Windows 7 Homegroups not working?

Question

I've got a homegroup set up, and only the accounts/machines where the user and password is identical can see/share files. I thought the setting to let homegroup control the accounts would make that requirement unnecessary....am I missing something?

To be clear: I can see the other machines/user accounts in my homegroup listing, but I can't see any of the files in their shared libraries.

Answer 1

I have to ask, have you actually shared any folders or files on your pc? You will only see the folders/files that you share. To share a particular folder do this: Open the folder, click on the 'File' menu, then 'Share with', then 'Homegroup'.

Answer 2

Try to enable the service: "TCP/IP NetBIOS Helper" on all machines. That did the trick for me..... And check that these services are running too: dnscache, fdrespub, ssdpsrv, and upnphost. Enjoy.....

Answer 3

fought this problem for 4 hours on a Win 7 desktop / laptop combo. I realized the computer names were identical, changed the desktop name (which was the author of the homegroup) and it instantly worked with no other changes.

Make sure your computer names are unique! Note: computer names are not case sensitive.

Answer 4

The following worked for me:

1. Run the troubleshooters on all PCs in the network
2. If that didn't work, exit the homegroups on all PCs
3. Reboot
4. Create a new homegroup
5. Wait for the HG to show up on the other PCs

Answer 5

I was having somewhat of the same problems with the homegroup and network in Windows 7 64bit. What i did that helped was downloaded the upgrade firmware version for my router. After doing that and resetting it back up, everything seems to be running 100%. Try it, i hope it works for you guys. Also remember that your going to have to redo all the other computers even if the passward etc, are the same. Good luck