Homegroup issues

[UnitedWeFall]

Hey guys, new here. I'm having a small problem with homegroup.

Basically I set up homegroup on the Windows 7 build 6xxx. There are two other Windows 7 computers on the network using this homegroup.
I since deleted the install and installed the RC1.
However for some odd reason, Windows is still detecting the old homegroup even though the computer that created it no longer exists. And I don't remember the password so I can't join it on my new Windows 7 install.
So Windows 7 is not letting me delete the homegroup, join it (because I forgot the password) or create a new one.

Really confused.. so far i'm not liking the feature.

Thanks in advance for any advice.

 

[darkassain]

Hey guys, new here. I'm having a small problem with homegroup.

Basically I set up homegroup on the Windows 7 build 6xxx. There are two other Windows 7 computers on the network using this homegroup.
I since deleted the install and installed the RC1.
However for some odd reason, Windows is still detecting the old homegroup even though the computer that created it no longer exists. And I don't remember the password so I can't join it on my new Windows 7 install.
So Windows 7 is not letting me delete the homegroup, join it (because I forgot the password) or create a new one.

Really confused.. so far i'm not liking the feature.

Thanks in advance for any advice.

okay so you had homegroups for awhile right?
what you have to is tell the other computers to the leave the homegroup....
that should reset the homegroup configuration....

also you should be able to view the password from any computer that has originally joined the HG before...
go to the control panel and click on the HomeGroups icon there you should see this

click on that and should see the password...
if you want them to leave then scroll down alittle lower and you should see the "leave the homegroup" link...
that should remove the computer from that homegroup and once that is done to all the computers then you should be able to create a new one...

 

[UnitedWeFall]

Tried all that. On the other computers when I try to leave the homegroup it says "Windows could not remove computer from homegroup".

When I try to view the password, I click "view password....." or whatever it is, and nothing happens.

 

[darkassain]

Tried all that. On the other computers when I try to leave the homegroup it says "Windows could not remove computer from homegroup".

When I try to view the password, I click "view password....." or whatever it is, and nothing happens.

can you post a screenshot of both cases?
if at all possible can you go through the Homegroup troubleshooter?
also it might be good to go and clear some files from here and restarting and see if the issue persits..
C:\Windows\ServiceProfiles\LocalService\AppData\Roaming\PeerNetworking

 

[UnitedWeFall]

Deleting those files worked! Thanks a lot.

 

[darkassain]

Deleting those files worked! Thanks a lot.

Glad you got it working...

 

[luttman23]

Hi there, old thread I found whilst googling - intentially bumped because I've got the same problem but deleting those files didn't work for me. My laptop can see that there's a homegroup set up on my PC but I don't know the password.

When I try to change the password on my PC I'm told "Windows cannot set up a homegroup on your computer".
When I try to leave the homegroup I'm told "Windows couldn't remove your computer from the homegroup".

I've also tried disabling the homegroup services to no avail and have switched them back to automatic. IPv6 is enabled on the pc and my router, which I connect to wirelessly. I've tried deleting my wireless network from my PC and reconnecting to it. I am the administrator, and I am connecting with a 'home' profile rather than a public one.

Interestingly I cannot turn on 'file and printer sharing' from the advanced sharing settings options in the network and sharing center, the option is there, I can select it and choose 'save settings' but going back into advanced sharing settings later shows it as turned off again.

Please help! It's such a shiney sexy OS I don't want to go back to XP again. I've taken ages getting this system installed with all my downloaded steam games and absolutely do not want to reinstall 7 again on the offchance reinstalling everything over the course of hours might fix the problem.

 

[highnoon]

Homegroup Settings

Hi!

I have joined into this thread because I have the same issue as luttman23. I have a three computer network and had some Homegroup functionality between my laptop and media-pc but could/cannot leave the Homegroup or access the password on my desktop. I have removed the files, turned off my McAfee AV, left the Homegroups on the other two computers, but I get the same results as luttman23 on my desktop.

Interesting, my laptop and media-pc both report that my username on the laptop has already set-up Homegroup, despite the fact that the laptop reported that I had left the homegroup. The laptop will NOT reconnect or join to the Homegroup using the previous password. There is something lurking on the network/computers that needs clearing. Should the C:\Windows\ServiceProfiles\LocalService\AppData\Roaming\PeerNetworking folder and files on all computers be deleted?

Some help would be appreciated.

 

[jeanpascal]

same for me

same problem as you guys, impossible to create password for homegroup thus all computers run with 7 and can be seen on the network. Called hot line, no reply without paying!

 

[chev65]

Why can’t I access my HomeGroup?

There are several reasons why you can’t access your HomeGroup. Here are the most popular reasons for not being able to connect to your HomeGroup.

• Your computer might not be connected to the network the HomeGroup is on. Make sure the computer has network/Internet access. Try having Windows 7 troubleshoot the Internet connection for you.
• Your network location might not be set to Home. Learn how to check and change your network location if needed.
• Network Discovery might be turned off. Learn how to turn Network Discovery back on.
• Other computers in the HomeGroup might be turned off.
• Other computer in the HomeGroup might not be sharing files. Learn how to share files using HomeGroup.
• Maybe someone changed the HomeGroup password. Try checking the HomeGroup password on other computers in the HomeGroup. If the HomeGroup password was changed, change the HomeGroup password on your computer.
• Your computer might not yet be joined to a HomeGroup. Learn how to join or create a HomeGroup.
• Turn off any third party firewalls (usually bundled with antivirus software) that are installed on your computer.

If none of these troubleshooting tips work, try restarting your computer, or leave and then re-join the HomeGroup.

 

[rsvr85]

Why can’t I access my HomeGroup?

There are several reasons why you can’t access your HomeGroup. Here are the most popular reasons for not being able to connect to your HomeGroup.

• Your computer might not be connected to the network the HomeGroup is on. Make sure the computer has network/Internet access. Try having Windows 7 troubleshoot the Internet connection for you.
• Your network location might not be set to Home. Learn how to check and change your network location if needed.
• Network Discovery might be turned off. Learn how to turn Network Discovery back on.
• Other computers in the HomeGroup might be turned off.
• Other computer in the HomeGroup might not be sharing files. Learn how to share files using HomeGroup.
• Maybe someone changed the HomeGroup password. Try checking the HomeGroup password on other computers in the HomeGroup. If the HomeGroup password was changed, change the HomeGroup password on your computer.
• Your computer might not yet be joined to a HomeGroup. Learn how to join or create a HomeGroup.
• Turn off any third party firewalls (usually bundled with antivirus software) that are installed on your computer.

If none of these troubleshooting tips work, try restarting your computer, or leave and then re-join the HomeGroup.

I have one more to add to that, everyone seems to forget it!

Make sure the time on each machine is exactly the same. Even if there's 1/2 second difference between the two, it won't connect

 

[chev65]

Why can’t I access my HomeGroup?




There are several reasons why you can’t access your HomeGroup. Here are the most popular reasons for not being able to connect to your HomeGroup.

• Your computer might not be connected to the network the HomeGroup is on. Make sure the computer has network/Internet access. Try having Windows 7 troubleshoot the Internet connection for you.
• Your network location might not be set to Home. Learn how to check and change your network location if needed.
• Network Discovery might be turned off. Learn how to turn Network Discovery back on.
• Other computers in the HomeGroup might be turned off.
• Other computer in the HomeGroup might not be sharing files. Learn how to share files using HomeGroup.
• Maybe someone changed the HomeGroup password. Try checking the HomeGroup password on other computers in the HomeGroup. If the HomeGroup password was changed, change the HomeGroup password on your computer.
• Your computer might not yet be joined to a HomeGroup. Learn how to join or create a HomeGroup.
• Turn off any third party firewalls (usually bundled with antivirus software) that are installed on your computer.

If none of these troubleshooting tips work, try restarting your computer, or leave and then re-join the HomeGroup.

I have one more to add to that, everyone seems to forget it!

Make sure the time on each machine is exactly the same. Even if there's 1/2 second difference between the two, it won't connect

You are correct of course, I've seen that problem come up a few times. Sometimes the Homegroup trouble shooter will tell you if the time isn't correctly set. Windows is picky about that sorta thing.

The fix is to reset the time on all machines so they are the same, sometimes you even need to go into bios and make sure the bios time is also correct.

Windows updates will also fail if the time isn't set correctly.

 

[rsvr85]

Windows updates will also fail if the time isn't set correctly.

I didn't know that, thanks for the tip

 

[RogerR]

Make sure the time on each machine is exactly the same. Even if there's 1/2 second difference between the two, it won't connect

You are correct of course, I've seen that problem come up a few times. Sometimes the Homegroup trouble shooter will tell you if the time isn't correctly set. Windows is picky about that sorta thing.

The fix is to reset the time on all machines so they are the same, sometimes you even need to go into bios and make sure the bios time is also correct.

I defy you to synchronize several computer bios times to within half a second.

I have used the windows time synchronizer to get the computer clocks as close as possible, but if this is the reason why Homegroup is so problematic for so many people, its stupid design. I just don't see average users getting that technical, and the whole point after all, is to make networking LESS technical.

 

[chev65]

Make sure the time on each machine is exactly the same. Even if there's 1/2 second difference between the two, it won't connect

You are correct of course, I've seen that problem come up a few times. Sometimes the Homegroup trouble shooter will tell you if the time isn't correctly set. Windows is picky about that sorta thing.

The fix is to reset the time on all machines so they are the same, sometimes you even need to go into bios and make sure the bios time is also correct.

I defy you to synchronize several computer bios times to within half a second.

I have used the windows time synchronizer to get the computer clocks as close as possible, but if this is the reason why Homegroup is so problematic for so many people, its stupid design. I just don't see average users getting that technical, and the whole point after all, is to make networking LESS technical.

Those clocks don't need to be exactly the same but if they are days off then nothing works correctly.

Did you ever get Homegroup to work for you RogerR?

 

[RogerR]

Did you ever get Homegroup to work for you RogerR?

No, sir, Mr chev. Not yet. Every now and again I look in here and chip away at it, but no success yet. There is apparently a gnat in my network somewhere ...

 

[chev65]

Your not alone in that boat LOL, does workgroup or public file sharing work?

 

[RogerR]

Your not alone in that boat LOL,

No kidding - just look at the forum post totals. :sarc:

does workgroup or public file sharing work?

They work fine.

Just synched all my clocks, and currently the wireless machine says there are no homegroups to join.

 

[chev65]

Maybe trying all this stuff will help or possibly it's a problem with the Router's security settings.

Why can’t I access my HomeGroup?


There are several reasons why you can’t access your HomeGroup. Here are the most popular reasons for not being able to connect to your HomeGroup.

• Your computer might not be connected to the network the HomeGroup is on. Make sure the computer has network/Internet access. Try having Windows 7 troubleshoot the Internet connection for you.
• Your network location might not be set to Home. Learn how to check and change your network location if needed.
• Network Discovery might be turned off. Learn how to turn Network Discovery back on.
• Other computers in the HomeGroup might be turned off.
• Other computer in the HomeGroup might not be sharing files. Learn how to share files using HomeGroup.
• Maybe someone changed the HomeGroup password. Try checking the HomeGroup password on other computers in the HomeGroup. If the HomeGroup password was changed, change the HomeGroup password on your computer.
• Your computer might not yet be joined to a HomeGroup. Learn how to join or create a HomeGroup.
• Turn off any third party firewalls (usually bundled with antivirus software) that are installed on your computer.

If none of these troubleshooting tips work, try restarting your computer, or leave and then re-join the HomeGroup.
Giving up is not an Option!

 

[RogerR]

All that is OK. Can see other computers on the network and access the public shares from both Win7 computers. I have previously dumped the homegroup on my main machine and started all over, and I think at this point I've been through all the troubleshooters and toggled all the toggles. If I had to guess, I would guess its an IPv6 issue (yes, my router is compliant and up to date).