Error: Windows cannot set up a homegroup on this computer

Ok folks, been researching this issue for quite a while now and am having now luck.

Win 7 Ultimate, 32bit. SP1

I simply cannot not get a HomeGroup to be created on my main system. These are the steps I have gone through:

1. Deleted all files from the following directory: C:\Windows\ServiceProfiles\LocalService\AppData\Roaming\PeerNetworking
2. Verified that Discovery is enabled: Enable or disable network discovery - Windows Help
3. Verified the following services are running (from: https://www.sevenforums.com/network-a...homegroup.html)

DNS Client service started and on automatic
SSDP Discovery service started and on automatic
UPnP Device Host service started and on automatic
Function Discovery Resource Publication service started and on automatic

4. Tried to run the "fix it" executable (from: Why can't I create a homegroup?) - but got an error that it has either expired or the name was changed and therefore won't run. Must be out of date/expired because I didn't change the name.
5. Verified the additional services outlined at the bottom of the link in #4 are started/enabled.

My system reads "Home Network" and "HomeGroup: Ready To Create" - when I click "ready to create" it brings up the "Create a HomeGroup" window that allows me to select what I want to share (ie: Pictures, Music, Videos, Documents, Printers). I click next and get the error: Windows cannot set up a homegroup on this computer.


At my wits end here. The closest I got to getting a home group was with my mother's computer, which is Windows 7 Home Edition (and technically not allowed to 'create' a homegroup). I was somehow able to add a password to her HomeGroup and after doing that my computer would allow me to join her HomeGroup.

At that point, I forced her system to leave the HomeGroup...and forced all other systems on my home network to leave their HomeGroups and then I powered off all those system. On my main system I forced it to leave her HomeGroup - verified all the steps above #1 thru #5 and rebooted. The system came up clean, with internet connection working, indicating I was not a part of HomeGroup and giving the option to Create one....at which time I did (yet again), and again got the above error.

(FYI - I forced her system and all my other systems off of her HomeGroup (or whatever group they were a part of - because she doesn't life here and will be taking her system with her when she leaves for the holidays).

Currently, the ONLY system on in my house is my main computer and it won't let me create the HomeGroup from my main system.

Desp for help here...pulling my hair out.
Thanks.

No way of knowing if this will assist, only that it did for me: Installed a new computer and transferred programs and files from the old machine to the new one. Homegroup from the older computer was transferred to the new one.

I then tried several ways to get my computer to recognize the HG on the new machine, none of which worked, getting errors such as yours. I then deleted the old, transferred, Homegroup from the new computer, whereupon I was able to create a new homegroup on both computers.

I suspect that this problem was caused by my failure to perform the magic incantation that starts Phol ende uuodan uuorun zi holza, "Phol and Wodan were riding to the wood". (That is from the Second Merseburg Charm, with which, of course, you are quite familiar.)

Not Myself,

Thanks for the additional spell. I did try a few of my own and now yours...all with no luck. At this point looking for something more technical and concrete - but thanks for the input.