@#$%! Homegroup problem

[Colonel Travis]

Desktop has 7, laptop has 7. I'd like to connect them in a Homegroup but cannot. No problems creating a Homegroup on the laptop, but I cannot create one on the desktop. Also can't turn on media file sharing on the desktop. I click the button and the circle goes around and around for 1-2 seconds, when it's finished it's still off. But I can change all the other advanced settings in the Home Or Work Profile and in the Public Profile.

In my Network and Sharing Center:

Location - Home network,
After the word "HomeGroup" it's got the link that says: Ready to create. I click Create Now and get an error: "A homegroup can only be created on a Home network. To change your network location, open Network and Sharing Center in Control Panel."

Yeah OK, I've been doing that a gazillion times and every time it says I'm in a Home network. So I try to avoid the middleman by directly going to Homegroup in the control panel. Can't make one that way, either.

Network Discovery - on
File Sharing - on
Public Folder Sharing - on
Password protection -off
Allow Windows homegroup to manage homegroup connections - on

Like I said, I can turn on or off all advanced settings in my private profile, as well as my public profile, except Media File Sharing. No on/off combo whatsoever lets me create a Homegroup. After I change a setting, I restart, just in case it doesn't change without doing so? Nope.

IPv6 - turned off. Nope. Turned back on. Nope.

I turn off Windows firewall (for Home profile, as well as the Public profile). Nope. I turn it on. Nope. I turn one off and the other on. Nope.

The only installation difference between my two computers is that I created a Homegroup during the laptop's 7 install, but I did not with the desktop's 7 install (no good reason why, just did it that way.) But everything I've read says it doesn't matter if you don't create a Homegroup during the install. Maybe that's not true?

Both computers use a static IP. Desktop cable goes to the router. The laptop is wireless.

This is driving me nuts. I've searched the forums, tried lots of suggestions and can't find a solution. Anyone have a clue?

Thanks

 

[Colonel Travis]

Well, geez - two seconds after I posted my problem, I've got it working. My solution: when you create a homegroup you get a box that asks you what you want to share. All of them are clicked on by default, except one called Documents. I had been clicking on Documents every time because the only thing I care about sharing right now are documents.

Lo and behold, I leave Documents unchecked (still leave alone the other check boxes) and it worked.

OK, so anyone have a clue why checking Documents does NOT work?