Win7 Homegroups - How do I use them

[Optiker]

I have a desktop and a laptop, both with Win7 Home Premium. According to what I've been able to find, Homegroups is installed when I set up Windows, and select Home, but unless I have Pro, I can't create them. Most of what I've found tells about creating them, so those don't answer my questions. Both computers show that they are a member of the Workgroup named WORKGRPOUPS, but I see nothing about homegroups.

My question is, how do I actually access files on one or the other computer from either of them? Currently, I have a server running Linux Apache so when I need to access a file on one computer from the other, I copy it to the server and get it from there...a bother, but OK in a pinch. Also, one printer is connected by cable to my LAN and the other by USB cable to the desktop. I'd like to access the second from the laptop, but don't know if that's a function of Homegroups, or needs some kind of virtual desktop app.

I must be missing something. Surely, Homegroups was meant to be intuitively usable by non-experts, so with a moderate computer literacy, what am I missing?

Thanks!
Optiker

 

[Kari]

Hi Optiker, welcome to the Seven Forums.

All Windows 7 editions except Starter and Home Basic can create Homegroup. Exception: if the PC belongs to a domain, it can join but cannot create a Homegroup, regardless of the actual edition.

Here should be everything you need to know:

• http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/43961-homegroup-create.html
• http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/43972-homegroup-add-computer-join.html
• http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/44002-homegroup-change-password.html
• http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/43963-homegroup-password-view-print.html
• http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/44464-homegroup-change-file-folder-sharing-settings.html
• HomeGroup from start to finish - Microsoft Windows Help

Kari

 

[Optiker]

Hi Kari...

OK..I'll give it a try.

Thanks!
Optiker

 

[Optiker]

Hi Kari...

Thanks for trying!

I tried going through it and got thoroughly confused. All I want to do is to be able to access everything on two computers on the same LAN from either one. I guess I'm a little dense.

I'll just stick to using my server as a transfer buffer. It's crude, but at least I understand it and it works.

Thanks again!
Optiker

 

[Kari]

OK, if the limited Homegroup sharing is nothing for you, put all Windows computers in the same workgroup and share the old fashioned way.

First, for password free sharing, check these things on Network and Sharing Center on all computers:

Then read this tutorial to see how to set shares: http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/24232-sharing-permissions.html

BTW, I use almost exclusively Remote Desktop for moving files directly between my Windows computers. See this post for more details: http://www.sevenforums.com/network-sharing/316095-computer-computer-file-transfer.html#post2649979

Kari

 

[Optiker]

Hi Kari...

Thanks again for sticking with me. I'll check on the Network and Sharing Center settings, but I think I already have them set that way.

One of the problems I'm having is that whatever I do, it has to be very straightforward because while I can struggle a little, my wife also uses both computers and needs to be able to use files on both, so the process needs to be as simple as possible. Ideally, when both computers are turned on, in Explorer, each shows up on the other's network listing (they don't currently), and is as accessible as files and folders on the computer being used.

I vaguely recall that before I retired, on my computer at work, I could map a network drive that connected on startup, and it showed up just like any drive on my own computer. I don't recall the mechanics, but I guess that's what I was hoping to accomplish.

Thanks again! I'll try it later today and report back.

Optiker

 

[Kari]

See this tutorial for mapping network drives, that would give exactly what you seem to want to: http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/49517-map-network-drive.html.

Step 7 in said tutorial is the important part regarding your wife's PC, set Windows to reconnect the networked drive every time your wife logs in to her PC.

​

Kari

 

[chev65]

Hi Kari...

Thanks again for sticking with me. I'll check on the Network and Sharing Center settings, but I think I already have them set that way.

One of the problems I'm having is that whatever I do, it has to be very straightforward because while I can struggle a little, my wife also uses both computers and needs to be able to use files on both, so the process needs to be as simple as possible. Ideally, when both computers are turned on, in Explorer, each shows up on the other's network listing (they don't currently), and is as accessible as files and folders on the computer being used.

I vaguely recall that before I retired, on my computer at work, I could map a network drive that connected on startup, and it showed up just like any drive on my own computer. I don't recall the mechanics, but I guess that's what I was hoping to accomplish.

Thanks again! I'll try it later today and report back.

Optiker

The part in bold is easily fixed by simply going into the Advanced Sharing settings via the Network and Sharing Center then turn on Network Discovery and File and Printer Sharing.

 

[Optiker]

chev65...already turned on

Kari...OK...can do, as soon as I remember where I put my password. I tried turning off the password requirement in the sharing center, but that didn't seem to do it. I'll keep trying, but I think it's time to let this thread die. You've certainly led me by the hand through the necessary steps. Thanks very much for your patience.

Optiker

 

[Kari]

If password protected sharing is turned off on both computers, Windows should not ask any passwords.

 

[chev65]

chev65...already turned on

Kari...OK...can do, as soon as I remember where I put my password. I tried turning off the password requirement in the sharing center, but that didn't seem to do it. I'll keep trying, but I think it's time to let this thread die. You've certainly led me by the hand through the necessary steps. Thanks very much for your patience.

Optiker

In that case you have are using the same machine name for both machines which will prevent them from showing up under Network.

The User names can be the same but the machine names need to be unique.

 

[Kari]

The User names can be the same but the machine names need to be unique.

Important point which I totally forgot to mention.

 

[Optiker]

Hi Kari...

Both computers are set to not use password protection.

When I try to access the desktop PC from the laptop PC using Explorer, or try to map a network drive on the desktop to access it from the laptop, I get a dialog requesting the network name and password. What name and password are these, the ones for the network when I set up my router, or something else? I tried the name and password that I use to access my server drives over the LAN, but that didn't work.

When I try to access the laptop PC from the desktop PC using Explorer, or by mapping a network drive, there is no request for network name and password, but I get access to only items under "Library".

Must be some permissions setting on the lap[top?

Suggestions?

Thanks!
Optiker

 

[Kari]

If you are on Windows PC with the name MyLaptop and you are trying to connect to another windows PC called MyDesktop, you give the the username of your user account on MyDesktop as follows:

\\MyDesktop\Username

(2 * backslash followed by computer name of the computer you are trying to connect to followed by 1 backslash followed by your username on computer you are trying to connect to.)

 

[Optiker]

OK - thanks! Will try it.

Optiker

 

[Optiker]

Hi Kari...

I've had other more pressing issues, so haven't even tried what you suggest, and am now far enough away from it to not recall what I've tried and where it stands.

The more pressing issue is that since I last tried to do anything with regard to Homegroups, I've had a periodic (2-3 times in a 24 hour period) BlueScreen failure that I haven't been able to track down. Initially I thought it might be due to an email utility I use that checks my email account and displays header info and a few lines before I actually download the emails. One failure seemed associated with that so I turned it off from automatically checking and have just been manually launching it when I want to check email, but the BlueScreens continue.

I've tried to dis around in my log files, but at my level of expertise, don't know where to look or what to look for. The one thing I see is a lot of "error" listings that don't say anything about BlueScreen, but are associated with some kind of Homegroup services.

I'll be posting to a different Windows Seven forum with some info and asking for help in diagnosing.

In the meantime, the whole Homegroup thing is on hold. I probably would be better off undoing the things I've tried to do and going back to square one and starting over to try to get my two computers talking to one another, but will see if I can pick it up where I left off or not when I get back to it.

Thanks for your past help. You'll undoubtedly see me pick this up in the future.

Optiker