Share your desktop - Communicator Web Access

You can use Communicator Web Access to share your desktop with other people. When you share your desktop, other users can see everything that takes place on your computer screen. You can even allow other people to enter data, run programs, and otherwise control your computer remotely.

In order to share your desktop, your computer must be running either Windows Vista or Microsoft Windows XP Service Pack 2 or a more recent service pack; you must also be using either Internet Explorer or Firefox 3.0 or later. Users running other browsers or other operating systems can view a desktop that is being shared, but they cannot share their own desktop or control the shared desktop.

Important: When you are sharing your desktop, other people in the session might report that all they see is a black screen. This usually happens because you are running a program that uses the Microsoft Direct3D application programming interface. Direct3D uses a graphics technology that is incompatible with desktop sharing. If the program is not essential to your presentation, exiting it will normally resolve the issue.

Starting a Desktop Sharing Session

You can start a desktop sharing session directly from the Communicator Web Access window, or you can start a desktop sharing session from the Conversation window. By default, a maximum of 10 people can participate in a desktop sharing session.

Tip: To make it easier for others to see the contents of your desktop, you might want to set your monitor's resolution to a lower resolution so that the content appears bigger.

To start a desktop sharing session from the Contact List

1. Do one of the following:

   • In the Contact List, right-click the name of a contact, and then click Share my Desktop.

   • To share your desktop with more than one contact, click the name of the first contact, then hold down CTRL as you click the names of any additional contacts to be invited to the session, and then click Share my Desktop.

2. If this is the first time you are sharing your desktop, you will be prompted to install the Microsoft Office Communicator Web Access plug-in. Click Click to Install.

3. When installation begins, in the File Download - Security Warning dialog box, click Run to run the installer file for the plug-in.

4. If you see a Windows Security Alert dialog box, click Unblock.

5. After the plug-in has been installed, click Share to start sharing your desktop.

To start desktop sharing from an IM session

1. In the Conversation window, click the Desktop Sharing button (the button with the icon of a hand holding a monitor).

2. If this is the first time you are sharing your desktop, you will be prompted to install the Microsoft Office Communicator Web Access plug-in. Click Click to Install.

3. When installation begins, in the File Download - Security Warning dialog box, click Run to run the installer file for the plug-in.

4. If you see a Windows Security Alert dialog box, click Unblock.

5. After the plug-in has been installed, click Share to start sharing your desktop.

To start a desktop sharing session from a Meet Now conference

The Meet Now button provides a way for you to start a desktop sharing session with a person who is not in your Contact list.

1. In the Conversation window, click Meet Now.

2. Click the arrow beside the Invite button, and then click Invite Using Email.

3. Communicator Web Access will generate a URL that other people can use to join the session. Right-click the URL, and then click Copy.

4. In an e-mail message or an instant message, paste the hyperlink, and then send the link to anyone you want to invite to the session.

Sharing Control of a Shared Desktop

During a desktop sharing session, you can let other people use their mouse and keyboard to enter data and run programs on your computer.

To share control of a shared desktop with all participants

• In the Conversation window, click the In Control button and then click Share Control with All Participants.

Stopping Control of a Shared Desktop

When you want to stop other participants from controlling your desktop, you can stop sharing control so that others can still view your desktop but they will no longer be able to control it.

• In the Conversation window, click Stop Sharing Control.

Stopping Desktop Sharing

When you want to stop other users from viewing your desktop, you can stop desktop sharing.

• In the Conversation window, click Stop Sharing Your Desktop.