- Thread Author
- #1
Need a little help from an expert on Remote Assistance…
I use windows remote assistance (RA) often to preclude the painfully grueling challenge of explaining computer stuff to elderly (and grossly inept) computer users. RA works great to show these users how to do something in a snap, but lately Easy Connect and standard email invites are NOT working. I know some will suggest “use TeamViewer or RealVNC (which I use)”; however, most of these people that I help don’t know how to install these apps or use them, so it’s a huge can of worms. That is why I really need someone to give me a straight answer on configuring W7 RA, or tell me definitively that RA is an unreliable feature.
On my local network:
OS: W7 Ultimate 64
PC Firewall: Norton 360
Router: Linksys E3000
Modem: Arris
Cable Service: Comcast
Up until just recently, RA/Easy connect worked great. I could send and receive invitations via Easy Connect or Email.
The problem started when the “novice” I was trying to help added a Linksys E3000 router to the remote network. Prior to adding the router, her computer was connected directly to the modem and RA/Easy Connect worked perfectly for months.
On the remote network:
OS: W7 Ultimate 64
PC Firewall: Norton 360
Router: Linksys E3000 (currently added)
Modem: Ubee
Cable Service: Charter
Initially when we would remove the remote Linksys E3000 from the mix it would work again, but as soon as we reconnected it, back to failure. And after a lot of trouble shooting, now my RA/Easy Connect does not work either. I believe this is a MS Windows configuration (glitch) issue. Something needs to be reset in Windows is my guess. I am well aware of how to enable RA and remote connections, that is not what I am referring to.
I did a lot of grueling testing for three days and read a lot of different posts.
1. I disabled all FWs on each pc and each router (even though RA worked with both N360 and my local E3000), rebooted all PCs, modems, and routers; but still no go.
2. I contacted Charter and Comcast, they assured me that they are not blocking ports or throttling bandwidth. Neither modem has any configuration / firewall features to change.
3. I rebooted and tested both routers with MS Internet Connectivity Eval Tool; both routers pass and are UPNP compatible.
4. I matched the settings in the remote E3000 to my local E3000, and even assigned the remote pc a STATIC internal IP (previously it worked with a DHCP internal IP); still RA will not work via Easy Connect or email invitation. Linksys assured me that the E3000 is not blocking the port but I forwarded 3389 to the static IP anyway, still no go.
5. I matched the LAN private and public (advanced sharing) settings on both PCs which did not do anything.
I keep getting “Cannot Connect to the global peer-to-peer network”, is that a server on the internet cloud or something? I have checked all the required services that others have mentioned and they seem to be running…. I even tried to delete a file that was suggested in another post; however I could not delete the file…
It seems that Windows7 must have a bug or I need to make a change/refresh something… because the routers, N360, modems, and ISP service don’t seem to be the problem. I am able to RDC with port fwd 3389 to the remote pc... But RA just won’t work on either system now.
DOES anyone truly know what is going on with RA? Is there a way to reinstall RA?
I use windows remote assistance (RA) often to preclude the painfully grueling challenge of explaining computer stuff to elderly (and grossly inept) computer users. RA works great to show these users how to do something in a snap, but lately Easy Connect and standard email invites are NOT working. I know some will suggest “use TeamViewer or RealVNC (which I use)”; however, most of these people that I help don’t know how to install these apps or use them, so it’s a huge can of worms. That is why I really need someone to give me a straight answer on configuring W7 RA, or tell me definitively that RA is an unreliable feature.
On my local network:
OS: W7 Ultimate 64
PC Firewall: Norton 360
Router: Linksys E3000
Modem: Arris
Cable Service: Comcast
Up until just recently, RA/Easy connect worked great. I could send and receive invitations via Easy Connect or Email.
The problem started when the “novice” I was trying to help added a Linksys E3000 router to the remote network. Prior to adding the router, her computer was connected directly to the modem and RA/Easy Connect worked perfectly for months.
On the remote network:
OS: W7 Ultimate 64
PC Firewall: Norton 360
Router: Linksys E3000 (currently added)
Modem: Ubee
Cable Service: Charter
Initially when we would remove the remote Linksys E3000 from the mix it would work again, but as soon as we reconnected it, back to failure. And after a lot of trouble shooting, now my RA/Easy Connect does not work either. I believe this is a MS Windows configuration (glitch) issue. Something needs to be reset in Windows is my guess. I am well aware of how to enable RA and remote connections, that is not what I am referring to.
I did a lot of grueling testing for three days and read a lot of different posts.
1. I disabled all FWs on each pc and each router (even though RA worked with both N360 and my local E3000), rebooted all PCs, modems, and routers; but still no go.
2. I contacted Charter and Comcast, they assured me that they are not blocking ports or throttling bandwidth. Neither modem has any configuration / firewall features to change.
3. I rebooted and tested both routers with MS Internet Connectivity Eval Tool; both routers pass and are UPNP compatible.
4. I matched the settings in the remote E3000 to my local E3000, and even assigned the remote pc a STATIC internal IP (previously it worked with a DHCP internal IP); still RA will not work via Easy Connect or email invitation. Linksys assured me that the E3000 is not blocking the port but I forwarded 3389 to the static IP anyway, still no go.
5. I matched the LAN private and public (advanced sharing) settings on both PCs which did not do anything.
I keep getting “Cannot Connect to the global peer-to-peer network”, is that a server on the internet cloud or something? I have checked all the required services that others have mentioned and they seem to be running…. I even tried to delete a file that was suggested in another post; however I could not delete the file…
It seems that Windows7 must have a bug or I need to make a change/refresh something… because the routers, N360, modems, and ISP service don’t seem to be the problem. I am able to RDC with port fwd 3389 to the remote pc... But RA just won’t work on either system now.
DOES anyone truly know what is going on with RA? Is there a way to reinstall RA?