Networking wired 64 Bit computer with wireless 32 Bit


  1. Posts : 3
    Desktop: Windows 7 - 64 Bit. Laptop: Win 7 - 32 Bit
       #1

    Networking wired 64 Bit computer with wireless 32 Bit


    I have a new Desktop running Win 7 64 Bit and a laptop running Win 7 32 Bit. The desktop is hard-wired to my router and the laptop is connected to my WI-FI network, along with my printers and back-up drive. I would like to set up a homegroup so I can share files between them and hopefully synch my two Outlook Contact files and back both up on my Buffalo back-up hardrive. How can I enable the two computers to see one another? Also how do I change the name of my laptop? Thanks.

    JJ
      My Computer


  2. Posts : 8,870
    Windows 7 Ult, Windows 8.1 Pro,
       #2

    Here is a microsoft tutorial on how to create a homegroup. Once you set up the Homegroup your computers will be able to see each other, share and print files, stream music or movies and even share entire libraries.
    Create a homegroup

    This second link has more info on how to set up your router for homegroups to work correctly and is located in the tutorial section of this forum.
    Homegroup - Create

    Changing the user name is not so easy and has to be done using the following method.
    You will want to change the user name before you create the homegroup.

    You cannot change a user account by just changing the name. Just changing the name will make a cosmetic change only and not affect the underlying files/folders in the profile.

    1. From an account with administrative privileges, go to Control Panel>User Accounts and create the new Standard user account named the way you want and at least one extra Administrator account. Call the latter "CompAdmin" or "Tech" or the like.
    2. Log into the new Standard user account once so the profile files/folders are created and then log into CompAdmin.
    3. Now go to Control Panel>System>Advanced>User Profiles>Settings
    4. You will see where you can copy user accounts. Copy the old account to the new one from there. Use the Browse to select your new account (C:\Users\newaccount).
    5. Log into the new correctly named account and make sure all your stuff is there and that it works the way you want. When you are satisfied, you can log out and into CompAdmin and delete the old user account from Control Panel>User Accounts.

    If you wish to log into your new, corrected account automatically, do this:

    Start Orb>Search box>type: netplwiz [enter]
    Click on Continue (or supply an administrator's password) when prompted by UAC

    Uncheck the option "Users must enter a user name and password to use this computer". Select a user account to automatically log on by clicking on the desired account to highlight it and then hit OK. Enter the correct password for that user account (if there is one) when prompted. Leave it blank if there is no password (null).

    Source: http://social.answers.microsoft.com/...6-77232207c7e2
    Last edited by chev65; 08 Dec 2009 at 18:37.
      My Computer


  3. Posts : 3
    Desktop: Windows 7 - 64 Bit. Laptop: Win 7 - 32 Bit
    Thread Starter
       #3

    Two Computers See Two DIfferent Networks


    Thanks for your help but it did not work. It was essentially what I have been trying all along, but there is a basic problem preventing me from setting up a Homegroup. My laptop (running Win 7 32 Bit Pro) is on a wireless network emanating from my Netgear Wireless router. My desktop (running Win 7 64 Bit Home premium) is plugged into the back of the Netgear router and does not see and is not part of the WIFI network. It simply shows that it is hardwired to an outlet on the router which it uses to ID its network. So, I need to get these two computers on the same network in order for the Homegroup feature to work. Dell and Netgear both say they cannot help me. I think I need to find a way to get my desktop on the WIFI network without it going wireless. Any way to do that? Thanks.

    (BTW, I tried following your instructions on changing my laptop's name, but got lost when it came down to setting up a new user account.)

    JJ
    Last edited by Brink; 08 Dec 2009 at 20:35. Reason: merged to original post to keep it all together
      My Computer


  4. Posts : 8,870
    Windows 7 Ult, Windows 8.1 Pro,
       #4

    You mentioned nothing in your first post about having this special problem. I don't see anything special at all about your set up and see no reason why it shouldn't work. Having your lap top running on wireless shouldn't make any difference at all. I have the same set up and it works fine.

    I have no idea why you would start a seperate thread for the same problem and from what I can tell you should not be having any problems at all.

    This is no doubt a user created problem, in other words you are not getting all of your settings correct. Suggest you read over the tutorial and make sure that everything is set up correctly, if just one setting isn't correct it will not work.

    Special problems aside I answered all of your questions correctly. We usually give rep for that sorta thing.

    If you can't get homegroup to work then use either the public file sharing or workgroup. Most likely there is a problem with IPv6 which has to be working for the homegroup network to function correctly.
      My Computer


  5. Posts : 3
    Desktop: Windows 7 - 64 Bit. Laptop: Win 7 - 32 Bit
    Thread Starter
       #5

    Perhaps you are right in saying that my network was not set up correctly but it was supervised by a Netgear Tech adviser. I don't know how to change the name of the network that my desktop is on so that it matches my laptop's network. I have called Netgear a number of times for help but they keep wanting me to sign up for their paid tech help which I don't think is right since I just bought their high end router. This is very frustrating. Thanks for your input though.
      My Computer


 

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