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Windows 7 networking!

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NutmegCT

NutmegCT

Great Pumpkin
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Can anyone point me to a good online source for "Windows 7 Networking for Compleat Idiots"?

I've been using Windows XP for ages - but Win7 has a new critter called "Homegroups", and I know zilch about sharing files and folders on Win7 systems (peer to peer). I've tried various "this ought to do it" attacks - which haven't worked.

Most maddening aspect: spending an hour setting up Homegroup and sharing on several machines, but getting "that is not the correct password" or "you must set up a Homegroup first" messages when you try to connect. I've got five Win7 machines, and one WinXP.

I've probably botched it all up, so need to start from scratch.

Any suggestions greatly appreciated!

Thanks.
Tom
 
gah. Each new "incarnation" of windows becomes more and more difficult to add to a LAN. I've NEVER used that "homegroup" caca. They get an assigned Class-C I.P address, a workgroup name (other than "workgroup" or "mshome" please) and a gateway addy assigned the firewall or broadband router. And I use "WORK" as the generic definition for the LAN. Set the "Advanced" stuff to allow 'network discovery' and things should start to resolve.
 
Tom, did you use Control Panel network and sharing center? In the lower left corner is the Home Group link.
open-Change what your sharing with the home group.
Choose what you want to share. Next
When suggested password is displayed, copy it down. It can be retrieved by opening the link "Change password" to make it anything you want. PJ
 
Thanks gents. I'll try the "direct IP" tack and see how that goes.

Paul - the HomeGroup bit seems to be my problem. When I do what you describe, I enter the password, but get "incorrect password". Seems that each computer has a different HomeGroup set up. When you want to connect to another Win7 machine, you get "must join a HomeGroup". System can't find a HomeGroup. System says "click here to create HomeGroup". You create HomeGroup - but that's on only one computer. Go to another computer, and it's the same thing - the new computer can't find the HomeGroup, and leads you to create another HomeGroup. Vicious circle.
 
Tom, When you install Home Group the first time, it suggests a password to use, don't change it at that time, that can be done later. I would start over in control panel and see how it goes. Do you have Microsoft essentials or a Microsoft password? I might be picking that up?? Something surly went wrong, but I don't know what that would be. Possibly cleaning out the cache might clear the stored password and you can start over. ??? PJ
 
Thanks Paul. I think what I need is a step by step "how to get rid of all the HomeGroup stuff you tried on five machines", followed by a "how to set up a single HomeGroup which can be shared by Win7 and WinXP machines".
 
NutmegCT said:
Thanks gents. I'll try the "direct IP" tack and see how that goes.
Click to expand...

If you get this figured out I'd like a step by step too. My XP machines can all talk to each other and see the Win7/8 boxes but the only file that the WIN 7/8 boxes will share is the "public" one even though sharing is set for several other folders. The WIN 7/8 units can see anything I share on the XP machines.

BTW if you have never loaded WIN 8.1 from scratch you are in for a treat. Even a fifth grader would find the MS directions and wording condescending. If you like the looks of XP rather than the new 8.1 start page try https://www.classicshell.net/. So far it seems to work just fine, and it's free!
 
* :crazyeyes:
 
If I remember right, you can't use Homegroup if you have any XP of other OS on your network. I had one XP laptop that can't run 7 when I set up the network so just did it as a work group. Since then have added a couple of Macs for Herself with very limited success.
 
I've numerous clients with WinXP/Win7/Linux all on the LAN and all merrily playing well with one-another...
 
DrEntropy said:
I've numerous clients with WinXP/Win7/Linux all on the LAN and all merrily playing well with one-another...
Click to expand...

Great! Now please send five of those setups to me.

:smile:

I'll attack the library setup again on Saturday. Have Jack Daniels ready (again).
 
Walker Black guy, meself.
 
Doc, they're not using homegroup though, are they?
 
NO! They are "workplace" set. And I give every LAN a specific, unique workgroup name. Same with the SSID on WiFi routers, then turn off the "broadcast" as an extra bit of confusion.
 
Update - got all the machines (Win7 and XP) to recognize each other and share files. Loaded up the database server app ... and discovered it's not compatible with Win7. Tried all the compatibility options; the server app (and probably some of the dll's) just freeze the OS.

Next step - put the server app on the single XP machine (it ran under XP before) and try to get the Win7 clients to work from there.

I want my cp/m back.

oy
 
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