Windows 7 Remote Assistance to the Rescue

Whether you need long-distance computer help or you want to provide it, Windows 7 makes remote access assistance a lot easier than it used to be. PracticallyNetworked.com has all the details on Remote Assistance.

Most of us have someone — usually a close friend or family member--to turn to for help when a computer problem has us stumped. Of course, that person often isn't available to look at your system live and in person, and troubleshooting problems over the phone can be an imprecise and frustrating affair.

Since Windows XP, Remote Assistance has provided a handy way to get or give a helping hand from a distance. But some tweaks to Remote Assistance in Windows 7 can make getting help — or giving it — easier and more convenient.

Easy Connect

In previous versions of Windows, the primary way to initiate a Remote Assistance connection was by creating an "invitation" file with info on how to find and connect to your system, and sending it to your helper via e-mail.

You can still use invitation files in Windows 7, and if your helper is running Vista or XP, you'll have to. However, if both parties have Windows 7 in common, a new feature called Easy Connect can speed up and simplify the connection process considerably by eliminating e-mail as a conduit.