Remote Assistance Problem with MSN Messenger

Whenever I receive an invitation for Remote Assistance via MSN
Messenger and I click the link to accept, after a while I get the
message:

"Remote Assistance connection could not be established because the
remote host name could not be resolved. Please try again."

I have noticed that a lot of people are experiencing this problem with
MSN Messenger and Windows XP, but have not found a solution yet.

I am using Windows XP Pro and the latest version of MSN Messenger and
Windows Messenger. I have the Windows XP firewall feature disabled and
I even disabled my software firewall and still cannot get rid of this
problem. I even disconnected my router and connected the computer
straight to the DSL modem to eliminate the router as a possibility and
it still does not work. There is an obvious problem with Windows XP
and the Remote Assistance feature.

How has anyone solved this problem?

Thanks,

Dan

NeoSadist
Wed Sep 10 17:53:40 CDT 2003

Dan A. wrote:

> Whenever I receive an invitation for Remote Assistance via MSN
> Messenger and I click the link to accept, after a while I get the
> message:
>

An invitation? Uh, no offense, but instant messaging software is
notoriously a security risk, and being able to remotely control someone
else's computer can be a security risk in and of itself (i.e. having the
service makes it more likely that it can be used against you). It's just a
simple probability calculation. It's like saying you're more likely to be
remotely "hacked" than if you're not connected to the internet.

> "Remote Assistance connection could not be established because the
> remote host name could not be resolved. Please try again."
>
> I have noticed that a lot of people are experiencing this problem with
> MSN Messenger and Windows XP, but have not found a solution yet.

Uh, why do you need it? Can you live without it? Those are things you can
ask yourself, you may need to lower your expectations. It's a nice, new,
exciting ability, but netmeeting has had it for a while. Even then, it's
new, so they're still working out the problems with it (ref. software
development).

>
> I am using Windows XP Pro and the latest version of MSN Messenger and
> Windows Messenger. I have the Windows XP firewall feature disabled and
> I even disabled my software firewall and still cannot get rid of this
> problem. I even disconnected my router and connected the computer
> straight to the DSL modem to eliminate the router as a possibility and
> it still does not work. There is an obvious problem with Windows XP
> and the Remote Assistance feature.

Uh, no, it's msn messenger and the windows network messaging service.
They're different, and honestly the windows network messaging service is a
security risk for home users who are not on a corporate network. I suggest
disabling it (control panel > admin tools > services > messaging service >
disable).
You should keep your windows xp firewall, in my opinion. However, you
should not use two firewalls at once. Either disable the windows firewall
and use the software firewall (if you truly bought it), or uninstall the
software firewall and use the windows xp firewall.
Also, you have a router? Most routers by default perform NAT (network
address translation), which is technically classified as a firewall,
therefore you were using three firewalls at the same time? The key to
security isn't how many firewalls you have. If you're still being pestered
by the windows messaging service, you should've disabled it. However,
there are other security vulnerabilities with windows, I suggest you use a
firewall (not including the router's NAT firewall, cause that is a weak
firewall, so leave that one alone and ignore that).
But the other ways to keep things secure is to 1. patch things that have
problems, like using windows update, 2. use a firewall, 3. disable things
you don't need, in this case the windows network messaging service, 4. use
hard to crack passwords, 5. use antivirus software, 6. get a real browser
that has built-in pop-up blocker abilities, etc. 7. get an operating system
with much higher user and file system security (unix/linux can be more
secure, see www.cert.org for other details on this security issue).

>
> How has anyone solved this problem?
>
> Thanks,
>
> Dan

--
" ... and are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable rights ... "
--Declaration of Independance

danger66
Wed Sep 10 20:07:58 CDT 2003

NeoSadist <neosad1st@charter.net> wrote in message news:<vlvaoucf9bhq08@corp.supernews.com>...
> Dan A. wrote:
>
> > Whenever I receive an invitation for Remote Assistance via MSN
> > Messenger and I click the link to accept, after a while I get the
> > message:
> >
>
> An invitation? Uh, no offense, but instant messaging software is
> notoriously a security risk, and being able to remotely control someone
> else's computer can be a security risk in and of itself (i.e. having the
> service makes it more likely that it can be used against you). It's just a
> simple probability calculation. It's like saying you're more likely to be
> remotely "hacked" than if you're not connected to the internet.
>
> > "Remote Assistance connection could not be established because the
> > remote host name could not be resolved. Please try again."
> >
> > I have noticed that a lot of people are experiencing this problem with
> > MSN Messenger and Windows XP, but have not found a solution yet.
>
> Uh, why do you need it? Can you live without it? Those are things you can
> ask yourself, you may need to lower your expectations. It's a nice, new,
> exciting ability, but netmeeting has had it for a while. Even then, it's
> new, so they're still working out the problems with it (ref. software
> development).

Sir, I appreciate the security lesson. I have used NetMeeting before
and like it more than MSN Messenger. The problem is that, even though
NM comes with Win XP, it has to be enabled. I want to be able to make
everything as easy as possible for the user on the other end (who
already has MSN Messenger installed, but who is not very computer
literate) that wants to give me access to his computer for training
purposes. Microsoft is making it more and more difficult for the
average computer user to use NM, but using MSN Messenger of Windows
Messenger is easy. I know that it can pose a security risk, but I
can't hide under a rock. There are customers that have needs that can
be met with these free programs.

>
> >
> > I am using Windows XP Pro and the latest version of MSN Messenger and
> > Windows Messenger. I have the Windows XP firewall feature disabled and
> > I even disabled my software firewall and still cannot get rid of this
> > problem. I even disconnected my router and connected the computer
> > straight to the DSL modem to eliminate the router as a possibility and
> > it still does not work. There is an obvious problem with Windows XP
> > and the Remote Assistance feature.
>
> Uh, no, it's msn messenger and the windows network messaging service.
> They're different, and honestly the windows network messaging service is a
> security risk for home users who are not on a corporate network. I suggest
> disabling it (control panel > admin tools > services > messaging service >
> disable).
> You should keep your windows xp firewall, in my opinion.

I mentioned previously, that I don't have the Windows XP firewall
becaue I already use a software firewall (Norton Internet Security
2003).

However, you
> should not use two firewalls at once. Either disable the windows firewall
> and use the software firewall (if you truly bought it), or uninstall the
> software firewall and use the windows xp firewall.

I don't. I only use the software firewall.

> Also, you have a router? Most routers by default perform NAT (network
> address translation), which is technically classified as a firewall,
> therefore you were using three firewalls at the same time? The key to
> security isn't how many firewalls you have. If you're still being pestered
> by the windows messaging service, you should've disabled it. However,

I am not being pestered. I just want to make the Remote Assistance
feature work using Windows XP, as stated in my original post.

> there are other security vulnerabilities with windows, I suggest you use a
> firewall (not including the router's NAT firewall, cause that is a weak
> firewall, so leave that one alone and ignore that).
> But the other ways to keep things secure is to 1. patch things that have
> problems, like using windows update, 2. use a firewall, 3. disable things
> you don't need, in this case the windows network messaging service, 4. use
> hard to crack passwords, 5. use antivirus software, 6. get a real browser
> that has built-in pop-up blocker abilities, etc. 7. get an operating system
> with much higher user and file system security (unix/linux can be more
> secure, see www.cert.org for other details on this security issue).

Sir, this post is not about security. I just want to know how to get
around the problem described in my original post regarding MSN
Messenger's Remote Assistance problem with Windows XP.

Again, does anyone have a solution to the problem described in the
original post?

>
> >
> > How has anyone solved this problem?
> >
> > Thanks,
> >
> > Dan

Gilbert
Thu Sep 11 22:00:31 CDT 2003

I also would like to have answers to this matter.

And Dan, I believe we are like-minded concerning your response to NeoSadist
;-)

waiting.....for the answer that will set us free




"Dan A." <danger66@yahoo.com> wrote in message
news:8c09eaf6.0309101707.64180014@posting.google.com...
> NeoSadist <neosad1st@charter.net> wrote in message
news:<vlvaoucf9bhq08@corp.supernews.com>...
> > Dan A. wrote:
> >
> > > Whenever I receive an invitation for Remote Assistance via MSN
> > > Messenger and I click the link to accept, after a while I get the
> > > message:
> > >
> >
> > An invitation? Uh, no offense, but instant messaging software is
> > notoriously a security risk, and being able to remotely control someone
> > else's computer can be a security risk in and of itself (i.e. having the
> > service makes it more likely that it can be used against you). It's
just a
> > simple probability calculation. It's like saying you're more likely to
be
> > remotely "hacked" than if you're not connected to the internet.
> >
> > > "Remote Assistance connection could not be established because the
> > > remote host name could not be resolved. Please try again."
> > >
> > > I have noticed that a lot of people are experiencing this problem with
> > > MSN Messenger and Windows XP, but have not found a solution yet.
> >
> > Uh, why do you need it? Can you live without it? Those are things you
can
> > ask yourself, you may need to lower your expectations. It's a nice,
new,
> > exciting ability, but netmeeting has had it for a while. Even then,
it's
> > new, so they're still working out the problems with it (ref. software
> > development).
>
> Sir, I appreciate the security lesson. I have used NetMeeting before
> and like it more than MSN Messenger. The problem is that, even though
> NM comes with Win XP, it has to be enabled. I want to be able to make
> everything as easy as possible for the user on the other end (who
> already has MSN Messenger installed, but who is not very computer
> literate) that wants to give me access to his computer for training
> purposes. Microsoft is making it more and more difficult for the
> average computer user to use NM, but using MSN Messenger of Windows
> Messenger is easy. I know that it can pose a security risk, but I
> can't hide under a rock. There are customers that have needs that can
> be met with these free programs.
>
> >
> > >
> > > I am using Windows XP Pro and the latest version of MSN Messenger and
> > > Windows Messenger. I have the Windows XP firewall feature disabled and
> > > I even disabled my software firewall and still cannot get rid of this
> > > problem. I even disconnected my router and connected the computer
> > > straight to the DSL modem to eliminate the router as a possibility and
> > > it still does not work. There is an obvious problem with Windows XP
> > > and the Remote Assistance feature.
> >
> > Uh, no, it's msn messenger and the windows network messaging service.
> > They're different, and honestly the windows network messaging service is
a
> > security risk for home users who are not on a corporate network. I
suggest
> > disabling it (control panel > admin tools > services > messaging service
>
> > disable).
> > You should keep your windows xp firewall, in my opinion.
>
> I mentioned previously, that I don't have the Windows XP firewall
> becaue I already use a software firewall (Norton Internet Security
> 2003).
>
> However, you
> > should not use two firewalls at once. Either disable the windows
firewall
> > and use the software firewall (if you truly bought it), or uninstall the
> > software firewall and use the windows xp firewall.
>
> I don't. I only use the software firewall.
>
> > Also, you have a router? Most routers by default perform NAT (network
> > address translation), which is technically classified as a firewall,
> > therefore you were using three firewalls at the same time? The key to
> > security isn't how many firewalls you have. If you're still being
pestered
> > by the windows messaging service, you should've disabled it. However,
>
> I am not being pestered. I just want to make the Remote Assistance
> feature work using Windows XP, as stated in my original post.
>
> > there are other security vulnerabilities with windows, I suggest you use
a
> > firewall (not including the router's NAT firewall, cause that is a weak
> > firewall, so leave that one alone and ignore that).
> > But the other ways to keep things secure is to 1. patch things that have
> > problems, like using windows update, 2. use a firewall, 3. disable
things
> > you don't need, in this case the windows network messaging service, 4.
use
> > hard to crack passwords, 5. use antivirus software, 6. get a real
browser
> > that has built-in pop-up blocker abilities, etc. 7. get an operating
system
> > with much higher user and file system security (unix/linux can be more
> > secure, see www.cert.org for other details on this security issue).
>
> Sir, this post is not about security. I just want to know how to get
> around the problem described in my original post regarding MSN
> Messenger's Remote Assistance problem with Windows XP.
>
> Again, does anyone have a solution to the problem described in the
> original post?
>
> >
> > >
> > > How has anyone solved this problem?
> > >
> > > Thanks,
> > >
> > > Dan

danger66
Fri Sep 12 13:46:29 CDT 2003

"Gilbert Fleurant" <gilbert.fleurant@sympatico.ca> wrote in message news:<#KFqeoNeDHA.1732@TK2MSFTNGP12.phx.gbl>...
> I also would like to have answers to this matter.
>
> And Dan, I believe we are like-minded concerning your response to NeoSadist
> ;-)
>
> waiting.....for the answer that will set us free
>

Gilbert, I am amazed that a solution is nowhere to be found. Other
users must have encountered this problem already. Let's see if anyone
knows anything...

Slugbait
Sat Sep 13 19:44:36 CDT 2003

Not many people realize this, but MSN Messenger version 5
and 6 has somewhat of a dependency on Windows Messenger
on XP. Some advanced features such as Remote Assistance
requires version 4.7 or later of Windows Messenger to
work correctly.

If the machine in question still has v4.0 (or the
original build of v4.6 that installs with SP1), go to
Windows Update and grab version 4.7 (I highly recommend
that you do not install version 5.0 of Windows Messenger).

In addition, Remote Assistance (and app sharing) uses the
T.120 stack provided by NetMeeting. Unfortunately, the
front-end UI makes RA performance painfully slow. I would
suggest NetMeeting as well for app sharing. Here's a
trick: if you have a static IP, your friend can create
a "speeddial" to your machine, and even store it on the
desktop...double-click it, and NetMeeting automatically
launches and automatically dials your IP address. One of
the benefits of using NetMeeting is sharing in True color
(but you both must have a fast connection for this
setting).

Otherwise, don't worry about "security". With both
NetMeeting and Windows, as soon as you don't like what
the other person is doing while in control, just hit the
Any Key and you have sole control over your machine again.

>-----Original Message-----
>Whenever I receive an invitation for Remote Assistance
via MSN
>Messenger and I click the link to accept, after a while
I get the
>message:
>
>"Remote Assistance connection could not be established
because the
>remote host name could not be resolved. Please try
again."
>
>I have noticed that a lot of people are experiencing
this problem with
>MSN Messenger and Windows XP, but have not found a
solution yet.
>
>I am using Windows XP Pro and the latest version of MSN
Messenger and
>Windows Messenger. I have the Windows XP firewall
feature disabled and
>I even disabled my software firewall and still cannot
get rid of this
>problem. I even disconnected my router and connected the
computer
>straight to the DSL modem to eliminate the router as a
possibility and
>it still does not work. There is an obvious problem with
Windows XP
>and the Remote Assistance feature.
>
>How has anyone solved this problem?
>
>Thanks,
>
>Dan
>.
>