Remote assistance woes.

This is the status if their connection. What is the exclamation mark in the triangle trying to say and what should they do to fix it?



Does the XP firewall need a port open? or what?

This is probably a firewall on the requestor end. If using Messenger to initiate the connection, I would expect the Windows firewall to get the exception automatically. Could there be a 3rd party firewall on the other end?

XP firewall is on on requester end
Messenger is listed as an exception & ticked

The only difference between the the requester PC that works and the one that fails is that red circle with the yellow triangle & explanation mark. It's not there on the one that works.

Both have the same XP firewall settings - which are 8.1 is permitted and port 1863 is open.

What I need to find out is what to change/check to get rid of that exclamation mark which says to me that something isn't right - but what?

Both have the SSDP and UPnp services running.

I have been known to be wrong.
The best way to thank someone who helps you is give them a star.

In order to eliminate Messenger software as a cause, can you receive the Remote Assistance request via E-mail, or as a separate file, and try either of those methods?

Looking at your Image, it indicates that the connection is getting stopped at the Modem or Router, or whatever equipment your friend is using to connect to the Internet.

It is also of concern that the Connection Troubleshooter "Start" button is grayed out.

Under the "Advanced" button it is possible to instigate some logging which may or may not help you.

Is there a problem with Permissions, Profiles and the like?

Has he got any clues in the Event Viewer?

Run the System File Checker program (on his machine) from the Run Box by typing.....Sfc /Scannow in it and have your XP CD handy.

Are there any hidden firewall components in any of the running anti virus software?

Would it work if he tried to connect via Safe Mode with Networking?

Not much at this link but at least you are not the first person to ask what does the Red Circle, Yellow Triangle, and Exclamation Mark mean.


WLM Release Crashing - sam

Looking at your Image, it indicates that the connection is getting stopped at the Modem or Router, or whatever equipment your friend is using to connect to the Internet.
They are using the supplied homechoice modem.
It is also of concern that the Connection Troubleshooter "Start" button is grayed out.
this is always greyed out if you are connected. It is only active if you cannot connect to the messenger service at all - or you log out
Under the "Advanced" button it is possible to instigate some logging which may or may not help you.
I will get them to do this and see if it reveals anything.
Is there a problem with Permissions, Profiles and the like?
I don't believe so
Has he got any clues in the Event Viewer?
I will see what can be done - it will probably have to wait until I visit them
Run the System File Checker program (on his machine) from the Run Box by typing.....Sfc /Scannow in it and have your XP CD handy.
Will do on next visit - but I happen to know they don't have a CD. It's XP home edition & they have a hidden partition on their HDD they can access via the BIOS to restore to the 'as purchased' condition.
Are there any hidden firewall components in any of the running anti virus software?
They use AVG free - I don't know much about it.

I have been known to be wrong.
The best way to thank someone who helps you is give them a star.

AVG free doesn't have any firewall component.

If they are on XP Home, do they have better luck using "Windows Messenger" or even NetMeeting?

How to Use Remote Desktop Sharing in NetMeeting

You might get a clearer error message from either of the above.