"Homegroup" and non-Win7 PC's

I have 2 desktop PC's, both hard-wired to a DSL router/gateway. One runs Win7 HP-64,
the other runs W2k sp4.

I had it set up so the 2 PC's shared a directory. File sharing worked OK.

The Win7 system presented me with one of those lovely screens that forced me
to choose between some undefined net options. "Homegroup" looked innocuous and I
selected it.

I now have no access to the other PC. Not at all what I needed.

In a nutshell, what is "Homegroup"? An MS artifact for Win7 systems only?

Can I just 'delete' "Homegroup" and regain my former local net access? If
it is Win7-only I have no use for it.

Thx,
Puddin'

Puddin Man said:

I have 2 desktop PC's, both hard-wired to a DSL router/gateway. One runs Win7 HP-64,
the other runs W2k sp4.

I had it set up so the 2 PC's shared a directory. File sharing worked OK.

The Win7 system presented me with one of those lovely screens that forced me
to choose between some undefined net options. "Homegroup" looked innocuous and I
selected it.

I now have no access to the other PC. Not at all what I needed.

In a nutshell, what is "Homegroup"? An MS artifact for Win7 systems only?

Can I just 'delete' "Homegroup" and regain my former local net access? If
it is Win7-only I have no use for it.

Thx,
Puddin'

Yes Homegroups are made to work with Windows 7 machines. I doubt that you can get it working with Win2K but you can make it work with Vista,XP,macs and Ubuntu.

This link explains what Homegroups is.
http://www.windows7update.com/Windows7-HomeGroups.html

You can just leave the Homegroup and then create a workgroup.
Homegroup - Leave

If you really want to use Homegroups along side other Op systems you can set up by following this document from Msoft about down level sharing with Homegroups.

Download the .xps document in the link below.

Download details: Windows 7 & HomeGroup: Sharing with Windows XP, Windows Vista, and other operating systems

Thanks for partial help.

I have "left" Homegroups, but it has zapped my Workgroup.

I now get the idea that Homegroup is a little like WinMediaPlayer: like a disease that is very difficult to eliminate.

If it takes less than 40 days and 40 nites, I'd like to eliminate Homegroups and recover simple Workgroup status.

Any help?

Thx,
P

Jacee said:

Read this article by Fred Langa Simple change in settings pumps up Win7 networks

That seems to have turned the trick.

Many Thanks,
P