Belkin Network

[CarlTR6]

Notsograymatter is correct on step 3. Win 7's homegroup is designed for computers all running Win 7. You can make homegroup accept an XP computer; but you have to jump through some hoops. To create a group of computers using different OS's, use workgroup. You will save yourself some frustration. Chev put me on the right path to getting the XP machine working on my homegroup.

Is workgroup different than having "work" as the type of network? I'm not sure about the primary, since it has been a while since I set it up, but I do recall something in the original setup for the adapter (I think), asking for a workgroup, and I left it at the default (mshome). However, when I just reinstalled the software for the adapter a bit earlier, I didn't see anything like this.

Work, Home and Public are types or kind of groups and the selection sets the sharing. Work and home essentially use the same sharing. Public is what you would use in an internet cafe or a public wi-fi hotspot. It tightens sharing down to protect you since you are no longer behind your own router. It keeps someone else from seeing what is on your computer.

Homegroup and workgroup define your actual local group. Homegroup designed is for machines all running Win7. Workgroup makes it easier to set up machines of various OS's.

Am I clear as mud?

 

[Kari]

First, here's a short explanation of your routers main display:

1. = connected to Internet
2. = Modem
3. = Router (wave symbols top right = WiFi enabled)
4. = At least one wired device connected
5. = At least one wireless device connected
6. = WiFi encryption ON
7. = SSID
8. = Number of wireless connected devices

As you can see, I have currently three wireless devices connected, two rigs and a printer. One of the rigs is connected with Belkin N+ USB adapter.

Here's how I did it earlier before all my rigs got Seven and I changed from workgroup to homegroup i.e. when I still got a Vista rig and an XP rig in same network with Seven. I'm not saying this is the one and only solution, I'm just telling what worked for me, after trying almost every possible method:

• Disconnect the computer which is going to use Belkin USB adapter from network
• Uninstall all wireless devices, shut down the computer
• Reset modem and router
• Setup the router (Belkin's web interface, forget the included CD!). Use a hardwired computer to setup (not the one which is using Belkin adapter)
• Boot the rig which has Belkin USB adapter. For first boot after uninstalling wireless devices, hardwire it
• Let Windows install wireless drivers
• Set network type to 'Home' in all rigs (it's your home network, I've understood, so it makes sence to allow as much as possible by default)

That's it, at least my home network worked after this. Of course you have to take care that all rigs are in the same subnet and workgroup.

Good luck!

Kari

 

[seekermeister]

Notsograymatter is correct on step 3. Win 7's homegroup is designed for computers all running Win 7. You can make homegroup accept an XP computer; but you have to jump through some hoops. To create a group of computers using different OS's, use workgroup. You will save yourself some frustration. Chev put me on the right path to getting the XP machine working on my homegroup.

Is workgroup different than having "work" as the type of network? I'm not sure about the primary, since it has been a while since I set it up, but I do recall something in the original setup for the adapter (I think), asking for a workgroup, and I left it at the default (mshome). However, when I just reinstalled the software for the adapter a bit earlier, I didn't see anything like this.

Work, Home and Public are types or kind of groups and the selection sets the sharing. Work and home essentially use the same sharing. Public is what you would use in an internet cafe or a public wi-fi hotspot. It tightens sharing down to protect you since you are no longer behind your own router. It keeps someone else from seeing what is on your computer.

Homegroup and workgroup define your actual local group. Homegroup designed is for machines all running Win7. Workgroup makes it easier to set up machines of various OS's.

Am I clear as mud?

You may be crystal clear, and it is my understanding that is muddy. When I go to Network And Sharing Center, and go to the link where you set the type of network, does that determine the workgroup also? In other words, I'm confused as to definitions of network vs workgroup. As I said, my network is set at work on the primary, and unknown on the secondary, because I have not found a means of configuring it in the wireless utility.

 

[seekermeister]

Here is another option that I don't understand:

If an external Registrar is available, you can also enter Router's PIN at the external Registrar. To change Router's PIN, click "Generate New PIN". Or click "Restore Default PIN" to reset the PIN to factory default.

What to heck is an external registrar?

 

[iseeuu]

You may be crystal clear, and it is my understanding that is muddy. When I go to Network And Sharing Center, and go to the link where you set the type of network, does that determine the workgroup also? In other words, I'm confused as to definitions of network vs workgroup. As I said, my network is set at work on the primary, and unknown on the secondary, because I have not found a means of configuring it in the wireless utility.

This MS link describes this as "Network Location". These are "pre-set" security settings depending on where you are using the network access:

Choosing a network location

Hope this helps some.

Cheers!
Robert

 

[iseeuu]

The security settings for a simple "unsecured home network" is "Home". To change from "Work" to "Home" click the work link with the mouse and select "Home".



I am using "Home" so that is why "Home" is shown in the screen shot.

Cheers!
Robert

 

[Kari]

Workgroup is a network where joined computers belong to same subnet and IP address space. In one network you can have more workgroups, by default only computers belonging to same workgroup can share (drives, folders, external devices). Microsoft has made this a little bit more complicated by using the default name Workgroup for workgroup

Homegroup is kind of 'Workgroup v.2'.

Network type can be Home, Work or Public. This determines the default share level. For instance when using a public HotSpot (airports, hotels etc.), because of that Microsoft's default workgroup name it is very likely that a lot of users have workgroup name 'Workgroup'. If these users choose network type 'Home' when using these public access points, they could get in to each other's computers. Choosing 'Public' kind of closes the access to your shares.

Kari

 

[seekermeister]

First, here's a short explanation of your routers main display:

View attachment 67730

1. = connected to Internet
2. = Modem
3. = Router (wave symbols top right = WiFi enabled)
4. = At least one wired device connected
5. = At least one wireless device connected
6. = WiFi encryption ON
7. = SSID
8. = Number of wireless connected devices

As you can see, I have currently three wireless devices connected, two rigs and a printer. One of the rigs is connected with Belkin N+ USB adapter.

Here's how I did it earlier before all my rigs got Seven and I changed from workgroup to homegroup i.e. when I still got a Vista rig and an XP rig in same network with Seven. I'm not saying this is the one and only solution, I'm just telling what worked for me, after trying almost every possible method:

• Disconnect the computer which is going to use Belkin USB adapter from network
• Uninstall all wireless devices, shut down the computer
• Reset modem and router
• Setup the router (Belkin's web interface, forget the included CD!). Use a hardwired computer to setup (not the one which is using Belkin adapter)
• Boot the rig which has Belkin USB adapter. For first boot after uninstalling wireless devices, hardwire it
• Let Windows install wireless drivers
• Set network type to 'Home' in all rigs (it's your home network, I've understood, so it makes sence to allow as much as possible by default)

That's it, at least my home network worked after this. Of course you have to take care that all rigs are in the same subnet and workgroup.

Good luck!

Kari

Okay, going down the checklist... items 1-4 are the same as mine. Item 5 remains blank. Item 6 & 7 are the same. Item 8 remains at 0.

I will follow your setup procedure and see what happens.

 

[iseeuu]

Workgroup settings:

 

[Kari]

Okay, going down the checklist... items 1-4 are the same as mine. Item 5 remains blank. Item 6 & 7 are the same. Item 8 remains at 0.

I will follow your setup procedure and see what happens.

Important thing to remember is that symbols 4 & 5 don't show how many devices are connected, they are just showing that at least one (wired & wireless) is connected.

 

[not so gray matter]

In regards to workgroups and setting them up. If you set up your workgroup properly and join it with each and every computer, you shouldn't have issues with computers not showing up in the Network portion of explorer. There are exceptions, but it'll work 10 times better than trying to configure the Homegroup portion. Once you set it up, you can share files/folders with others in your work group by right clicking on the item and going to Share with...

7: Join or create a workgroup
Vista: Windows Fanatics
XP: Microsoft Corporation

Generalized installation instructions for your router:
How to Install a Belkin N1 Wireless Router | eHow.com

How to set up a WPA secured network on a Belkin Router:
Belkin : Support : Protecting your network with WPA/WPA2 security

Your settings in your router shouldn't effect your network, as long as you're not using any specialized settings.

PS... Make sure you're on a "Home Network" not a "Work Network". The work network will cause certain features to be locked by default.

 

[CarlTR6]

Is workgroup different than having "work" as the type of network? I'm not sure about the primary, since it has been a while since I set it up, but I do recall something in the original setup for the adapter (I think), asking for a workgroup, and I left it at the default (mshome). However, when I just reinstalled the software for the adapter a bit earlier, I didn't see anything like this.

Work, Home and Public are types or kind of groups and the selection sets the sharing. Work and home essentially use the same sharing. Public is what you would use in an internet cafe or a public wi-fi hotspot. It tightens sharing down to protect you since you are no longer behind your own router. It keeps someone else from seeing what is on your computer.

Homegroup and workgroup define your actual local group. Homegroup designed is for machines all running Win7. Workgroup makes it easier to set up machines of various OS's.

Am I clear as mud?

You may be crystal clear, and it is my understanding that is muddy. When I go to Network And Sharing Center, and go to the link where you set the type of network, does that determine the workgroup also? In other words, I'm confused as to definitions of network vs workgroup. As I said, my network is set at work on the primary, and unknown on the secondary, because I have not found a means of configuring it in the wireless utility.

Go with WORK as the TYPE of NETWORK. The GROUP you create will be a WORKGROUP. Or you can go with HOME as the type or location of the NETWORK. But still go with WORKGROUP for your GROUP.

 

[CarlTR6]

Thank you Kari and Robert for stepping in. I appreciate it.

Kari and Robert both know what they are doing.

 

[Kari]

Most of the time I'm absolutely not sure what I'm doing It's just that I have exactly the same devices than Seekermeister, Belkin N1 Vision router and Belkin N+ USB adapter.

 

[iseeuu]

And I was just letting some pictures do the talkin ...

 

[CarlTR6]

Most of the time I'm absolutely not sure what I'm doing It's just that I have exactly the same devices than Seekermeister, Belkin N1 Vision router and Belkin N+ USB adapter.

And I was just letting some pictures do the talkin ...

Not only do you two know what you are doing, but you are modest, too!

 

[Kari]

I would like to show that statement to some co-workers... Could you print it out and sign it, then fax it to me? Please use your full military rank when signing

 

[CarlTR6]

I would like to show that statement to some co-workers... Could you print it out and sign it, then fax it to me? Please use your full military rank when signing

:roflmao::roflmao::roflmao::roflmao:

 

[TheSchaft]

I would like to show that statement to some co-workers... Could you print it out and sign it, then fax it to me? Please use your full military rank when signing

I would gladly second that statement.

My rank is General Failure, and I am reading your hard drive. Does that help?

 

[seekermeister]

Your mention of letting Windows install driver made me remember that I had disabled WLAN on the secondary rig in services long ago, before I had even considered a network at all. I reenabled it and checked it in the primary services also, which was still enabled. On reboot, Windows opened the new hardware wizard, and I pointed it to the driver on the CD, since it failed to find anything on it's own. There were two choices, one for Vista and one for XP/2000. I chose the latter, since XP is the OS of the secondary.

I then reinstalled the wireless utility, because the connection wizard that Window opened ask for a network ID, which I was not sure of. Still, in the Belkin utility, I get the same results as before.

Shouldn't the router's display show wireless devices, even before making a connection>