Windows 7: Creating a Homegroup

Hey Friends,

I want to create a homegroup. Is it possible without having an internet connection?
and after having a homegroup, i would like to play music from other devices through my pc speakers -> possible enough?

Thanks.

Homegroup is possible without internet as long as your comps are linked with wired or wireless connections

With regards to the music is should be possible but depends what equipment you are trying to send from/to

It's very simple to create a Homegroup network although the other machine need to be Windows 7 or Windows 8 and yes you will need to have an internet connection or share a common default gateway. Very possible to share media, stream movies etc.

Homegroup - Create

I have created a homegroup now, but i dont seem to get how i could play music from other devices such as my phone (Nokia 5800) or my laptop (win 7) through speakers which are connected to my desktop (win XP)....?
and, the homegroup on laptop is fine, on desktop (win XP) i can see this laptop and see its files but i cant see any option which states connection between desktop and laptop (that is, if there is any..)
my main purpose of homegroup is playing music. Music - coming from laptop or phone or a tablet (android) which is connected to the wireless or homegroup, it could also be bluetooth...
Help Please...
Thanks

I have created a homegroup now, but i dont seem to get how i could play music from other devices such as my phone (Nokia 5800) or my laptop (win 7) through speakers which are connected to my desktop (win XP)....?
and, the homegroup on laptop is fine, on desktop (win XP) i can see this laptop and see its files but i cant see any option which states connection between desktop and laptop (that is, if there is any..)
my main purpose of homegroup is playing music. Music - coming from laptop or phone or a tablet (android) which is connected to the wireless or homegroup, it could also be bluetooth...
Help Please...
Thanks

If an XP machine is in this network then you should set up a Workgroup rather than a Homegroup.

Homegroup and Library's are only for Windows 7 or Windows 8 machines.

I'm not so sure about streaming from a phone? You might want to Google that one.

But you can stream from XP to Windows 7 easily enough.

For seeing music played through your pc speakers while the player is an external device you would need to patch in the device likely by a line-in type setup by way of the sound card or onboard line-in jack.

As for setting a home group that is between two pcs not a pc and a hand held. For sharing you would need a web based media storage when going from one platform to another. Hand helds like smart phones, IPhones, etc. can browse, check the main, even download apps for phones however.

Depending on the type of other device(s) you are referring to however something would need to be patched in directly to the system you want to hear through. That could be an analog line-in by 1/6" miniplug even to an infrared wireless input device or by digital I/O hard wired or wireless.

Thanks for coming here Night hawk.

i am getting creative speakers soon and they will be connected to my desktop (or laptop if in case things dont work the way i think of) via cable. they are not wireless, just the normal cable. i was upto homegroup thing because i want to play whatever audio through those speakers from my laptop (and if at all possible from the phone which could be connected by bluetooth...)
get it? if you are confused tell me...
actually, one person i know has a homegroup at his place, his two computers(a laptop and a desktop) are connected to each other sharing data... and he showed me this thing.... playing music from his phone and computer through the speakers of my laptop using "shairport" .... now i dont know how this system works so i need some help in this.. (yes, he has iphone and itunes on pc)
i have an android tablet too,
All i want to do is be able to play audio through those great speakers without having to plug in the cable everytime to every device .....

Thanks

I think you will find your friend has some type of bluetooth input adapter as far as his phone is concerned to allow for this. That would simply patch in wirelessly from the phone itself as well as the second pc.

You can find PCI type WiFi/Bluetooth combo cards for both wireless input and WiFi networking which would seem to be just what your friend may be using to suit both purposes. Most vendors were catching $28- while one site has one of these marked down a few to $25 seen at #$#>> Order to 6230 IEEE 802.11n (draft) Bluetooth 3.0 – Wi-Fi/Bluetooth Combo Adapter (Bulk) | Best Buy Reviews

That would seem to fit the bill for both bluetooth and setting up a homegroup by WiFi where the combo card is installed on the desktop. You would need to shop around a bit to find something similar for laptop use.