If your objectives are to share files, a printer, and other peripherals, you will need a group. If your printer was connected to the router and that was all you wanted to share, you would not really need a group. In my case, the printer is connected to the desktop and I needed the XP netbook to be able to access the printer. I finally have gotten the homegroup working with no problems.
I have no idea what could be causing the problem with your printer.
Carl the printer is connected to Windows XP..my desktop...(.before I installed the router.. )...I then connected the Laptop by way of the adapter / power supply.. that came with the Laptop....before going Wi-Fi.. without the adapter /power supply... taking the Laptop to the den .
Does that make sense ?
Carl thanks.. about the group .
I am hoping to share from one to the other.. the desktop and the Laptop.
I'll try to get the printer working.. it may need a updated driver... this is an older Lexmark printer. ( printed beautifully with just the XP)
There are some real pros here regarding networking. I hope one of these folks will come to your rescue.
Carl...You need to enjoy your weekend..
I have to be out of town all day tomorrow.. I can start on this again.. Next week.
Thank you for your help.
Hello LPT;
I read through your thread and hope you won't mind if I jump i here. If I may use less technical language, I hope no one takes offense ... as if I am talking 'down' to anyone ... I hope to make it easier to understand?
First your router. Very good idea, even if you did not have a home network. When a computer is connected directly to the Internet (through a cable modem or some other ISP device) the bad guys in the WWW can look at your computer and see what ports (like doors to you house) are open. By comparison, when you have a router in between your computer and the Internet, all they can see is the router! The router is what I would call a "dumb computer", not that it is a computer, but there is nothing there to see. There is a setting in most routers that will turn off responding to 'ping' requests from the Internet so the bad guys won't even know you are there! That is just about all there is to 'securing' a router. Most of the other features are so you can control / prevent users on your network from doing dangerous things and since you are the only user, no problem.
Your router will need a user name and password, but again that is mostly to prevent unauthorized users from making changes to your settings.
Yes you can get rid of the Windows HomeGroup, and yes you will need a "Workgroup" to share printers and files with the computers on your home network. Please have a look at this thread as there are several suggestions for networking 7 and XP computers together: 3 PC Network Sharing
I have more screen shots if there is something there that is not clear and would be happy to post what is needed.
Cheers!
Robert
Thank you, Robert. That is the kind of help I hoped would come along.
LPt, since your printer works with your XP computer ( I figured it would), it is most likely a driver issue with the Windows Seven computer. We should be able to fix that.
Your lucky...i cant get my homegroup to work at between my pc and laptop both of which run W7
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