I've just been using Copilot, the Fog Creek version of VNC that makes it easy to fix someone else's computer.

Normally I'd get away with the Help and Support wizard in XP, but that won't work if (like the client I was helping) you are behind 3 firewalls.

Copilot works by allowing both parties to connect to Fog Creek servers, which is a simple way around many firewall issues.

This is what I found:

• They've got ease-of-use nailed. They sent my client a link to a single file executable that included my connection information, so all the client had to do was run the .exe. No installation, no fuss. Microsoft could learn a lesson here.
• It's easy to use from an admin (i.e. the helper) point of view too, although this is less of a big plus point.
• The refresh rate isn't as good as remote desktop in XP, for the most part this isn't a huge issue, although it can be annoying. WinXP's help and support is just about usable over a modem, but I suspect Copilot would not be to all but the most patient.
• You might have privacy concerns about sending your data via a 3rd party, although I guess that very often, the helper doesn't care (it's not their screen going over the net) and the helpee is only to glad to have their problem fixed.

Worth a look if you need to help someone out when they are behind a firewall that you can't get around easily. $10 for 24 hours saved me a lot of time in a car yesterday.