Homegroup PC suddenly disappeared - sort of....

Hi, I'm at a bit of a loss. One of the PC's on our homegroup is today suddenly unreachable from the others. The error code is 0x80070035 "The network path was not found".


We have two desktop PC's both running the same version of Windows 7 Professional SP1, I'll call them PC1 and PC2. I also have an old laptop running Vista and a wireless printer. PC1 and the laptop can see each other but neither can see PC2. PC2, however can see both PC1 and the laptop. All can access the printer. The homegroup name of PC2 doesn't seem to have changed.



I've tried running both the network and homegroup troubleshooters on both PC's but have been unable to establish the cause or fix it.


On PC2, as suggested by the troubleshooter, I tried leaving the homegroup and then rejoining it but became a bit confused because, after it gave me the password for the homegroup, instead of me having to add any devices it reported it was already in the homegroup.


I've also tried powering off both PC's then rebooting but that hasn't helped. I can't think where to go from here so any suggestions would be really welcome.

Hello Gwaihir,

If this is a recent problem which you have just encountered, you may wish to use System Restore to roll back the System to an Earlier Date. That might well solve the issue for you.

Otherwise, many who are experiencing Error code 0x80070035 ( "The network path was not found"), have found that the following solution works for them:
1. In Control Panel > All Control Items > Network and Sharing Centre > Advanced sharing setings, turn everything OFF on all options.
2. In Device Manager > Nework Adapers > Uninstall all Network adapers.
3. In Device Manager > Action > Scan for Hardware Changes.
4. In Control Panel > All Control Items > Network and Sharing Centre > Advanced sharing setings, turn everything ON all options that you had previously turned off.

Good Luck

Hi iko22, thanks for your reply.


Funnily enough after I'd posted my query I did think of doing a System Restore but your reply came in before I could prise my wife off the computer.


I have now completed the System Restore and this has fixed the problem. It looks like the last Windows rollup updates that I installed on 19th must have been responsible. One of them was for the .NET framework so I reckon that's the chief suspect.


I have Windows Update set to notify me of updates which I install manually so I can keep track of situations like this. It's one of the reasons I'm very reluctant to go to W10 which I have heard stories about automatic updates breaking users machines.


Thanks again.

Good to hear that System Restore has resolved the issue !! I assume both computers are now fixed. Yes, HomeGroup is no longer available on Windows 10, so it is useful to use these Forums and keep a vigilant eye on those Updates.

Both are now working but mine (PC1) has been downloading but failing to install the monthly rollup for several months now and I just can't face the hassle of trying a system repair in an attempt to fix it. The last time I tried the update readiness tool it screwed something in the system and I had to use System Restore to get it working again. There's obviously something wrong somewhere in my system but as it's otherwise working ok I don't want to fiddle with it.


The wife's (PC2) has been installing the updates with no problem until now but it looks as if I'll have to reject the .NET update at least. I'll probably try installing the ordinary rollup again to see if that causes any problems but I'm resigned to the fact they'll now both be nagging me about updates.

Hello Gwaihir

You could always use Windows Update to hide the updates which you do not want to install, if you know how to do that.

If you are suspecting that there is something wrong with your computer's system, then it is a good idea to run CHKDSK and System File Check to verify if there is any file corruption with the system files. Both these commands can be run from a Command Prompt Windows.

I haven't investigated how to do that yet but it would be useful. I could, of course, set Windows Update to never check but I suspect it'll then keep nagging me about that.


I haven't run CHKDSK or sfc in the very recent past but I did use them to try to resolve the issue with Update and nothing was found so I'm afraid I've just given up on it. I will give them another go, though, just in case.

Here is tutorial on how to use Windows Update to hide unwanted updates (Option One): Windows Update - Hide or Restore Hidden Updates.

Once the update is hidden, then the Windows Update will no longer remind you about installing that update. Hiding updates this way effectively prevents Windows Update from reminding you about the availability of that particular update.

Should you wish to undo any changes that you made, you can restore the hidden update in Option Two from the same tutorial.

Many thanks for that. I've used it on my desktop (PC1) and bookmarked it for future reference.


I've now run CHKDSK and sfc on PC1 and nothing was found.

I decided to try to pin down what was the cause of the problem by installing the updates to PC2 one at a time. It turns out it was actually the Security Monthly Quality Rollup that was responsible. The .NET rollup installed without causing any problems.


I've now hidden the offending update on PC2.

iko22 said:

Here is tutorial on how to use Windows Update to hide unwanted updates (Option One): Windows Update - Hide or Restore Hidden Updates.

Once the update is hidden, then the Windows Update will no longer remind you about installing that update. Hiding updates this way effectively prevents Windows Update from reminding you about the availability of that particular update.

Should you wish to undo any changes that you made, you can restore the hidden update in Option Two from the same tutorial.

Click to expand...

Hiding the update using this method doesn't seem to stick. When I hide it WU greys it out and reports there are no updates to install, as shown in the tutorial, but the next day it pops up again. I've tried hiding it on successive days and it always reappears the following day.


Any thoughts?

Try hiding the Update as per the tutorial.

Turn off the network router.

Reboot the computer, and then check WU to see if the Update has re-appeared.

Hi Iko22, thanks for your response.


I waited until I'd finished for the day then did as you suggested (except instead of turning off the router I disconnected the antenna from my wireless adaptor). I then powered the computer down and left it until the following day. After booting up I waited a while to see if the WU prompt reappeared as it normally appears soon after I boot up. Eventually I reconnected the antenna and reconnected to my router. After two days the prompt has not reappeared and when running WU it reports 'No important updates are available' and the hidden update is still unchecked so it appears that this procedure has made it 'stick'.


Many thanks for your assistance.

I've just about had a bellyful with WU! The latest update on my wife's PC screwed the Homegroup again so I've had to do yet another System Restore.


My own PC has started prompting for the monthly rollup again and still fails to install it so it looks like I'm just going to have to disable all updates on both systems.


Thanks for everyone who has tried to help with these problems but I'm just going to draw a line under them. I've got better things to do than spend hours trying to sort out this cr*p.