Windows 7: Workgroup computers

I have a Laptop that I just installed Windows 7 on, and an XP machine. All is working well, including the networking, but I have what might be a silly question.

From the XP machine, why does the 7 machine not show up when I "View Workgroup Computers". I can get to it when I look in "My Network Places", but when I View the Network Computers, only the XP machine shows up when I'm on the XP machine.

The XP machine shows up on the 7 machine when I "View Network Computers and Devices" FWIW.

Just curious.

Hi and welcome


XP and win 7 do networing differently. XP uses IPv4, Win 7 in homegroup uses IPv6. If your two machines were both win 7 it would show up correctly. I suspect MS is expecting all of us to go buy as many win 7 licenses as they can sell. If you use work group in win 7 it might show both machines correrctly.

Ken J

So if Win 7 is backwards compatible with XP, is there any reason to use a workgroup instead of Homegroup on the Win 7 machine in my situation... i.e., one XP machine with all my data that I CAN access from the Win 7 machine through Network Places. In other words, should I keep Homegroup on Win 7 machine or should I use Workgroup since I have an XP machine also?

How would I set up Workgroup instead of Homegroup on the Win 7 machine? When I chose to Leave Homegroup, I still can't see it in View Workgroup Computers. When I check User user accounts an dpasswords to connect to other computers, I still can't see it. Is there a way to disable Homegroup and use Workgroup in Win 7?

Leave the workgroup, then make sure the Windows 7 computer is on the same workgroup as the XP computer. Personally, I have no use for Homegroups, and I recommend using a workgroup instead.

Join or create a workgroup