Windows XP remote assistant not working

bms_boxer_twin

Hi Guys,
I need to fix my mum's PC in Austria. I am in the UK. I planned to use Windows Messenger and Remote Assistant to connect my PC to my mum's PC and then take a look at what the problem is.
I couldn't get the remote assitant to work yesterday between my laptop and my mum's computer. The error message I got back was :- Remote Assistant connection could not be established because the remote host name could not be resolved. Please try again.

Interestingly, when using my mum's messenger signin details, I was able to connect my laptop with my desktop using remote assistant.

I have trawled through the internet and found on the microsoft site that this is a known problem. Microsoft even offer a fix at
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/921047
but having followed the instructions, it still doesn't work.

The Microsoft telephone helpdesk tell me it is a Dell problem because they installed the O/S on my laptop, Dell tell me it is a Microsoft problem.

I just want sorting ASAP. Does anybody have any ideas? Is there another 3rd party site I could go and use for remote assistant?

albertross_2

https://www.crossloop.com
https://secure.logmein.com/home.asp?lang=en

weegie.geek

remote host name couldn't be resolved?

Why not just connect to it using the ip address, via remote desktop?

bms_boxer_twin

weegie.geek wrote: »

remote host name couldn't be resolved?

Why not just connect to it using the ip address, via remote desktop?

How do I do this? Is it easy? Would my mum also be able to do this at her end? She is essentially a Windows beginner.

weegie.geek

It's all done at your end. She might need to change a setting at her end to allow remote connections, but once she's done that you should be able to connect directly.

windows+R, mstsc, enter. put her IP in the box that pops up, connect, and log on as her.

markchadwick

It could be something to do with the firewall settings.

If you're mum is using the in-built firewall in windows, direct her to open it and check that remote assistance/desktop is allowed to pass through - I think this is in the exceptions tab. If she is using a third-party firewall, then you will need to google how to change it. Also, if she is behind a router with a firewall, she'll need to do port forwarding there to ensure the connection is passed through OK.

Also, check that your mum has enabled the remote desktop/assistance on her machine. Quick way to do this: simply right-mouse your "My Computer" icon on the desktop and choose properties. In the "Remote" tab, get your mum to tick both boxes. You can then try either if one doesn't work. This has worked for me in the past so good luck.

bms_boxer_twin

aardvarkuk wrote: »

Start, Run, type cmd hit enter, then type, ipconfig /flushdns then hit enter and then close command propmt, yourself and Mum should do this.

What does this flushdns command do? What should we do afterwards? Reattempt to connect using Windows Messenger and remote assistant?