Home Network & Homegroup Trouble

[Dobes]

I have a Desktop running Windows 7 Home Premium 32-bit, & a laptop running Windows 7 Home Premium 64-bit. I have them networked via a Belkin N300 Wireless router. Both can access the internet without any problems, both wired & wireless for the laptop.

However, neither computer can see each other on the network. When I look at the full network map they can see each other, but in the network window there is only the computer I am using at the time. This is also causing problems with the Homegroup, as every time I create one on the Desktop I am unable to join it on the laptop as there are no other computers on the network.

I "think" I know why this is. The network that the desktop is connected to is called 'Network 2'. However, the network the Laptop is connected to is called 'DB Network 2'. DB Network is the name of my wireless network.

I recently got the Belkin Router after the D-Link one I was using had 2 network ports fail, however I could access a Homegroup wirelessly using the D-Link.

I have a wired network printer that both computers can see & use with no problems at all.

I have run the Homegroup troubleshooter on both computers, & googled everything I can think of to sort it out, but nothing has worked. Is the solution as simple as renaming the network connections so there is only 1 network name? If so, how can I do that?

 

[seavixen32]

This Microsoft tutorial may be of some help: HomeGroup from start to finish - Help & How-to - Microsoft Windows

 

[Dobes]

This Microsoft tutorial may be of some help: HomeGroup from start to finish - Help & How-to - Microsoft Windows

Thanks for your response. Unfortunately that doesn't help me, as I can create a Homegroup, but cannot join the Homegroup from the other computer because they aren't seeing each other on the network, even though they can see each other on the network map.

 

[seavixen32]

Have you checked your router settings as it seems strange that the D-link router worked, but the Belkin one doesn't.

Probably a very silly question, but you did get a wireless router?

 

[Dobes]

Have you checked your router settings as it seems strange that the D-link router worked, but the Belkin one doesn't.

Probably a very silly question, but you did get a wireless router?

As far as I can tell, the settings on the new router are the same as the old one. It's definitely a wireless router as I can connect phones & other wireless devices to it as well as the laptop with no problems. The only problem I have is that the 2 computers can't see each other on the same network, so can't access a Homegroup, despite them both showing up on each other's network map.

 

[Orbital Shark]

Hi,

Just out of curiosity is each machine running the relevant Service Pack 1?

I had the same issue with my Desktop & Laptop machines until I realised I hadn't installed SP1 on my Laptop

 

[Dobes]

Hi,

Just out of curiosity is each machine running the relevant Service Pack 1?

I had the same issue with my Desktop & Laptop machines until I realised I hadn't installed SP1 on my Laptop

Both of them have SP1 installed & all Updates are installed too. Have only had laptop 2 weeks, so it came with SP1 already installed, desktop has been in current configuration for over 6 months I think.

 

[seavixen32]

How about if you dispense with the Homegroup altogether and try using a Workgroup instead?

 

[Dobes]

How about if you dispense with the Homegroup altogether and try using a Workgroup instead?

View attachment 187768

I'd consider trying that, but wouldn't I still have the same problem as the computers still can't see each other on the network. On both computers the Workgroups have the same name, so as far as I am aware it should be working as a workgroup, but it's not. Are there any settings I need to change to get a workgroup happening?

 

[seavixen32]

Although this relates to Windows XP/Vista with 7 it does show you how to set up a workgroup.

Networking home computers running different versions of Windows

 

[Dobes]

Although this relates to Windows XP/Vista with 7 it does show you how to set up a workgroup.

Networking home computers running different versions of Windows

I've followed that as best I could, but still no change. I've turned off the Firewall on the router & have made sure my software firewall (ESET Smart Security) is set up to allow Homegroups too.

I'm confused as to why the network map shows both computers connected to the router, but the network window only shows the individual computer I'm on at the time. I've attached a snip of the network map from the desktop.

 

[Dobes]

I've renamed the Workgroup, & now the computers can see each other as being on the same network, however this is only when the laptop is running the wired connection, ie it doesn't work through wireless.

However, I still can't join a homegroup using either computer. I've also tried doing it the old fashioned way, but neither computer has access to the other, despite there being only one account on each computer, with identical user names.

I'd prefer having a homegroup, especially one that can be connected to wirelessly, but if that's not possible I can live with just a network. I just need to be able to transfer large files & folders from one computer to the other without having to use USB sticks &/or USB drives.

 

[Dobes]

I've partially solved the problem. I changed the sharing permissions on the folders I want to share & can now access them across the workgroup.

This is not completely satisfactory, as I would like to be able to access each computer wirelessly in the future. In order to get it to work I also had to allow sharing to everyone, which is not completely secure & not my preferred way to do things.

I'm thinking of disabling & deleteing all connections on the laptop & then rebooting it & letting it detect everything again from scratch. Would this be an advisable course of action or am I just as likely to run into the same troubles again?

 

[Tyenot]

Although this relates to Windows XP/Vista with 7 it does show you how to set up a workgroup.

Networking home computers running different versions of Windows

Not my thread, but this is exactly what I was looking for.

Thank You.

Tye.

 

[seavixen32]

You're very welcome Tyenot.

Dobes, if you have non-Windows 7 computers in your network then you can't use a Homegroup, but as you haven't it doesn't apply to you.

Starting from scratch may be the best option for you.

In the meantime I'll do a bit more research.

You could try uninstalling your wireless networks, restart your computer, and then configure a new network.

Are these of any help?

http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/43972-homegroup-add-computer-join.html

http://www.howtogeek.com/howto/9524/learning-windows-7-create-a-homegroup-join-a-new-computer-to-it/

http://windows.microsoft.com/en-US/windows7/Setting-up-a-wireless-network

http://www.microsoft.com/athome/organization/wirelesssetup.aspx