Windows 7: Homegroup issues

I have a desktop (Windows 7 x86 Professional) and laptop (Windows 7 x64 Professional) and am trying to setup a Homegroup for my network. I have seen a couple forum threads with people having issues, and I am also having issues. I have tried all of the Homegroup troubleshooting options (this is not an IPv6 problem).

Basically, I booted both systems, went into Network & Sharing and saw the "Ready to create" option for HomeGroup. I created a HomeGroup on my Desktop, then rebooted the Desktop. After rebooting, I could see "joined" in the Homegroup area on my Desktop, but I still saw "Ready to create" on my Laptop. I rebooted my laptop, but I still saw "Ready to create."

I saw that someone had created a HomeGroup on two machines and it gave him an option to merge both groups. I went ahead and created a HomeGroup on my Laptop, and it allowed me to go through with it. It never gave me any errors or anything of that sort, but simply allowed me to create two parallel HomeGroups.

No matter how many times I repeat this process I cannot get any errors.



Both computers are connected to the same network on a Linksys WRT54GL router running Tomato.

Any ideas on what steps to take next are appreciated!

Thanks

did you properly install the firmware on your router? You're supposed to do a nvram erase prior to configuring it.

You shouldn't need to create two homegroups. In my house I just create a homegroup on one PC and then join that same homegroup from the others.

Sorry that I only have a second right now, but Microsoft's TechNet has a video that might help:

"Learn how to join computers running Windows 7 to a homegroup and take the hassle out of sharing files and printers."

Windows 7 HomeGroup

When you say this is not an IPv6 problem what do you mean? If IPv6 is disabled you will not be able to create a homegroup.

I am using an old version of Tomato, version 1.17 and do not have any issues with networking and see no reason to upgrade at this time.

sup3rsprt: I did an nvram erase prior to installing the Tomato Firmware (1.23). I can try updating to 1.25 (the newest firmware).

TheSchaft: I have followed that video exactly with no success, neither computer will recognize that there is another HomeGroup on the network (it will recognize it's own HomeGroup).

ultraplanet: I have IPv6 enabled.

In addition to IPv6 make sure the Peer Networking Grouping and HomeGroup Provider services are both started. Network discovery is turned on and both machines are actually logged on. And you can only belong to 1 homegroup at a time so pick one machine as the creator.

I made sure that these services are running on both computers, and run on start-up:

Homegroup Listener
Homegroup Provider
Peer Name Resolution Protocol (not sure how necessary it is)
Peer Networking Grouping
Peer Networking Identity Manager
SSDP Discovery

I also have Windows Firewall disabled for Home networks on both computers. Both of my computers share the same Workgroup, Username and password, and Network. Network Discovery is enabled on both computers. My laptop has wireless disabled, and only has 1 saved network (the wired one). If I run a HomeGroup on one computer it won't be recognized by the other computer.

UPDATE: I was able to install a Verihub server on my desktop and connect to my other computer through DC++ using its local ip, so I don't think it's my router.

I managed to get it so if I go into "Network" I can see my other computer as a "Media Player" (this works on both computers), but I still cannot communicate through HomeGroup.

I am fine using the old networking style, but how do I also share my documents and other folders besides Music/Pictures/Videos?

wjohnsto

homegroup is bad at its best. You should change to a standard workgroup and sharing will be easy

ken