Unsolicited Remote Assistance
We rely heavily on unsolicited Remote Assistance (accessed from hcp://cn=microsoft%20corporation,l=redmond,s=washington,c=us/Remote%20Assistance/Escalation/Unsolicited/unsolicitedrcui.htm) for helping our users: all we need is the computer name (we have several ways of determining that), and it is easier than trying to talk them through finding the Remote Assistance section of Help Center (complicated by HP mucking about and customizing the Help Center so there is no consistent place to find it)and emailing a request (especially since sometimes the help that is needed is to set up their email). In Windows 7 apparently the Helpcenter that this depends on has been removed ('hcp:// is not a registered protocol' and the path has been removed).How do we as administrators do unsolicited remote access in Win 7 (To XP and future Win7 computers)? Considering we will be in mixed XP/Win7 mode for quite a while yet, we need a simple way to initiate a Remote Assistance session. Thanks.
May 11th, 2009 7:30pm

We rely heavily on unsolicited Remote Assistance (accessed from hcp://cn=microsoft%20corporation,l=redmond,s=washington,c=us/Remote%20Assistance/Escalation/Unsolicited/unsolicitedrcui.htm) for helping our users: all we need is the computer name (we have several ways of determining that), and it is easier than trying to talk them through finding the Remote Assistance section of Help Center (complicated by HP mucking about and customizing the Help Center so there is no consistent place to find it)and emailing a request (especially since sometimes the help that is needed is to set up their email). In Windows 7 apparently the Helpcenter that this depends on has been removed ('hcp:// is not a registered protocol' and the path has been removed).How do we as administrators do unsolicited remote access in Win 7 (To XP and future Win7 computers)? Considering we will be in mixed XP/Win7 mode for quite a while yet, we need a simple way to initiate a Remote Assistance session. Thanks. HiDoing a bit of research on this subject, it looks like there was a major change in the unsolicitated remote assistance feature when Windows Vista was released. This has not changed in Windows 7.Windows Vista & Remote AssistanceThe documentation for RAin Windows 7is still sparse, due to the still early beta stage, but I did find a free download for a sample chapter from the upcoming Windows 7 Resource Kit publication and it just happens to be the chapter on RA in Windows 7. There is a section in that document on 'Interoperability with Remote Assistance in Windows XP'. Here is the link.Chapter 23: Support Users and Remote Assistance You might also want to monitor the following resource whichis constantly being updated.Windows 7 Technical Library RoadmapI hope this information is helpful.Regards,Thank You for testing Windows 7 Ronnie Vernon MVP
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May 11th, 2009 8:49pm

'msra.exe /offerra' is what I was looking for (page 27 of the pdf). Thanks!
May 11th, 2009 10:23pm

Exactly what I was looking for. Thank you! I just created a desktop shortcut pointing to msra.exe /offerra
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April 5th, 2010 10:38pm

Corey, I know this is an all post but, could you explain how to do the "desktop shortcut" or maybe you can share yours. Thank you
March 8th, 2011 2:38am

Corey, I know this is an all post but, could you explain how to do the "desktop shortcut" or maybe you can share yours. Right click > New > Shortcut. Where it says to type the location, enter "msra.exe /offerra" without the quotes. Click Next, give it a name (Like "Offer Remote Assistance") then click Finish. BTW, this really helped. I just upgraded my work computer from XP to Win7 and this is exactly what I needed to offer my customers remote assistance (when SCCM fails).
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April 16th, 2011 1:07am

Thank you for the answer. I am using C:\Windows\System32\msra.exe /offerra
June 17th, 2011 1:15am

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