Quick Assist

To add to the furor over the new Quick Assist, if you have multiple users on your computer, each user will have to install the new version if they expect to need assistance.

Conversation 8 comments

  • hrlngrv

    Premium Member
    22 May, 2022 - 10:17 pm

    <p>I’m sure this will prove every bit as popular as MSFT making Windows 8.1 available only through the Store.</p><p><br></p><p>Would it be too cynical to suspect that MSFT is trying to boost Store daily average visitors for the fiscal year ending 30 June? That is, make it appear that metric is on an upward trajectory?</p>

    • dftf

      23 May, 2022 - 2:22 pm

      <p>Was it only available via the <em>Store</em> on all-versions of <em>Windows 8</em>, or just the <em>RT</em> version (which would make-sense, given that one was more locked-down on what you could do — I can’t say I’ve ever used 8 much at-all).</p><p><br></p><p>If the answer is "it was only via the <em>Store</em> on all editions" then I guess you could also it was similar to macOS at the time — didn’t they used to publish major new <em>macOS</em> releases in the Store, rather than in the "Software Update" utility?</p>

  • wright_is

    Premium Member
    23 May, 2022 - 12:24 am

    <p>As the store is usually blocked by policy in corporations I’ve dealt with, how are they supposed to install it at all?</p><p><br></p><p>We had a PC without the calculator app, the only way to get it back was a fresh re-install of Windows – repair/refresh didn’t bring it back. If the apps aren’t on the device and aren’t available to install outside the store, they don’t exist for most corporate machines I’ve seen (nearly a dozen different companies over the last 5 years).</p>

    • dftf

      23 May, 2022 - 2:16 pm

      <p>If you could manage to get the ".appx" installer-file for the new Quick Assist manually, then you could use the <strong>Add-AppxPackage</strong> command in <em>PowerShell </em>to deploy it. (Or if you use either the <em>Store for Business</em> or <em>Store for Eduction</em> versions of the <em>Store</em> app, it will be made-available in there soon also.)</p><p><br></p><p>Some good-news offered: the UAC prompt requirement is being addressed on both <em>Windows 10</em> and <em>11</em>, and the Control + Windows + Q key-sequence will also launch the new version soon also. For <strong>Windows 11</strong> only, they have also confirmed in the next major-update (22H2), the new app will be shipped as part of the OS, and will become a per-machine type install, and so when updated in the Store, will be up-to-date for all users. On <em>Windows 10</em>, however, the app will remain a per-user install and the legacy version will become hidden from the Start Menu (no shortcuts to it), but users could still browse the <em>Windows</em> sub-folders and launch it from the EXE manually.</p>

  • anoldamigauser

    Premium Member
    23 May, 2022 - 11:12 am

    <p>It baffles me, since they certainly provide other "Store" apps with the OS, which are then updated via the store. This could just be part of a cumulative update, and they would not even need to announce it.</p>

    • dftf

      23 May, 2022 - 2:26 pm

      <p>They have confirmed that in <strong><em>Windows 11 </em></strong>in-future, the new version will get shipped as-part-of the OS, and it will become a per-machine type install. On <em>Windows 10</em>, however, the UAC prompt will get removed, but the app will remain a per-user type install, and no mention that they will ship it pre-installed as part of the OS.</p><p><br></p><p>See: <strong>support.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/install-quick-assist-c17479b7-a49d-4d12-938c-dbfb97c88bca</strong></p>

  • dftf

    23 May, 2022 - 3:13 pm

    <p>Must say though: I’m surprised by the number of people here who’s companies actually use the built-in support software.</p><p><br></p><p>In <em>every company I have ever worked-at</em>, the built-in tool (originally <em>Remote Assistance</em>, thesedays <em>Quick Assist</em>) is either disabled by-policy, or the shortcuts hidden and never used. Third-party solutions, like <em>TeamViewer, LanDesk, LogMeIn Rescue</em>, <em>Bomgar</em>, <em>UltraVNC </em>(of those I can remember) were always used instead. <em>Remote Desktop</em> was still used for server-access, and with my current company, the <em>SCCM </em>remote-control tool built into <em>Configuration Manager </em>is now used… but <em>Quick Assist</em> isn’t. (Users can also share their screen via <em>Teams </em>or <em>Skype for Business</em>, of course, though UAC prompts cannot be responded-to, of course.)</p>

    • anoldamigauser

      Premium Member
      23 May, 2022 - 4:09 pm

      <p>Many smaller businesses do not see the need to install a third-party app when one is provided with the OS. At best it is an expense, at worst a security issue. I believe that the new version of Quick Assist cannot respond to UAC prompts either.</p><p><br></p><p>Since Windows 11 is nothing more than a feature update on Windows 10, there is no excuse to not ship this version as part of the OS for Windows 10 as well. PC’s are not really mobile devices, and even granting that most are used by a single individual, the idea of non per-machine installs is sort of stupid.</p>

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