Remote assistance using aol?

Have a friend using WinXP home editon and using aol as her SP. I have WinXP Pro, using a local SP.

She would at times like some help with her sytem and would allow me access, using RA. However, I can enable Windows Messenger (recommended to be operating), but as I mentioned, she's using aol. Is there a way for her to communcate with me that she has a problem and would like for me to connect to her machine?

 

She should be able to use windows messenger to start the session. First, she has to have you added to her contacts. Then, when you both have windows messenger running, tell her to right click on your name in the contacts list and choose Ask For Remote Assistance. You'll receive a message from her telling you that she's asking for assistance. Accept the invitation and the remote assistance window should open. You then have to click on Start Remote Assistance in the left pane in order to be able to take control of her computer.

She can also request assistance using email. To do this she needs to click start>all programs>remote assistance. Then click on Invite someone to help you. From there it should just be a matter of following the instructions. If possible, I usually have the other person use Windows Messenger for this. If the person who's asking for assistance has a firewall, Windows Messenger usually has no problems but the person asking for assistance may have do some configuring of the firewall in order for you to connect using an email invitiation.

I've never used remote assistance with AOL but I see no reason it shouldn't work the same. But then again, with AOL, anythings possible (or not possible). Give it a try and see what happens. If you want more info search the windows help file for the word assistance. It'll give you the info you need. Same go's for the windows messenger help file.

If it doesn't work for you, post back. I don't know if I'll be able to help or not but if not, somebody else here might be able to.