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Difficulties connecting desktop(wired) & laptop(wifi) via Homegroup
I thought mine was a simple goal - to be able to easily swap files from my desktop to my laptop. Windows help & support link sang of Homegroups that provided the access I desired easily and effortlessly. The reality has been quite the contrary. What I thought would take minutes is stretching into days and I'm going quite mad....oh yes, quite mad indeed. ::insert creepy, maniacal laughter here::
I've googled gaggles, read many a tale of frustration and woe, but have yet to see a solution. So, I've come here. I know providing details and specs is crucial, so I'll do my best to try to include all the settings and buzz words I've heard throughout my searches.
- OS: Desktop - Windows 7 Professional 64bit; Laptop - Windows 7 Home Premium 64 bit
- Connection type (as stated in topic): Desktop - wired; Laptop - wifi
- Router: Belkin N1 F5D8231-4 v.3000
- Network adaptor: Desktop - Realtek RTL8168D/8111D; Laptop - Intel Centrino Advanced N 6205
I believe I have them both connected to same workgroup. I changed the name from the generic "WORKGROUP" on both machines (to the same name) because I thought it might mitigate potential interference from rommie's machines, but I've seen no indication that they are actually connected in any way. Neither machine shows up under network in the other's explorer.
Both machines designate a single active network as a home network. Also, under Local Area Connection properties, both machines have the following details listed:
IPv4 Internet
IPv6 No Internet Access
(Yes, both are checked as enabled)
I've read that Homegroup uses IPv6, so presumable the problem lies therein, but my searching has turned up only a few meager suggestions which I have performed and currently have implemented on both machines:
- Windows Firewall disabled
- Anti-virus disabled
- Peer Networking Grouping service confirmed started and set to automatic
- PNRP Machine Name Publication Service confirmed started and set to automatic
- VMWare was installed on both machines, but I uninstalled on both.
- Also, I remember something about a checking a registry entry named "Disabled Devices" or something to make sure it was set to zero , but I didn't even have that entry. The answer to that scenario was simply stated as "create one", but since I don't really know that much about registry stuff, I opted not to attempt that one
Let's see, what else?? Ah, the ping tests. Both machines give the same results:Reply from 192.168.2.**: Destination host unreachable.I've run the Windows Homegroup diagnostic up, down, and sideways, and I've synched the clock times.
Reply from 192.168.2.**: Destination host unreachable.
Reply from 192.168.2.**: Destination host unreachable.
Reply from 192.168.2.**: Destination host unreachable.
Ping statistics for 192.168.2.**:
Packets: Sent = 4, Received = 4, Lost = 0 <0% lost>
..............
Oddly enough, I've just discovered that my laptop offers a chance to join a Homegroup for my roomie's laptop, but my desktop is extended no such invite. Also, his laptop is now showing up in my laptop's explorer, but not my desktop. Is this an issue of wired versus wireless connections? Do I need to buy a mile or so of cat5 cable for when I tote my laptop off to school with me?
If anybody has any idea what's going wrong here, any other suggestions, or for that matter, can suggest any other means to achieve this sharing capability, my sanity will thank you deeply.
...............
As per the sticky, I'll try to post pics of ipconfig..
for the life of me, I've never figured out how to post photos in forums, so I'll just provide links to each:
Desktop Laptop
Last edited by HadMatter; 04 May 2011 at 21:37.