HomeGroup Issues

[tanger]

Im having a difficult time trying to setup a Homegroup for my network. I have a desktop and a laptop that are both running Win7. I created a homegroup with the desktop and it gave me a password to use on the other computers. When I go into Homegroups from the control panel with the laptop, it doesnt recognize that there already is one created. I have no option to join, only to create. Any ideas?

 

[zigzag3143]

Im having a difficult time trying to setup a Homegroup for my network. I have a desktop and a laptop that are both running Win7. I created a homegroup with the desktop and it gave me a password to use on the other computers. When I go into Homegroups from the control panel with the laptop, it doesnt recognize that there already is one created. I have no option to join, only to create. Any ideas?

Hi Tanger and welcome

Two ways you can go. One change from homegroup to workgroup. That utilizes IPv4 instead of IPv6 (IPv6 has issues with connectivity and, slowness, drops with some systems). To change is fairly simple.

The other is to remove both computers form the homegroup. then making sure the anme is the same in both re-create it. You might also want to change the password to something human.

Let us know if you need help with which ever way you want to go

Ken J+

 

[tanger]

Is it better to have a workgroup instead? if so what must I do?

 

[iseeuu]

Is it better to have a workgroup instead? if so what must I do?

Hello tanger;

First you can leave and or delete your HomeGroup:

Here is a tutorial on HomeGroup for info: http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/43961-homegroup-create.html

Then go to your workgroup settings and create one workgroup for all your computers:

You may want to disable IPv6. I do not know if you are comfortable doing this, but here is a link to a MS site for you to check out:

How to disable certain Internet Protocol version 6 (IPv6) components in Windows Vista, Windows 7 and Windows Server 2008

Please let us know if we can help you further?

Cheers!
Robert

 

[tanger]

what are the differences between a workgroup and a homegroup?

 

[iseeuu]

what are the differences between a workgroup and a homegroup?

HomeGroup will network Windows 7 computers only, and includes a default setup of libraries shared accross the HomeGroup network.

Workgroup is compatible with XP and Vista computers as well. You select or create folders to share and set their permissions accordingly.

 

[tanger]

will disabling IPv6 have any side effects?

 

[chev65]

Im having a difficult time trying to setup a Homegroup for my network. I have a desktop and a laptop that are both running Win7. I created a homegroup with the desktop and it gave me a password to use on the other computers. When I go into Homegroups from the control panel with the laptop, it doesnt recognize that there already is one created. I have no option to join, only to create. Any ideas?

Seems like you were asking about how to join the Homegroup.

Homegroup works perfectly for me and I honestly can't think of a reason not to use it.

Just follow this tutorial to join the Homegroup.
http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/43972-homegroup-add-computer-join.html?filter

will disabling IPv6 have any side effects?

Disabling IPv6 will disable the LAN network that runs on IPv6. Homegroups can't work without it. It sometimes helps to turn off password protected sharing along with all the other settings.

I would try the tutorial first.

 

[adren]

Hi guys. I hope tanger doesnt mind me joining this thread with a simillar issue.

The same situation here, a desktop and a laptop both w7.
I have a router delivered this morning and happily plugged all the devices in. It offered me to create a network and I chose HOME network on both computers and to share only printers in the homegroup.
Everything works fine (ie. battle.net, skype, steam) without me doing anything which I quite like Plus I went through the "Ultimate Router Guide: Optimize Security & Performance" and didnt find anything wrong with my setup.

My question is - did I choose well the type of network, the home one? My virtual machines use a public network to connect...

Thanks
adren

 

[chev65]

Hi guys. I hope tanger doesnt mind me joining this thread with a simillar issue.

The same situation here, a desktop and a laptop both w7.
I have a router delivered this morning and happily plugged all the devices in. It offered me to create a network and I chose HOME network on both computers and to share only printers in the homegroup.
Everything works fine (ie. battle.net, skype, steam) without me doing anything which I quite like Plus I went through the "Ultimate Router Guide: Optimize Security & Performance" and didnt find anything wrong with my setup.

My question is - did I choose well the type of network, the home one? My virtual machines use a public network to connect...

Thanks
adren

Public or workgroup network is ok but I like the Homegroup and there is no reason not to use it in my opinion.

I believe that part of the problem people are having with the Homegroup, is older router's don't support the IPv6 protocol in which case Homegroup won't connect. Time for many here to upgrade the old router and use Homegroup for networking.

In reality there are zero issues with Homegroup networks in Windows 7 but there are many issues with the equipment being used for networking.

 

[RogerR]

I believe that part of the problem people are having with the Homegroup, is older router's don't support the IPv6 protocall in which case Homegroup won't connect. Time for many here to upgrade the old router and use Homegroup for networking.

In reality there are zero issues with Homegroup networks in Windows 7 but there are many issues with the equipment being used for networking.

How would I check IPv6 router compatibility?

 

[chev65]

I believe that part of the problem people are having with the Homegroup, is older router's don't support the IPv6 protocall in which case Homegroup won't connect. Time for many here to upgrade the old router and use Homegroup for networking.

In reality there are zero issues with Homegroup networks in Windows 7 but there are many issues with the equipment being used for networking.

How would I check IPv6 router compatibility?

Just look up the specs for your router and switch to find out if they support the IPv6 protocall. Some routers have updates for Windows 7 which may enable your router to support Homegroup networking.

 

[RogerR]

Just look up the specs for your router and switch to find out if they support the IPv6 protocall. Some routers have updates for Windows 7 which may enable your router to support Homegroup networking.

This is not an item that appears in my router or spec sheet. I wonder how many manufacturers do note it ...

 

[chev65]

If it says this on your compatiblity page your good to go. There are also updates for Windows 7 and older routers.



It says your Belkin wireless N router is compatable with Windows 7. click link below
http://www.microsoft.com/windows/compatibility/windows-7/en-us/Details.aspx?type=Hardware&p=Belkin%20N%20Wireless%20Router&v=Belkin&uid=F5D8236-4&pf=0&pi=9&c=Networking&sc=Wireless%20Routers&os=64-bit

You should have no problem getting Homegroup to work properly. If your like me than giving up is not an option. Make sure that both machines are using the same workgroup name and different machine names.

 

[iseeuu]

Hi guys. I chose HOME network on both computers and to share only printers in the homegroup.

Looks like the "Home Network" and "HomeGroup" got fuzzy after this. May I add some clarity, please, just in case?

adren stated he selected the "Home Network", which is a security type for Windows 7 along with the "Work Network" and the most secure / restrictive "Public Network". The HomeGroup is a totally separate subject.

The answer to the question is that in most user environments in their home with the only outside connection to their "home network" an Internet connection through an ISP, the "Home Network" is adequate. The more risk the home user takes with his "home network", the more secure it should be.

As far as HomeGroup and IPv6, if it is working for you and you do not intend to network computers that are not Windows 7, in my humble opinion, there are advantages to the newest IPv6 and the Windows 7 HomeGroup.

However, if like me, you only have access to older hardware and have other OSs to include in your network, then the Workgroup does just fine (for my purposes). There are no adverse side effects to disabling IPv6. As ZigZag3143 has posted many times, IPv6 has been known to interfere with Internet and network connections.

Cheers!
Robert

 

[tanger]

I followed the guide and still am running into problems. First of all, I couldnt find WLAN Partition in my router settings. I have a Linksys WRT54GS and couldnt find it under advanced wireless settings so I just moved on. I created a HomeGroup from my laptop and then tried to join with my desktop. It tries to join for 30seconds and then says Windows cannot connect to the HomeGroup from this computer.

Could it be a router issue? Firewall maybe?

 

[chev65]

I followed the guide and still am running into problems. First of all, I couldnt find WLAN Partition in my router settings. I have a Linksys WRT54GS and couldnt find it under advanced wireless settings so I just moved on. I created a HomeGroup from my laptop and then tried to join with my desktop. It tries to join for 30seconds and then says Windows cannot connect to the HomeGroup from this computer.

Could it be a router issue? Firewall maybe?

Your router is older and made for windows 98 and XP. Linksys does have some updates for your firmware here.
Linksys by Cisco - WRT54GS Support

They even have a walk through for getting your router to work with Windows 7 Homegroup.
http://linksys.custhelp.com/cgi-bin/linksys.cfg/php/enduser/std_adp.php?p_faqid=20599

 

[iseeuu]

I couldnt find WLAN Partition in my router settings.
Could it be a router issue? Firewall maybe?

WLAN means: Wireless Local Area Network. In your router settings the tab at the top of the window just says "Wireless". Same thing.

To eliminate firewall settings as a cause, temporarily disable all anti virus, firewall, security software and see if you can connect.

Have you tried the "network troubleshooter?"

Cheers!
Robert

 

[tbernstein]

One possible, I've posted elsewhere in this forum, is that there's a registry bug in Homegroups.
It isn't enough to have IPV6 enabled on your computer.
There has to be a line in the registry specifically saying that none of the IPV6 elements are disallowed.
Otherwise there will be error messages saying that IPV6 needs to be enabled, despite the fact that Win7 says that IPV6 is already enabled. Go figure!

 

[chev65]

One possible, I've posted elsewhere in this forum, is that there's a registry bug in Homegroups.
It isn't enough to have IPV6 enabled on your computer.
There has to be a line in the registry specifically saying that none of the IPV6 elements are disallowed.
Otherwise there will be error messages saying that IPV6 needs to be enabled, despite the fact that Win7 says that IPV6 is already enabled. Go figure!

What bug is this? I sure never had it on my system. Do you know what causes this bug and do you have the registry key available so we can fix this mysterious problem?

I'am guessing it's only a problem if you get the error message IPv6 diabled even though it appears enabled?