You may not be able to use Remote Assistance to connect to a client after you install Windows XP SP2 on a computer that has the Multilingual User Interface Pack (MUI) installed (898584)



The information in this article applies to:

  • Microsoft Windows XP Professional Service Pack 2 (SP2)

SYMPTOMS

After you install Microsoft Windows XP Service Pack 2 (SP2) on a computer that has the Multilingual User Interface Pack (MUI) installed, you may not be able to use Remote Assistance to connect to a client.

CAUSE

This issue may occur if the following conditions are true:
  • You install the MUI before you install Windows XP SP2.
  • When you install Windows XP SP2, the computer's language setting is a non-English language.
In this scenario, the Setup program cannot correctly configure the DCOM security settings for Microsoft Help and Support Services.

Note Microsoft Help and Support Services is a DCOM application that is used by Remote Assistance.

RESOLUTION

To work around this issue, use one of the following methods.

Method 1

Select English as the computer's language setting before you install Windows XP SP2. To do this, follow these steps:
  1. Use the Add or Remove Programs tool in Control Panel to remove Windows XP SP2. To do this, follow these steps:
    1. Click Start, click Run, type appwiz.cpl in the Open box, and then click OK.
    2. In the Currently installed programs and updates list, click Windows XP Service Pack 2, and then click Remove.
  2. In the Regional and Language Options tool in Control Panel, select English as the language setting. To do this, follow these steps:
    1. Click Start, click Run, type intl.cpl in the Open box, and then click OK.
    2. Click the Languages tab. In the Language used in menus and dialogs list, click English, and then click OK.
  3. Reinstall Windows XP SP2.
  4. After Windows XP SP2 is reinstalled, select the language setting that you want in the Regional and Language Options tool.

Method 2

Manually configure the DCOM settings to obtain the permissions that you want. To do this, follow these steps:
  1. Click Start, click Run, type dcomcnfg, and then click OK.
  2. Expand Component Services, and then expand Computers.
  3. Expand My Computer, expand DCOM Config, right-click Microsoft Help and Support Services, and then click Properties.
  4. In the Microsoft Help and Support Services dialog box, click the Security tab. Under Launch and Activation Permissions, click Customize, and then click Edit.
  5. In the Launch Permission dialog box, make sure that the following users appear in the Group or user names list:
    • Administrators
    • Everyone
    • HelpServicesGroup
  6. In the Launch Permission dialog box, make sure that all the check boxes in the Allow column are selected for both the Administrators user and the HelpServicesGroup user.

    Also, make sure that the following check boxes in the Allow column are selected for the Everyone user:
    • Local Launch
    • Local Activation
  7. Click OK to save your changes.

STATUS

Microsoft has confirmed that this is a problem in the Microsoft products that are listed in the "Applies to" section.

REFERENCES

For more information about the Windows MUI, visit the following Microsoft Web site:

Modification Type:MinorLast Reviewed:6/29/2005
Keywords:kbtshoot kbprb KB898584 kbAudEndUser