How to Create a Remote Assistance Shortcut

Once you've got your computer setup to be able to request remote assistance, it is helpful to install an icon on a user's desktop so they can directly request remote assitance by email without having to go back through all of those instructions.

On Windows 7 and 8, all you've got to do is to create a desktop shortcut with the following program and command line options:
msra.exe /email

Right click on an empty spot on your Windows Desktop, and drill into the "New / ShortCut" menu.
Type "MSRA.EXE /email" into the location input box, and press "Next".
Type in a name for the shortcut and press "Finish".

Additional Technical Information

The program has a number of different options.

MSRA.EXE Usage:

<path>	Is the path to a file to be created or loaded.
<password>	Is the password to protect the invitation.
<computer>	Is the computer name or IP address of a computer.
<address>	Is the address for the contact being specified.

Options:
/?	Display the help message.
/novice	Start the Remote Assistance program and ask for assistance.
/expert	Start the Remote Assistance program and offer assistance.
/saveasfile	Create a Remote Assistance invitation by saving to a file, which can be hand delivered or emailed.
/openfile	Open a Remote Assistance invitation file.
/email	Opens the default SMAPI e-mail client with an invitation attached for sending.
/offerra	Uses DCOM to launch Remote Assistance on the novice computer remotely; automatically connects.
/geteasyhelp	Start Remote Assistance with the 'easy help' option.
/offereasyhelp	Start Remote Assistance and respond to an easy help request.
/getcontacthelp	Start Remote Assistance showing the contact help page.
/offercontacthelp	Start Remote Assistance showing the offer help contact page.