Can't get application sharing to work

I've just installed Live Messenger and want to use application sharing (e.g.
working together with someone on a PowerPoint file.)

First I looked for detailed instructions, but didn't find much of anything,
just enough to start it.

So I get it started, I even get the invitation and acceptance between
computers done, and ... nothing happens. That little application sharing
window just sits there, empty, and I can't figure out what to do next. Even
the buttons associated with that window seem grayed out. Are there other
more detailed sets of instructions on the whole process?

I think I should also describe the context in which I'm testing it: I'm
testing it with "myself." That is, I'm using my laptop and my desktop on my
home network. Now, it doesn't *seem* to me that this should make any
difference, because I think I'm using them in such a way that it's the same
as if they were widely separated on the Internet. But I suppose you never
know, there may be something about being "together in the trusted zone" that
makes it different.

Anybody have any suggestions or pointers to sources of information?

Thanks!

John

"JMF" <> wrote in message
news:...
> I've just installed Live Messenger and want to use application sharing
> (e.g. working together with someone on a PowerPoint file.)
>
> First I looked for detailed instructions, but didn't find much of
> anything, just enough to start it.

....etc.

Forgot to mention, I'm using LiveMessenger 8.1.

John

"JMF" <> wrote in message
news:OcbB%...
>
> "JMF" <> wrote in message
> news:...
>> I've just installed Live Messenger and want to use application sharing
>> (e.g. working together with someone on a PowerPoint file.)
>>
>> First I looked for detailed instructions, but didn't find much of
>> anything, just enough to start it.
>
> ...etc.
>
> Forgot to mention, I'm using LiveMessenger 8.1.

And forgot to mention, I'm using Windows XP - Professional on one machine,
Home on the other.

John