homegroup problem

[Seasidepeter]

I've created a homegroup on my main pc running 7 home premium. My
laptop, running 7 starter, joins the homegroup successfully, and can
access shared libraries on the main pc.

BUT: the main pc won't see the laptop. I get the message "no other
homegroup computers are available" when I click on Homegroup.

The laptop libraries are set to share; network discovery is on; the
password is obviously correct as the laptop joins and views shared
desktop folders ok; time is synchronised;and both pcs are set to Home
Network.

I'm stuck - can anybody help?

 

[VanguardLH]

I've created a homegroup on my main pc running 7 home premium. My
laptop, running 7 starter, joins the homegroup successfully, and can
access shared libraries on the main pc.

BUT: the main pc won't see the laptop. I get the message "no other
homegroup computers are available" when I click on Homegroup.

The laptop libraries are set to share; network discovery is on; the
password is obviously correct as the laptop joins and views shared
desktop folders ok; time is synchronised;and both pcs are set to Home
Network.

I'm stuck - can anybody help?

Here's my guess based on reading several articles. I don't have any
Starter hosts. Considering the little difference in price to the next
better edition (Home Premium), I wouldn't waste my money on a Starter
edition. I consider it bloatware typical of computer makers that want
to shove shiny stuff in your face but of little value.

http://windows.microsoft.com/en-US/windows7/help/home-sweet-homegroup-networking-the-easy-way
"With Windows 7 Starter and Windows 7 Home Basic, you can join a
homegroup, but you can't create one."

Joining a homegroup means you get to use the resources of those OTHER
hosts. You are not defining yourself for use by the other nodes in the
homegroup. Your Starter host is not a fully capable node in the
homegroup. It's not a defined node in the homegroup for other hosts to
see. You need to be *in* a homegroup, not just peeking into one.

Revert to workgroups if you want to share resources. Make sure all teh
shareable hosts are in the same-named workgroup. Each host must have a
unique hostname but they should all participate in a workgroup by the
same name so they can share their resources. Dump the use of homegroups
and go back to using workgroups.

 

[Seasidepeter]

Here's my guess based on reading several articles. I don't have any
Starter hosts. Considering the little difference in price to the next
better edition (Home Premium), I wouldn't waste my money on a Starter
edition. I consider it bloatware typical of computer makers that want
to shove shiny stuff in your face but of little value.

http://windows.microsoft.com/en-US/windows7/help/home-sweet-homegroup-networking-the-easy-way
"With Windows 7 Starter and Windows 7 Home Basic, you can join a
homegroup, but you can't create one."

Joining a homegroup means you get to use the resources of those OTHER
hosts. You are not defining yourself for use by the other nodes in the
homegroup. Your Starter host is not a fully capable node in the
homegroup. It's not a defined node in the homegroup for other hosts to
see. You need to be *in* a homegroup, not just peeking into one.

Revert to workgroups if you want to share resources. Make sure all teh
shareable hosts are in the same-named workgroup. Each host must have a
unique hostname but they should all participate in a workgroup by the
same name so they can share their resources. Dump the use of homegroups
and go back to using workgroups.

Damn, I should have realised that myself! Thanks for a very helpful
response - I'll do exactly as you suggest.

 

[Ken Blake]

Dump the use of homegroups
and go back to using workgroups.

I strongly agree with that, not only for the reasons you state, but
also because only Windows 7 computers can join homegroups, The OP may
not need to have another computer join now, but he may in the future.
There are no advantages to homegroups over workgroups, only
disadvantages.

 

[LouB]

I strongly agree with that, not only for the reasons you state, but
also because only Windows 7 computers can join homegroups, The OP may
not need to have another computer join now, but he may in the future.
There are no advantages to homegroups over workgroups, only
disadvantages.

Thanks

 

[Ken Blake]

Thanks

You're welcome. Glad to help.

 

[Dave]

You're welcome. Glad to help.

Ken,
I took your advice too, went into my network settings, changed Homegroup to
Workgroup and it changed instantly. Is it really that simple or should I be
watching for something? :-?
Dave

 

[Ken Blake]

Ken,
I took your advice too, went into my network settings, changed Homegroup to
Workgroup and it changed instantly. Is it really that simple or should I be
watching for something? :-?

No, it's simple.