Windows 7: Wireless Homegroup on workgroup

Windows 7 RTM

I thought I would share my experience in case others are also having trouble with this.

Two Windows 7 machines, 1 connected wirelessly (Linksys) and 1 connected on a fixed LAN to a Linksys WAG160N ADSL2+ Router/Switch.

DHCP enabled.
Both machines are in the same subnet 192.168.1.x range
Both machines have the same workgroup name
Home Network chosen, all defaults.

Fault: Wireless machine can see LAN Machine but LAN machine cannot see wireless. Ping fails from LAN machine.

Fix: Give the wireless SSID the same name as the LAN network

On LAN Machine:

Control Panel\Network and Internet\Network and Sharing Center

gives you a picture of the network. Note the name of the network your LAN machine is connected to. In my case "Network"

On Wireless Machine:

Control Panel\Network and Internet\Network and Sharing Center

gives you a picture of the network. Note the name of the Network your wireless machine is connected to is your SSID. If this is different to your LAN machine = *pain*

Change your router wireless host to broadcast an SSID of "Network"

Well this worked for me...

Homegroup worked brilliantly after this.

Nice post thanks

Ken

I prefer to keep my wireless network SSID as is and change my wired LAN name. Is there anyway to do this? Thanks.

I found how to change the network name: Network Name and Icon - Change. So now my desktop running Windows 7 on a wired LAN and my laptop running Windows 7 Starter on a wireless LAN have the same network name. However, still no luck joining the homegroup from my laptop.

I am going to look into the firewall next. I'll keep you updated.

hehe Subnet range or IP range 192.168.1?