintended consequences might I incur?

Many thanks.

--
Don
Photo Website at:
http://www.dlcphotography.net

[Remove the "lens cap" for email]

 

[Sooner Al [MVP]]

My system is a Gateway 700XL, Win XP Home, SP2, all updates installed.
Well maintained, running smoothly.

I used to be able to provide assistance to my kids and their computers
using Remote Assistance initiated on their end. When I recently tried
again, I received the following error message after launching the file
received via email from them in Outlook Express:

There is a problem with the invitation and it cannot be opened.
To use Remote Assistance, the sender of this invitation will have
to send you a new invitation.

Do they use OE as their email program when issuing the invitation? If not,
sometimes the invitation file is appended with a string of characters that
make it unusable at your end. Have you tried the file method?

--

Al Jarvi (MS-MVP Windows Networking)

Please post *ALL* questions and replies to the news group for the
mutual benefit of all of us...
The MS-MVP Program - http://mvp.support.microsoft.com
This posting is provided "AS IS" with no warranties, and confers no
rights...

 

[Don Cohen]

Hi Al,

Thanks for the quick reply.

Do they use OE as their email program when issuing the invitation? If not,
sometimes the invitation file is appended with a string of characters that
make it unusable at your end. Have you tried the file method?

They are using OE on their end as well.

To further play around with this, I am trying to establish RA between my
desktop and laptop, both connected to my LinkSys WRT54G router. I've tried
with OE as well as direct file, but no go. When the request is sent from my
Laptop, I get the same error message as when it is received from my kid's
computer.

I looked at the RA file in a text editor, to confirm IP address, and it
shows the correct IP and name for the laptop that I'm sending the invitation
from.

And when I try to generate a request from my Desktop, either via OE, or
file:

"Remote Assistance Failed. Please try again."

Quite frustrating, as it used to work just fine.

--
Don
Photo Website at:
http://www.dlcphotography.net

[Remove the "lens cap" for email]

 

[thecreator]

Hi Don,

It is far easily just to use Windows Messenger or Windows Live Messenger
to start Remote Assistance.

I do it that way, all the time. Sometimes, it doesn't work at the first
attempt, but works fine on the second attempt.

Why use Windows Messenger or Windows Live Messenger, because you can
communicate with them at the same time for free. You can even have a Voice
Conversation, which doesn't slow the computers down. Don't add a WebCamera,
because that slows down the computer.


--
thecreator

My system is a Gateway 700XL, Win XP Home, SP2, all updates installed.
Well maintained, running smoothly.

I used to be able to provide assistance to my kids and their computers
using Remote Assistance initiated on their end. When I recently tried
again, I received the following error message after launching the file
received via email from them in Outlook Express:

There is a problem with the invitation and it cannot be opened.
To use Remote Assistance, the sender of this invitation will have
to send you a new invitation.

I tried temporarily disabling ZoneAlarm (Free) on both computers,
disabling NAV, etc., but no-go.

I researched this and found the suggestion to boot into Safe Mode and run:

sessmgr.exe -service

which I've done, but the problem hasn't changed.

When I check Event Manager, each time I try I find this:

RA: A XML parsing error for (local user) xxx occurred when attempting to
process a remote assistance ticket.
Event ID: 5102

In researching this, I discovered reference to SID as a possible source of
the problem.

I then recalled that about 6 months ago, I upgraded my system with a new
Hard Drive. I have used DriveImage 2002 since buying this computer, to
periodically create images of my OS partition, as back-up, and so I used a
fresh created image of the old OS partition, to recreate the prior C:
drive onto a partition of my brand new and larger hard drive. Everything
else has worked fine. I think XP has to re-verify the authenticity of my
copy of Windows, which it did without problem.

So I'm guessing that this created the SID issue, which is preventing me
from using Remote Assistance. I'm fairly knowledgeable about computer
hardware and software in general, but must confess I know virtually
nothing about SID. And I don't have on-hand any tools that could change
SID. I looked at Drive Image, and saw no reference whatsoever to it.

First - am I on the right track in suspecting an SID issue is responsible
for the Remote Assistance problem?

Second - if I am, what is the safest way to change this, what do I change
it to, and what possible unintended consequences might I incur?

Many thanks.

--
Don
Photo Website at:
http://www.dlcphotography.net

[Remove the "lens cap" for email]

 

[Don Cohen]

Hi,

It is far easily just to use Windows Messenger or Windows Live
Messenger to start Remote Assistance.

I do it that way, all the time. Sometimes, it doesn't work at the first
attempt, but works fine on the second attempt.

Why use Windows Messenger or Windows Live Messenger, because you can
communicate with them at the same time for free. You can even have a Voice
Conversation, which doesn't slow the computers down. Don't add a
WebCamera, because that slows down the computer.

Thanks for the reply and suggestion.

Do you have any reason to think that this will work where using OE or direct
file creation didn't? Does it operate via a different mechanism, or is it
just a different way of delivering the same RcBuddy file? If it's just a
different delivery mechanism, the result will be the same. We have used OE
previously, without difficulty.

I'm increasingly convinced that my problem is arising from an SID change
that occurred when I replaced my hard drive and used DriveImage to clone the
OS to the new hard drive.

If that's the case, I really need information on what tool to use to change
the SID (NewSID?), and more importantly, how do I know what SID to change it
back to??

Thanks again.

--
Don
Photo Website at:
http://www.dlcphotography.net

[Remove the "lens cap" for email]


P.S. We have free cell phone communication (Alltel MyCircle) so don't need
the computer for that. We also use ICQ for chat and file transfer if
needed.

 

[thecreator]

Hi Don,

Using it through Windows Messenger or Windows Live Messenger is almost
instant, and when you attempt it through Outlook Express and you are not
talking with the individual at the time, you don't know exactly what the
problem is. Plus the fact, that the Internet could have an hiccup and you
blame your setup.


--
thecreator

Hi,

It is far easily just to use Windows Messenger or Windows Live
Messenger to start Remote Assistance.

I do it that way, all the time. Sometimes, it doesn't work at the
first attempt, but works fine on the second attempt.

Why use Windows Messenger or Windows Live Messenger, because you can
communicate with them at the same time for free. You can even have a
Voice Conversation, which doesn't slow the computers down. Don't add a
WebCamera, because that slows down the computer.

Thanks for the reply and suggestion.

Do you have any reason to think that this will work where using OE or
direct file creation didn't? Does it operate via a different mechanism,
or is it just a different way of delivering the same RcBuddy file? If
it's just a different delivery mechanism, the result will be the same. We
have used OE previously, without difficulty.

I'm increasingly convinced that my problem is arising from an SID change
that occurred when I replaced my hard drive and used DriveImage to clone
the OS to the new hard drive.

If that's the case, I really need information on what tool to use to
change the SID (NewSID?), and more importantly, how do I know what SID to
change it back to??

Thanks again.

--
Don
Photo Website at:
http://www.dlcphotography.net

[Remove the "lens cap" for email]


P.S. We have free cell phone communication (Alltel MyCircle) so don't need
the computer for that. We also use ICQ for chat and file transfer if
needed.

 

[Don Cohen]

Using it through Windows Messenger or Windows Live Messenger is almost

instant, and when you attempt it through Outlook Express and you are not
talking with the individual at the time, you don't know exactly what the
problem is. Plus the fact, that the Internet could have an hiccup and you
blame your setup.

I appreciate the input (and offer via email).

I'm reluctant to go this route, though, for 2 reasons:

1. It used to work just fine using Outlook Express, so the fact that it's
not working now suggests the problem arises elsewhere.

2. I find Windows Messenger/MSN Messenger etc. to be quite obnoxious and
intrusive, and difficult to get rid of. I remember having to go through a
lot of nonsense to prevent it from continuing to load and get in the way, so
I'd really rather not go that route.

Again, I do appreciate the advice, but I really suspect the problem has to
do with the SID change on my computer, so Remote Assistance is likely not to
work regardless of whether I would use OE, direct file, or Messenger.

--
Don
Photo Website at:
http://www.dlcphotography.net

[Remove the "lens cap" for email]

 

[thecreator]

Hi Don,

I use Windows Live Messenger 8.1. While I have it loading and starting
up when I boot up my computer, it is very easy to stop

From the Main Window, at the top, click on Tools, then Options. Click on
the General Tab. Uncheck the 1st, 3rd and 4th options. Click Apply then OK.
Reboot and it no longer loads. This program can also be uninstalled. Windows
Messenger can not be uninstalled, but you can configure Windows Components,
not to show it.

You can launch Remote Assistance from the Conversation Window. From the
Menu Bar, click Actions, then click Request Remote Assistance.

You must allow Windows Messenger, Windows Live Call, and Messenger Allow
Full Access through the Firewall. If using Outlook Express, you must do so
for that also.


--
thecreator

Using it through Windows Messenger or Windows Live Messenger is almost
instant, and when you attempt it through Outlook Express and you are not
talking with the individual at the time, you don't know exactly what the
problem is. Plus the fact, that the Internet could have an hiccup and you
blame your setup.

I appreciate the input (and offer via email).

I'm reluctant to go this route, though, for 2 reasons:

1. It used to work just fine using Outlook Express, so the fact that it's
not working now suggests the problem arises elsewhere.

2. I find Windows Messenger/MSN Messenger etc. to be quite obnoxious and
intrusive, and difficult to get rid of. I remember having to go through a
lot of nonsense to prevent it from continuing to load and get in the way,
so I'd really rather not go that route.

Again, I do appreciate the advice, but I really suspect the problem has to
do with the SID change on my computer, so Remote Assistance is likely not
to work regardless of whether I would use OE, direct file, or Messenger.

--
Don
Photo Website at:
http://www.dlcphotography.net

[Remove the "lens cap" for email]