Windows 7 Remote Tools: Remote Assistance

The assistant can now see everything on the assistee’s computer. This allows the assistee to recreate the problem for the assistant.

remoteassistance 6 400x2702 Windows 7 Remote Tools: Remote Assistance

Successfully connected

If you look, you’ll see some other options both across the top of the Remote Assistance window on both computers. Either user can initiate a chat by clicking the Chat button. The assistee can press Pause to stop the session temporarily. Lastly and most importantly, the assistant can press the Request Control button to take control of the assistee’s computer. The assistee will once again see a window asking them to allow this.

remoteassistance 7 400x1492 Windows 7 Remote Tools: Remote Assistance

Confirm again

At this point, both the assistant and assistee can control the computer. This gives the assistant the opportunity to troubleshoot and (hopefully!) fix the problem. When you’re done, either user can stop the session by closing the Remote Assistance window.

If you connected via Easy Connect, there’s another benefit – Remote Assistance keeps a list of users you’ve connected to to make the process easier next time someone needs help.

remoteassistance 11 400x2921 Windows 7 Remote Tools: Remote Assistance

List of users you've helped previously

This list will be displayed automatically when you select Help someone who has invited you from the main Remote Assistance menu.

And that’s all there is to it. I hope you’ve found this guide helpful – consider trying this tool out next time your grandmother can’t get her email working!