77 replies to this topic

[Lee]

Zoe and I have a share folder (called "Zoe and Lee" of course) on our main PC's for loading anything we want to share into them.The folder also has sub-folders in it. We even play "Dirt-2", a Rally Racing game against each other which is a blast. Zoe has XP only and I have XP and W7. We can share into that folder or it's sub-folders regardless whether I'm on XP or W7. Similarly, we also share our one and only printer. There are plenty of simple guides around on how to network two (or more) computers for files, printers or even games. I can't figure out any possible security issues unless maybe one of us has a Virus, but I'm not sure on that one (?) Cheers, Lee

[terry1966]

yes step one on the pc, step 2 on the laptop, step 3 and 4 on both and step 5 on the pc(assume this is where the printer is connected if you have one) if on step 2 you can't see/find the homegroup you've created on the pc with the laptop, then we might have to skip to step "more options" and run the homegroup troubleshooter.

Edited by terry1966, 05 May 2011 - 05:39 PM.

[Ztruker]

Peter, what help do you need setting up a WORKGROUP? As I posted in the other thread: I use WORKGROUP. I have the same userid and password on both computers. I turn off Simple File Sharing on XP. I turn on Network Discovery and File and Printer sharing and Password Protected sharing in Windows 7 On Win 7 I make sure there is an Everyone defined for each item I want to share and give it Full control so I can read and write it.

[Peter1]

Terri I did step 1 which seemed ok and gave me a password which my wife and I, both carefuly,wrote down and both entered when prompted in the laptop. The laptop scanned and said," Windows cannot set up a Homegroup on this computer." Should I have done anything with the file sharing etc on the laptop's advanced settings page? I did not have network discovery checked on either. Do you have any ideas why I cannot get step 2 accomplished?

[terry1966]

you running any firewalls that are not the windows firewall on the laptop or pc? on the laptop when in control panel instead of clicking on the homegroup click on the trouble shooter instead and see if it will find where the problem is. no idea if you need network discovery ticked or not, all i can say is try both ticked and unticked. just had a thought, when you took the laptop away with you, you disabled everything to do with file sharing on it correct, i'm thinking that's where the problem is and you'll need to find what settings you changed and change them back again.

Edited by terry1966, 06 May 2011 - 10:49 AM.

[Peter1]

Terri My laptop and desktop's settings are the same; 1-yes to network discovery, 2-yes to file sharing, 3- no to public 4-yes 128 5-yes password 6-I did nothing to media streaming. I have Norton's Security Suite. I am going to write the forum there and see if there are any issues with homegroups. By now there must be people who have 2 Win 7 pcs with Noton trying to set up homegroups. Also, if you look under homegroups in the control panel there is a page that has 'advanced settings'. It is the one with all the choices for 1-file sharing,2-network discovery,3-password etc etc. There is no mention of this in the tutorials I have watched So, I am off to the forum and ask Norton. My desktop and laptop communicate well so I do not think this is the problem. Peter

Edited by Peter1, 06 May 2011 - 10:57 AM.

[terry1966]

My desktop and laptop communicate well so I do not think this is the problem.

they might communicate well with the router but they're not communicating with each other very well, otherwise it would be working by now.

try the troubleshooter and see what results you get.

[Peter1]

My desktop and laptop communicate well so I do not think this is the problem.

they might communicate well with the router but they're not communicating with each other very well, otherwise it would be working by now.

try the troubleshooter and see what results you get.

>The trouble shooter says clocks must be synchronized and they are but this wizrd or the trouble shooter keeps changing the time and date to yesterday with the wrong time. Each time I get involved with homegroup the clocks are changed.
I have a universal clock and set them manually and exactly.
I also ran the "join" on the lap with both firewalls disabled with no luck.
I cannot think of a resource for this issue. It should not be this difficult and I cannnot think of any variables that are peculiar except the operator.
Bless you for tyring but I think I have a problem somewhere that is going to be tough to solve -would you agree?

[terry1966]

synchronise the clocks with the internet, then they should both be the same, then try again :- http://mintywhite.co...et-time-how-to/

if the time's don't match on both after synchronization then you have a problem somewhere we need to find and fix before homegroup will work.

[Peter1]

synchronise the clocks with the internet, then they should both be the same, then try again :- http://mintywhite.co...et-time-how-to/

if the time's don't match on both after synchronization then you have a problem somewhere we need to find and fix before homegroup will work.

>>Terri
The laptop did not have DST checked and therefore was an hour behind no matter how I tried to synchronize.
I kept changing it but it reverted back as it should. It is fine now.
Sorry to say, I entered the password again in the "join" box on the laptop and it said the same thing - this pc cannot join a homegroup.
Great find on the clock though -thanx for that. Any other ideas?

Edited by Peter1, 06 May 2011 - 02:08 PM.

[terry1966]

seeing how there is a join button visible, and from what i've read it doesn't show up if there isn't a homegroup setup to join, i'm thinking maybe you've tried to do this so often that you've created more than 1 homegroup, on both pc/laptop so the password your using doesn't match the homegroup it's trying to connect to. shrugs anyway now you have the time synchronized, first run the troubleshooter again and see if it will solve the problem, if no joy then post anything it says in next post, maybe we'll have to start from scratch again, making sure all/any homegroups on both pc and laptop are deleted, then start from step 1 on the pc, step 2 on the laptop etc.

[Peter1]

Hi Terri -Glad you are still with me.
I removed myself from all homegroups ensuring that none exist.
When I go to Computer and click on the left on homegroup it asks me to "create" a new one. That is good.
HOWEVER, I do not know how true this is but, I spoke with a Belkin tech and they said the Belkin firewall is so powerful in the router I might have to disable it, lose 50% security in order to get a homegroup.
Before I even try that, I think the router is not worth its salt if I have to do that, unless that is common to all new routers..
I am trying to get a dialogue going in the Belkin forum but am not too optimistic as it is a generic router forum.

If it is necessary I would try to get another router, wouldn't you?
Although, if this is common to new routers, I may have to accept this.
I am sure I now know how to set up a homegroup and if I had success with connecting the machines I could share files.
Perhaps the fly in the ointment has been this router which is brand new.
Peter

[terry1966]

can't see you needing to disable the firewall in your router, whats the exact name/model so i can look it up. what we need to do is check that the pc's are on the same network and can see each other, but i can't find a good easy guide to follow at the moment. i wish my memory was better.. i'll see if someone else can pop in and offer advice on how to go about this, i just can't remember the best/easiest way to go about it, probably need to use ipconfig and ping commands to check everything is working correctly. also can you check and make sure you have no home workgroups on either pc/laptop setup too.

Edited by terry1966, 07 May 2011 - 11:41 AM.

[Peter1]

Terri I just called Belkin again and this tech contradicted the other. He sent 4 packets out and 4 returned on both pcs so with that cmd prompt concluded that connectivity is fine and I should be able to set up a homegroup on the dsktop and with the lap top joinnig the network. I retried the whole thing and still the password was rejected. I called BestBuy where I got it and the Geek said he has had issues with Belkin and to return it for a Netgear or a Linksys. he said the fire wall was not an issue.. He mentoned the letter 'N'. Is that significant in router talk? Peter

[terry1966]

i think i've read somewhere that using the wireless n connection can cause problems, but this is not a hard fix just go into the routers wireless setup page and set it to use the wireless b/g option instead and see if that makes any difference, ok the speed might not be as fast but ii don't think it'll cause you any problems.