• Windows 7 Homegroup - Can't get this stupid thing to work
    13 replies, posted
I just bought a new laptop and I'm trying to use Homegroup in order to copy all of the documents+music+videos on my desktop onto my laptop. Unfortunately, I can't get this thing to work properly. - Made sure that they're both on the "Home" network in "Network and Sharing Center." - Made sure that they are synchronized in time settings. - Have the exact same username+password on both computers for Windows. I have no idea how to make it so these computers can properly share with one another. I tried alternating which computer would be the one creating the Homegroup, and went through the troubleshooter that doesn't seem to do really do anything. The only thing I can think of that might be affecting this is Windows Firewall, but I wouldn't know what I need to change in the settings for that on either/both computers in order for them to communicate with one another to get this feature to work. Has anybody else successfully set up Homegroup and know how to get it working?
I would recommend you to just use the normal share folder function because (at least in my experience) it seems to work best. Normal shares will also give you better transfer speeds because the traffic is unencrypted, at least that is what I experienced last time I used Homegroups. Edit: Okay, I just tried setting up a Homegroup between two computers and it works just fine. Don't know what was wrong with it last time I tried it. In short: The speeds are just as good as normal shares. Edit: Are both computers on the same workgroup?
[QUOTE=drblah;32106727]I would recommend you to just use the normal share folder function because (at least in my experience) it seems to work best. Normal shares will also give you better transfer speeds because the traffic is unencrypted, at least that is what I experienced last time I used Homegroups. Edit: Okay, I just tried setting up a Homegroup between two computers and it works just fine. Don't know what was wrong with it last time I tried it. In short: The speeds are just as good as normal shares. Edit: Are both computers on the same workgroup?[/QUOTE] Workgroup..? They're both connected to the same wireless network, which is set to the "Home Network" in the Network and Sharing Center. They both have the same time, and they should both have the same preferences/settings for Homegroup. The problem is, say I create a homegroup on my desktop, I can't join it using my laptop because on the Homegroup window it only says "Create homegroup," no option to "Join homegroup." I also tried figuring out what you meant by using the "share folder" and can't figure that out either. Networking is the weakest of my computer skills. x_x
The "share folder" I am talking about is the one you find by right clicking on a folder and select "share with". From there you can select your own user name or you can specify other user names and give them access rights to that folder. Workgroups are similar to domains (like facepunch.com) except they only "live" on your local network. You can check which workgroup your computers are assigned to in "Computer" (Windows key + E) [img_thumb]http://filesmelt.com/dl/work2.png[/img_thumb] Edit: The default workgroup is called "WORKGROUP" and should work just fine as long as both computers are on it.
When I try the "Share with" thing it doesn't seem like it would let me share with other computers on the same Wireless network since it didn't list anything like the laptop's name or anything like that. The "Workgroup" in that panel on both computers just says WORKGROUP.
"Share with" only lists user accounts on the local computer (the one you opened the share menu on) NOT computer names. You said earlier that you had set up both computers with the same user name and password right? If that is the case simply choose your own user name.
Choose my own username where? (sorry if this sounds stupid, I suck at this kind of stuff)
Sorry for the confusion there, I thought of something else. The easiest and most foolproof way is to share it with everybody. You should only do this if you are on your home network though. [img_thumb]http://filesmelt.com/dl/share_1.png[/img_thumb] [img_thumb]http://filesmelt.com/dl/share_2.png[/img_thumb] Remember to click the "add" button and choose the right "Permission Level" for your needs.
Okay, so I just set my Music folder on my desktop to be shared with "Everybody." (And yes I'm on my home network that uses WPA encryption and all that.) Now how do I access it on my laptop though? I tried adding the route it gave me on the panel that says "Your library is now shared" (\\Name-PC\Users\Username\Music) but it didn't work.
Try \\"pc-name"\ or if that doesn't work try \\"pc-ip"\.
Doesn't let me connect if I just do \\NAME-PC\ (since it's all caps), and I don't know what the IP would be.... I'm thinking it won't work with the name since both computers have the same name, and if I type out the full directory of the Music folder then it just connects to itself and shows the laptop's empty Music folder. Edit: I should be connecting using the "Map Network Drive" button on the Computer panel, right?
No just enter the address into the address bar. Oh and by the way. Both computers should NOT have the same name. That could be the solution to your original problem. Edit: Could it be that you have confused Computer names and user names?
...:v: I changed my desktop's computer name and that fixed everything, including Homegroups. Thank you for all of your help! :dance:
No problem
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