Any good reason to use Homegroup

[tedhopkins]

I have 2 computers (both running Windows7) on a home network, a desktop wired to a router and a laptop connected thru a wireless connection. I have no problems seeing each other, files etc. thru the network. However, when I try to see them in "Homegroup" the laptop can see the desktop computer, but the desktop computer cannot see the laptop. Is there any benefit to continue trying to setup the Homegroup?

 

[chev65]

Yes there are many good reasons to use the Homegroup if all of your machines are Win 7. The Library sharing option with Homegroups is very useful.

Most likely there are some settings incorrect in the Advanced Sharing settings. Find these windows under the Advanced Sharing Settings and make sure all the settings are correctly set.

The network discovery one is probably not set to discover on the laptop. Check the settings below in both Windows, there are two, Work-Home and the Public one.

 

[Etihtsarom]

The only advantage I can think of that Homegroup has is libraries sharing.

 

[tedhopkins]

To:chev65, All settings as you suggested, same problem, the laptop sees the desktop, but not the reverse.

 

[chev65]

Are you running AVG anti virus by any chance?

It causes endless problems with Homegroups and needs to be uninstalled if you have it.

Are you running Windows 7 Home premium on both machines?

Is the Time and date set correctly on both your bios clock and your system clock on both machines?

 

[aem]

To me Homegroup is like a GPS unit on your car. You hook it up, turn it on and you're ready to go. As with the GPS, Homegroup is there to simplify what you want to do.

 

[Kipper]

I have 4 systems set up in my Home Group, on the main system where I keep backups of all my programs I have that folder set up to be shared with the group.

Makes it nice when working on a different system in the group that I can access the shared folder and install or move files between all of the systems.

You can share most anything between systems not limited to just the libraries.

 

[Brink]

To:chev65, All settings as you suggested, same problem, the laptop sees the desktop, but not the reverse.

Hello Ted, and welcome to Seven Forums.

Also check your WLAN partition setting in your ROUTER setup to make sure that it is disabled as well.

http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/43961-homegroup-create.html

Hope this helps,
Shawn

 

[tedhopkins]

To: chev65
Both computers running Win7 Home Premium, both running Norton AntiVirus, with settings to allow communication between computers (it works with standard network). I am in the dark when you refer to bios and system clocks.

 

[chev65]

Honestly Ted, Homegroups works absolutely flawlessy for me. If you are having problems after setting up Homegroups then I would suspect that Norton is causing your problems with seeing other computers. You should always set up your network and make sure it is working perfectly before installing any type of AV software.

I would also double check that list I posted earlier and make sure those settings are correct.

The clocks I refered too is simply the bios clock and the system clock which both need to be the same on both machines. I doubt that is the problem in this case.

 

[tedhopkins]

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.

 

[aem]

To:chev65
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.

Homegroup is between W7s only. When you install W7 ipv6 is installed and enabled by default is it not? It's quite simple.

 

[Djohn41402]

Windows 7 HomeGroup Norton Network Issues

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..............