Windows 7: win7 home prem desktop/win7 pro home network issues

--edit, see my second post...

This is supposed to be easy?

OK, first I have a desktop, win 7 pro 64. I never thought I'd own a laptop, need networks so I might have disabled something at some point.
(I've disabled everything I don't need for performance reasons - game/graphics rig)

It has 2 ethernet connections. 1 is to modem. 2 is open.

I recently bought a laptop, win 7 home premium 64.

So time for file sharing. Bought a crossover network cable.

Trying to set up a home network. Works on the laptop, but going through all the troubleshooters and all I get on the PC is 'cannot add home network to this computer'.

I can see and get into my PC from the laptop, but the PC won't register a network OR my laptop. (I actually want the opposite as it's easier to use the PC for transfers/work/etc...)

None of the troubleshooting in Win7Pro PC is working, any ideas?

(I've set both clocks to internet time, I have everything open to file sharing on both machines)

==edit

I did just notice that when I turn on file and printer sharing in network & sharing/advanced settings and hit save changes,

everytime I reopen the window it's set back to off. Doesn't matter how many times i turn it on and save, it always gets turned off again.

The problem is in bold. Once you disable those services all bets are off on the network sharing being functional until all your required networking services are all enabled and set to automatic.

You shot yourself in the foot by doing that and disabling those services doesn't do much to improve system performance.

The reason that file and printer sharing isn't staying on is because you disabled the service it requires.

Yeah, it's staying on now. But it got ugly, and network still not working...

(I had linux mint9 dual boot -- then looked in Bios to make sure both network connector were enabled (yes)
then don't know what happened but the grub was toasted, so couldn't find windows... Just reinstalled - thus the network staying on now). mint9 now gone.

OK, so I got my PC set-up with a Home Network. My Laptop says it has a home network.

Windows says to go to sharing then hit the JOIN button. No join button on either machine.

Both machines have sharing turned on completely, also have windows firewall OFF for home network.

My PC has ethernet#2 going to modem, connected to interwebz, ether#1 goes to my laptop.

The diagnostic tool just runs me around in the same circles but never tells me what the problem is.

Have you tried manually appling network setting on both computers? Try setting the desktop IP to 10.0.0.1 with subnet mask 255.0.0.0 and the laptops IP address to 10.0.0.2 with the same subnet mask. Both Default gateways to 10.0.0.1 and see if it works! I may be wrong in the actual address and reckon if so, someone will correct this so it is the right numbers but you can probably see where im going with this.

Or as you are using a modem and not a router in your first port, you could use the 192.168.1.1 with subnet of 255.255.255.0!

I maybe wrong but sounds like it could work!

In regard to network services that are set to OFF, Network diags should re-enable them back to how they should be!

What is the "Homegroup" (i.e. Network Name)? I hope it's not "HOMEGROUP" (the default) otherwise it won't work. You MUST pick another name... "HOMEGROUP" is just the example name. For example, I chose "ACTIONTEC" for my Network name - our present router so I can never forget it.

Also, if even ONE CHARACTER is off on either computer's Network Group "Homegroup" name field, they WON'T be able to be linked. Period. So make SURE you type them both exactly the same.

That was my problem when I was Networking our XP Home Premium, Vista Home Premium and my 7 Ultimate x64 systems. It's all to do with the "HOMEGROUP" name.

You also SHOULD NOT name your computers the same on the network, they MUST also be UNIQUE. I am not talking about your UserName here, I'm talking about each computer's IDENTIFIER name, which should be in the same screen as the "HOMEGROUP" settings.

Again, for example mine are: "MASTER" (XP - our "Network Server" Desktop) "COBALT" (7 x64) and "SAM" (Vista).


If none of these are the issue, then... I really don't know what to tell you. I think Baddcog has a point though... you shouldn't have disabled anything in the OS. Services are important and unless you know EXACTLY what they do and what they are for, you shouldn't mess around with them. Unless they are actually in use by something, they DON'T use any resources. If they ARE being used, they ARE necessary and should not be messed with.

With that said, the next step would be re-enabling them ALL, and then IF the network miraculously starts working at this point, go in and disable them again individually, while also checking the network each and every time you do this to rule out which ones are necessary.

Good luck and I hope you get it working!

Well, like I said when I disabled stuff like networking (about a year ago) I figured I'd never use it... but things change.

My Computers both have specific names, ie: Baddcog-PC, Baddcog- Laptop.

I'm away for a few days but haven't given up...

I've also tried reinstalling drivers for my LAN. No change though, the drivers were fine. I just did it in case.

Thanks

Alright, so the computer name fields are all unique - good. What about the Workgroup/Homegroup fields? You have to give your Network a name to route the connection to the computers through, otherwise it won't work.

There are two places on each computer this must be filled in at. Twice in the Network and Sharing center setup of the network (once on each computer), and twice in the Start > Computer > (left click) > Properties page, under "computer name, domain and workgroup" (again, twice on each computer).

Also, you CAN'T just try to set up the network on one computer. You have to set it up TWICE, on each computer. So if you haven't set it up on your second computer yet AFTER setting it up on the other one first, then please do that (with the exact same Network name in the Workgroup/Homegroup fields).


I managed to get XP, Vista and 7 all talking and sharing so you SHOULD be able to get two 7 computers doing that. If you want a headache, try this with those three different systems... it's a right stroll through hell because everything is different and has different names (especially XP) lol.

The only other thing I can think of which MIGHT solve the problem is, unfortunately, a clean install - or "repair install" of 7 on the computer whose services got jacked up.

The "Dual-Boot" could have also corrupted something... so a total "clean install" would be necessary, with the HD getting wiped and reformatted in the process.

Unfortunately messing with that stuff did botch the dual instal (somehow? i was getting frustrated by that point)
so my PC now does have a clean instal, no linux.

Thanks for the response, I'll give this a try tommorrow. I don't believe I put in names twice per computer, and probably didn't have a network name on both comps... I tried so many times at this point not sure where I left off.

But I will give a fresh try tommorrow by your instructions.

Thanks again.

No problem, I'm glad to offer any help, tips or suggestions I can. I know how frustrating networks can be... it's no walk in the park (particularly in multiple OS versions/Editions as what I'm running), but as I've said... once you've done it the first time, it becomes a cinch after that.

You just have to mess with all of the different settings (in the basic menus, you don't want to even touch the advanced because that's where you can really, really screw things up). Eventually, whatever the problem, it will work itself out.


Now, to continue...

For altering the necessary data fields required to get your home network actually up and running, you will want to go to Start > (Left Click on) Computer > Properties.

Scroll down and you will see: "Computer name, domain, and workgroup settings".

Click on "Change Settings".

Enter the computer's name if you haven't already - be sure it's unique from the other one or you won't be able to tell them apart over your network).

Now, click on "Change.." (the last option on this same screen)

It will take you to "Computer Name/Domain Changes"

Make sure "Member of" is selected for "Workgroup"

Then simply enter the name of your NETWORK here (for example, mine is "ACTIONTEC" - the name of my ISP Modem so I can't ever forget it, and if I ever did I can just look at it and go "oh, Actiontec - OK" etc).

After you have done this on your primary PC, go ahead and do the exact same procedure for the secondary PC, being absolutely certain that the "Workgroup" name is IDENTICAL on both systems.


Providing these same values are identical in the NETWORK CONFIGURATION menus, your network will now function and you will SEE your other Computer listed in the window explorer menu tree, and be able to access them remotely from one another.

If not... we'll cover that later.

I'm having a similar problem, every time I try to turn on a service i can't because a dependant service isn't already running. Any command to "Start all services"?