Homegroup on different versions of Win 7 won't see each other

[racingmars]

Hi all,

I am new here, but really need your help. I know that there is a lot on this, but I struggling to find a working solution.

I am trying to get a home network running, having upgraded my machines from XP to win 7, but I cannot get them to see each other at all!!! I have trawled the internet and have tried a number of ideas, but nothing seems to work!

All of the following PCs are connected to the router wireless. The router is a BT homehub 3, and I am on BT for internet.

1) Desktop running Win7 32bit home premium and Microsoft Security Essentials
2) Desktop running Win7 64bit home premium, MSE & Malwarebytes
3) Laptop running Win7 64bit Pro, MSE
4) Laptop running Win7 64bit home premium, MSE

I want to use the first as a file server/backup but cannot get any of the systems to see each other.

- I have changed the workgroup on each to the same name, and have checked that this is the same on each.
- Home group just does not see each other, and the network does not connect. Each PC states that no homegroup can be found.
- All PCs are set to home
- All settings in the advanced sharing are set to on, with the exception of passwords, this is in both home/work & public

Please could you help?

 

[Not Myself]

I am amused by your statement that you are new here *but* need help; being new and needing help don't seem to be mutually exclusive.

One thing you did not mention and which might be important, due to a bug in Windows 7, namely that each computer must have its own distinct name in order for Home Groups to work; unfortunately, Win7 fails to notify you if this condition is not met.

Start Button, right-click on Computer, Properties, scroll down to "Computer name..." If need be, you can change names for each computer on its similar screen.

If that is not the problem, please don't have already read this irrelevant information....

 

[DavidE]

Maybe a dumb question, but
Did you create a Homegroup on one of the PCs ?
Belonging to a Workgroup does not automatically put them in a Homegroup.

 

[racingmars]

Hi both,

All of the machines have different computer names, and I created the Homegroup on the 1st PC, the one that I would like to use as the file server...it gave me a password and everything...