Firstly you should click on the normal Windows Start button (or just press the 'Windows Logo Key' to the bottom left of your keyboard) and then click on 'NetMeeting' if it is listed on the left - see the fourth item on the left hand list to the left as an example of the Icon and wording.

If it isn't in the left hand list then click on 'All Programs' (bottom left) and then look for 'NetMeeting' in that list. It MAY be in a subfolder, possibly under the 'Accessories' folder in 'Communications'.

IGNORE this and the next step/image if you have found and started 'NetMeeting'

If you CANNOT FIND 'NetMeeting' then it is easy to rectify the situation by clicking on the 'Run' button which is usually very near the bottom of the right hand column of options in the IMAGE ABOVE - i.e. the Start menu.

You will then get a pop-up asking you what to Run and you need to type "CONF" - that C O N F without the quotes or spaces, then click on OK.

If you are prompted to install Netmeeting as shown (to the left) below then please see the guide to do so at: Setup of NetMeeting

If you see the screen to the left then you need to setup Netmeeting before you can proceed - see the link (Setup of NetMeeting) at the end of the text in the box above.

When Netmeeting is launched you MAY get a prompt from your Firewall asking if it should allow the program to communicate and it may ask to act as a server as well. Because of the latter request I always recommend that you click on 'Accept' but NOT tick the box that says 'Remember this choice' or equivalent wording in other firewalls.

Click on Actions and then 'Ask for Remote Assistance'.

Note that at several times during these screens you MAY be interrupted by your Firewall or other defence mechanisms that want to check that you really do know what you are doing!

Click on Actions and then 'Ask for Remote Assistance'.

Note that at several times during these screens you MAY be interrupted by your Firewall or other defence mechanisms that want to check that you really do know what you are doing!

Click on the person from whom you are requesting assistance. Note that this facility is widely available and other people MAY be able to help but bear in mind that they may never have used the tools before and may not have any clue about how to use them effectively.

When you have selected someone and clicked OK you will start a conversation with that person over the Web. It is possible to key text into the box at the bottom for the other person to see - press enter or click 'Send' to send the message.

After 10-20 seconds (that IS a long time!) you SHOULD get a pop-up looking like the one to the left indicating that the recipient CAN NOW SEE YOUR SCREEN as you have allowed.

Note that the ESC key (usually to the top left of a keyboard) can be used at any time to stop CONTROL - it will not be operational while the RA session is just in 'View' mode.

When your request is concerned with lack of knowledge or understanding and you want to be able to handle similar future occurences of what is needed without asking for assistance then we strongly recommend that YOU RETAIN CONTROL and that the person assisting should be in view-mode only.

Learning by RA is a very, very effective way of building your knowledge and skill of using PCs because the learning situation is absolutely ideal in that:

• You have a strong and immediate desire to achieve something useful to YOU
• You can get an expert to help on your own PC in a timely and very cost-effective manner

When you are requesting assistance to fix a problem then it may be appropriate for the recipient to take control of your PC for a while. bear in mind that you CAN ALWAYS TERMINATE such a session at ANY TIME by pressing the ESC key (top left).

Obviously you need to trust the person in many respects before you allow them to takeover your PC, not least of which is the trust in their competence and ability to recover from any problems they may cause.

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