Any good reason to use Homegroup

To:chev65
Thanks for your efforts. The Norton AV was running on both computers before I tried to get Homegroup working. I've decided to give up on Homegroup since my regular network works fine. What I don't understand is Microsoft developing something like Homegroup that seems to require more matching protocols to make it work than is required for a network (at least in my case). I might try again in a few months when my Norton subscription expires, I plan on switching to the freebie AV in Microsoft Essentials.

After several days of working with Norton tech support, I have found a solution that works to address the conflict where Windows 7 HomeGroup is not working with Norton.

Try the following steps on each computer that has Windows 7:

1) Open Norton
2) Click "Settings" at top
3) Click "Firewall" on left
4) Click "Traffic Rules" tab in blue
5) Click "Add" button in blue at bottom
6) Click "Next" button
7) Click the third button "Connections to and from othe computers"
8) Click "Next" button
9) Click "Next" button
10) Click the "Apply this rule" box
11) Type a "2" behind the work Rule to read "Firewall Rule2"
12) Then click "Finish"

13) Now go back to the "Traffic Rules" tab and on that screen, highlight to become tan in color the new description "Firewall Rule2".
14) Click the "Move Up" tab at the bottom several times and watch the "Firewall Rule2" move up until it is at the top of the Description list.
15) Click "Apply"

Repeat these steps on every computer running Windows 7 for which you wish to include in the HomeGroup.

Now, depending on your router set-up, you might also need to take the following action if the HomeGroup is not being recognized by "all" of the computers in the Network.

Go back to Norton page

1) Click "Settings" at top
2) Click "My Network" on left
3) Click the "Configure +" on the far right of Network Security Map
4) If a Network Security Overview screen pops up, click "ok" at bottom
5) Click the down arrow next to "Trust Control" and then click on the name of your router.
6) All of your computers and systems should be listed under the grey area at the top of the screen, review each computer and look for the word "FULL TRUST" under each computer.
7) Click on any system that does not say "FULL TRUST"
8) Go down to the line that says "Trust Level:" and click the word "Edit" to the far right.
9) Click the button that says "FULL TRUST" and then click "OK"
10) Then click "Close" and repeat the step for any computer or system that does not say "FULL TRUST".

You should now have all computers running "Windows 7" as apart of the Network, (Note: I found that my one Vista Computer was linking to the HomeGroup without going through all of this).

Final note: It is also important to make sure that all of the computers have the same date and time before setting up the HomeGroup (I believe it is a security feature) and also make sure that each computer has the same "Password". If you need to "Change the Password" on each system, make sure it is the same on every computer. This is all done on the HomeGroup settings page.

Hope this helps, it was hell for me to figure this out..............