Quick Assist

by anoldamigauser

Posted on May 22, 2022

8

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.

Comments (8)

8 responses to “Quick Assist”

  1. hrlngrv

    I'm sure this will prove every bit as popular as MSFT making Windows 8.1 available only through the Store.


    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?

    1 month ago
    1

    • dftf

      Was it only available via the Store on all-versions of Windows 8, or just the RT 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).


      If the answer is "it was only via the Store 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 macOS releases in the Store, rather than in the "Software Update" utility?

      1 month ago
      0

  2. wright_is

    As the store is usually blocked by policy in corporations I've dealt with, how are they supposed to install it at all?


    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).

    1 month ago
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    • dftf

      If you could manage to get the ".appx" installer-file for the new Quick Assist manually, then you could use the Add-AppxPackage command in PowerShell to deploy it. (Or if you use either the Store for Business or Store for Eduction versions of the Store app, it will be made-available in there soon also.)


      Some good-news offered: the UAC prompt requirement is being addressed on both Windows 10 and 11, and the Control + Windows + Q key-sequence will also launch the new version soon also. For Windows 11 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 Windows 10, 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 Windows sub-folders and launch it from the EXE manually.

      1 month ago
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  3. anoldamigauser

    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.

    1 month ago
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    • dftf

      They have confirmed that in Windows 11 in-future, the new version will get shipped as-part-of the OS, and it will become a per-machine type install. On Windows 10, 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.


      See: support.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/install-quick-assist-c17479b7-a49d-4d12-938c-dbfb97c88bca

      1 month ago
      0

  4. dftf

    Must say though: I'm surprised by the number of people here who's companies actually use the built-in support software.


    In every company I have ever worked-at, the built-in tool (originally Remote Assistance, thesedays Quick Assist) is either disabled by-policy, or the shortcuts hidden and never used. Third-party solutions, like TeamViewer, LanDesk, LogMeIn Rescue, Bomgar, UltraVNC (of those I can remember) were always used instead. Remote Desktop was still used for server-access, and with my current company, the SCCM remote-control tool built into Configuration Manager is now used... but Quick Assist isn't. (Users can also share their screen via Teams or Skype for Business, of course, though UAC prompts cannot be responded-to, of course.)

    1 month ago
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    • anoldamigauser

      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.


      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.

      1 month ago
      0

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