I've read that home groups will not work with Vista or XP machines. Anyone know this to be a fact? Anyone able to figure out a workaround for Vista or XP machines? Asking because I'm not planning on upgrading all my Windows boxes to Seven and would still like to do local networking.
Thanks in advance for any info...
No, you can not be on a Homegroup while on an OS other than 7 (as of right now). There are some possible plans in the works for server08, WHS and the 7 server side (which may plan to already support i assume).
However, you can still network and share files just fine, and just like you do with XP, nothing with that has really truly changed. Just make sure that you have network discovery enabled, and you have the LLTP installed on the XP machine, and instead of having MS Homegroup manage share, you will use user account and paswords for shares (just like its done for XP to XP).
Think of Homegroup as an exclusive VIP club... if you arent "up to dress code", you cant pass the "velvet rope"... however you can still mingle with the common ppl down below (XP)
However, you can still network and share files just fine, and just like you do with XP, nothing with that has really truly changed. Just make sure that you have network discovery enabled, and you have the LLTP installed on the XP machine, and instead of having MS Homegroup manage share, you will use user account and paswords for shares (just like its done for XP to XP).
Think of Homegroup as an exclusive VIP club... if you arent "up to dress code", you cant pass the "velvet rope"... however you can still mingle with the common ppl down below (XP)
Seems true...I tried today to set homegroup with xp, couldn't see xp in mime but could see win 7 on xp...but nothing more than that.
XP can see 7, 7 can see XP... it is just a matter of what 7 allows the others to see.... Homegroup allows others in the Homegroup to see the shared folders... but the rest that is in XP and Vista and other shared stuff should be seen and visible...
Correction my friend. HG allows others in HG to see shared HG folders. If you just "share with" a user account locally on that pc, it will not share to the same account with same pass that is joined on the same HG, it will only share via HG on the LOCAL PC. Also, when using "share with" It will only be seen thru network shares UNLESS... the folder being shared is shared/added thru a shared HG library. But you cant specify what users get to see what when something is shared by "HomeGroup".
Everyone that is on the HG will see the share, reguardless, no way around it. You dont have to be in a HG to share files amongst 7 to 7 or XP/Vista to 7. Even when shared thru HG, the same folder and files are available thru network share, via 7/vista/XP just as long as its shared in some way. Even a HG shared folder is not exclusive to just a 7 computer on a HG, anyone on XP that has a user/pass to access the 7 machine will see all of the shares, HG or not.
HG shares with "everyone". Do a little experiment with it. I've been pulling my hair out, and my teeth are down to the nubs, but I pretty much know this HG inside and out now. It needs some tweaking for sure, especially along the lines of HG network privs/access/restrictions.
And along the lines of not replacing the gd permissions and ownership information of folders on it's gd whim
Windows 7 & HomeGroup: Sharing with Windows XP, Windows Vista, and other operating systems
http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/d...displaylang=en
Cheers, Merry X-Mas and Happy New Year!
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