Can't join Homegroup

Check that your computer names are unique! And not just case-different, but unique.

I battled this problem on my dad's desktop / laptop for 4 hours and tried the IPV6 and the reboot sequence tips and they didn't work. Then I noticed the computer names were identical, and thinking that might confuse Win 7 I changed one and poof! It worked! (You are forced to reboot after you rename a computer so it could have been that, but I rebooted 10 times before with no success).

I didn't confirm the problem since my dad was getting irritated and I figured Microsoft had stolen enough of my life at that point. But give it a try. Unique computer names are needed. Can anyone else confirm?

PS - Hey Microsoft, if unique names are required for Homegroup to work, could you TELL US THAT! Dang.

Both do have different and unique names. I've given up at this point. Thanks for all the help.

For the posts about homegroup problems. Make sure that the 2 pc's you are trying to use on the homegroup have different pc names. ie; you cannot connect to the workgroup if both pc's have the same name "john-pc" for example. win 7 will think that this is the same workgroup thus you cannot join only create. To change the name of one of your pc's go to control panel> system and security> system, next to computer name go to change settings, when the system properties box opens click "change to rename this computer" Make sure it is different from your other pc. You will the be able to JOIN the homegroup. Hope this helps.

guys i am in a real trouble ........

both pc connected via wifi to my adsl router .......


but unable to see home group created in pc over other pc or vice versa

in network only one pc is visible ...

while in full network map i can see my other pc but its not accessible ...

but i can ping my both pcs eitherway ....

os is win7 ultimate
router is d link 2640t

no names are different for both pc one is drbilalmuhammad151 and other is drbilalmuhammad

I had this same problem, network was fine.

My issue was the clocks - they were about a minute off (desktop said 8:27; laptop said 8:26. Why won't WIndows allow you to display seconds in the taskbar clock???)

Anyway - laptop was set to sync to a NIST server for time, and hadn't manaaged to connect. Desktop was syncing to time.windows.com. Set the laptop to sync to the same server as the desktop, forced a time sync on both machines - and suddenly I could see my homegroup on the laptop!

Thanks all for the suggestions - the troubleshooter did highlight the problem, but it's easy to assume the clocks are in sync if they LOOK the same ...

1. If your can't set up a Homegroup or if file sharing with Homegroups is inconsistant follow these instructions. First you will need to uninstall completely which ever A/V software or third party firewall you have installed. Or you can try going to your A/V's software forum and attempt to configure your A/V's for sharing with Homegroups. This problem is listed first for a good reason simply because it's the most likely cause of set up or sharig problems with Homegroups.

It might also be helpful to reset your router. Be sure that IPv6 is enabled in your network connections properties window "picture below". Enable DHCP in your routers set up page and make sure that all your machines are using the same default gateway and subnet mask and that all the intended Homegroup machines can sucessfully connect to the internet.

2. After sucessfully completing those tasks use the link below to help you fix the most likely problems encounted when setting up a Homegroup network. Pay close attention that the Time/Date settings are in sync on all machines and also that the bios clock is in sync. Also notice the registry adjustment which is sometimes required to fix certain Homegroup set up problems.

Homegroup trouble shooter walkthrough in the link below.
http://helpdeskgeek.com/windows-7/wi...-to-homegroup/

Other relivant links below about Homegroup connection problems.

Windows 7 Homegroup Invalid Passwords Because of Date and Time Settings - Resolve the issue with a simple workaround - Softpedia

Cannot leave Homegroup

Windows 7 HomeGroup: Walkthrough

Homegroup Password is incorrect?

Cannot change active network from public to home in Windows 7

HomeGroup get an error of must have IPv6 enabled

Set Network Location to Home

Another reason why you can’t access your HomeGroup is because it only works for home networks where you trust all the computers. If, for some reason, you chose Work, Public, or Domain, then HomeGroups will not work.
Click this bar to view the full image.



3. There are several reasons why you can’t access your HomeGroup. Here are the most popular reasons for not being able to connect to your HomeGroup.

• Your computer might not be connected to the network the HomeGroup is on. Make sure the computer has network/Internet access. Try having Windows 7 troubleshoot the Internet connection for you.
• Your network location might not be set to Home. Learn how to check and change your network location if needed.
• Network Discovery might be turned off. Learn how to turn Network Discovery back on.
• Other computers in the HomeGroup might be turned off.
• Other computer in the HomeGroup might not be sharing files. Learn how to share files using HomeGroup.
• Maybe someone changed the HomeGroup password. Try checking the HomeGroup password on other computers in the HomeGroup. If the HomeGroup password was changed, change the HomeGroup password on your computer.
• Your computer might not yet be joined to a HomeGroup. Learn how to join or create a HomeGroup.
• Turn off or uninstall any third party firewalls or A/V software (usually bundled with antivirus software) that are installed on your computer.

If none of these troubleshooting tips work, try restarting your computer, or leave and then re-join the HomeGroup.


4. Other times there is a rogue file causing problems with Homegroups.

Open Windows explorer and navigate to the following file.

C:\Windows\ServiceProfiles\LocalService\AppData\Roaming\PeerNetworking and delete all of the files in this folder. Now restart the computer.

Go to Services again and you should be able to start 'Peer Networking Grouping' and 'Peer Name Resolution Protocol'. Restart the computer again.

When you log on this time, check the event log again, to ensure no errors concerning the two services are present and also check Services to ensure the two services concerned are running.

You should now have full functionality restored to your homegroup.


5. There are a few more things you can do if it's still not working.

Open up a command prompt and type "regedit" without the quotes then hit enter. Navigate to the following key.
[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\Tcpip6\Parameters]

You have to set the DisabledComponents Dword to 0

Very important> If there isn't a disabled components dword you have to create one and then set it to zero. To do this follow the next step while you are still at the same spot in the registry.

In the right pane, right-click and select New – DWORD (32-bit value) and type in it's name as> “DisabledComponents” and set its value to 0.

“0″ = Enable All IPv6 Interfaces (Default)

After that reboot your machine and see if the problem is fixed.

6. The following services need to be started for Homegroup networking to function properly. It sometimes helps to change them from Manual to Automatic.

First open a command prompt and type in services.msc then hit enter. Scroll down the list and locate the following services. Make sure that the service is started then right click on the service and choose properties, set the service to Automatic rather than Manual.

Right click the sevice, go to properties, make sure that all these services are started then Set to Automatic> DNS Client, Function Discovery Resource Publication, SSDP Discovery, Peer Networking Grouping,Peer Name Resolution Protocol, UPnP Device Host services, Homegroup listener, Homegroup provider.

For wireless connectivity with Windows 7, you need to run the network setup wizard for everything to work correctly.

You should also make sure that your Advanced sharing settings are set like the pictures below. The public sharing window may not matter with Homegroups but it sometimes helps to set them up accordingly.

Here are a few tutorials from Brink to help you navigate though the Homegroup set up procedure.
Homegroup - Create
Homegroup - Add Computer or Join
Homegroup - Leave

I can join homegroup when both computers are connected. But Iwant my desktop set up through ethernet and my labtop wireless. Thats when I can't join them. Any solutions anybody.