Windows 7 homegroup problems

[alanh]

Hi - have 1 computer operating 7 ultimate and 1 operating home premium cannot connect to the laptop under home premium. On the laptop when i go into change homegroup settings all boxes except printers are un-ticked. When I tick all the boxes then 'save changes' all seems ok until I go into change homegroup settings again I find all the boxes except printers are un-ticked again. I can't seem to keep these boxes ticked - I suspect this is why I cant access the laptop within the homegroup. Anyone come across this problem before??

 

[Saltgrass]

Which computer is the homegroup host? You were able to join the homegroup on that computer normally?

Can you see the laptop using just the Network?

 

[alanh]

Which computer is the homegroup host? You were able to join the homegroup on that computer normally?

Can you see the laptop using just the Network?

have tried both ways - desktop as the host and laptop as the host - same problem either way. When desktop is host I can see the laptop but cannot access. When I run the network troubleshoot program it tells me the desktop is ok but there are problems with the laptop. When I run troubleshooting program on the laptop it cannot identify any problem.

 

[Saltgrass]

You have enabled sharing on both computers? I do not know if the workgroup name is important, but you might check.

 

[Trouble]

Sounds like a third party firewall or a third party security suite that includes a firewall applet as part of the software package.
Take some time and read this article and make sure your configuration is compliant.
Ultimate Troubleshooting Guide for Windows 7 HomeGroup Connection Issues
Also double check the Windows Firewall settings here "Control Panel\All Control Panel Items\Windows Firewall\Allow a program or feature through Windows Firewall" and make sure that;
Core Networking
File and Printer Sharing and
HomeGroup are checked under the Home/Work (Private) profile.

 

[alanh]

hi - sharing is enabled on both computers and the firewall is already set to allow Core Networking, File and Printer Sharing and
HomeGroup .

 

[Trouble]

What are you using on either or both machines in the way of Security Software?
How about the supporting services;
DNS Client
Function Discovery Provider Host
Function Discovery Resource Publication
HomeGroup Provider
HomeGroup Listener
Peer Name Resolution Protocol
Peer Networking Grouping
Peer Networking Identity Manager
SSDP Discovery
UPnP Device Host

 

[alanh]

Both computers are using same version of Kaspersky with same settings.
Have put the two computers side by side and gone through all settings to compare.
The big difference that sticks out and the one that I cant seem to alter is the homegroup sharing settings i.e. on the laptop when I tick the boxes to allow sharing of files etc etc as soon as I save, they become un-ticked again (except for printers). On the desktop if I tick to allow sharing they stay ticked unless i un-tick them.
In 7 where do I find the settings for DNS client etc?

 

[Saltgrass]

Both computers should show as in the Home Network (with a house). If one, the laptop, is showing a park bench in the Network and Sharing Center, then it needs to be set to Home.

If you can't set it to home then that is another problem with the connection.

 

[alanh]

Hi saltgrass - thanks for the help by the way!.
Yes both computers do show a house in the basic connection diagram but I have just found another difference. When I click on 'see full map' on the desktop it shows the desktop - router - internet map (same as on the basic network information screen) but when I do the same on the laptop it says 'windows cannot discover any computer or device' despite it showing laptop - router - internet on the basic network information screen. Internet works perfectly well on the laptop and the desktop.

 

[Trouble]

In 7 where do I find the settings for DNS client etc?

Click the StartOrb and type
services.msc
and hit enter

 

[Saltgrass]

Now that there is a break in the action, I will ask one, very very small, question.....did you run the Homegroup troubleshooter? It does many of the things Trouble has already proposed, but it does show a list of things that were done and any fixes accomplished.

Maybe after it is done it will list something that might be helpful.

You can find it by opening Network and Sharing Center, go to "Choose Homegroup and sharing options". Bottom item on the list is the troubleshooter. Make sure and use the Advanced option and then hit the Next button.

When you finish running what you want, look at the bottom and "View detailed information" should be available.

I haven't quite figured out the Print/publish option, but I do not yet have a printer on this new install...

The map created in the Network and Sharing center uses Link Layer Topology Discovery (lltdsvc) which was stopped on my system until I created the map. And it says it will not work on domain based networks. Also, all computers have to be in a single subnet.

 

[catilley1092]

One simple question, since the other members has the bases covered. Are the homegroup passwords the same? They have to be the same, or all is no good. Usually the desktop is going to have the master password, to share attached printers. Other computers password's can be changed to match the main one. Have the main computer on, view the password, write it down exactly as is, leave that computer on. Then go to the 2nd (& subsequent) computers, and change the password to the one that you wrote down.

At that point, your printer icon should appear in the lower right corner (if you select to share printers).

You can access this by typing "View Homegroup Password" into the Start Menu.

Best of Luck,
Cat

 

[alanh]

Hi - Yes have run the homegroup troubleshooter on both computers.
On the desktop it reports no problems on the desktop but says it cannot access the laptop. When I run on the laptop it says it cant find any problems !! One thing that may be a problem is that I had to reload Windows 7 on the desktop however, I did not have a homegroup set up previously so shouldnt really make a difference.

thanks

 

[alanh]

Yes, both computers have the same password. I have also tried removing both computers from the homegroup and starting from scratch setting the homegroup up as the desktop as host - didnt work then removing both again and setting up a new homegroup using the laptop as host different passwords each time which I entered on both computers but same result cannot link the two.
Question could there be any residual homegroup information retained in the registry? If so is there any way of wiping that clean and starting completely afresh??

thanks

 

[Saltgrass]

Well, we seem to have come to the end of the road as far as possible fixes tried. The Link Trouble gave you should have gotten the Homegroups set up without any issues.

So I will still concentrate on the laptop. I still think you have a basic network problem.

When I click on 'see full map' on the desktop it shows the desktop - router - internet map (same as on the basic network information screen) but when I do the same on the laptop it says 'windows cannot discover any computer or device' despite it showing laptop - router - internet on the basic network information screen. Internet works perfectly well on the laptop and the desktop.

So, in an effort to discover some new information that may be hiding, I will ask for a couple of things from your laptop.

Disconnect the system from the internet and just leave the local network in place. Then disable ANY anti-virus programs you have running.

Next, open the Network Connections dialog (ncpa.cpl) and right click and properties for your network adapter-Local Area Connection.

Open the Local Area Connection Properties and take a picture of that. Also open the IPv4 and IPv6 properties and do the same thing. Use the snipping tool to take a picture and attach using the paperclip in the Advanced Replies window for any suggested pictures. (see Attachment)

As long as you are on a roll, take a picture of your Network and Sharing Center, and edit out personal info with Paint, then attach.

Next, on the laptop, run the Homegroup trouble shooter again, and make sure to run it in the Advanced mode and allow it to fix everything. When it finishes, you should have some type of window like the one attached. I had shut down the HomeGroup Provider for testing. Shutting down the service also kept the Network Map from being presented.

I realize you have done these things several times. But either something is hiding in your settings, or something has gotten stuck in the registry stopping the homegroups from working. I will continue to look to see if I can find a way to reset the entire system on your laptop.

Hopefully, something will show up to help.

 

[alanh]

Hi Saltgrass
Thanks for the suggestions - I will work my way through them and see what turns up.

regards