Windows 8 Windows 8.1 HomeGroup help needed

[brkkab]

I could use some help with this one. I purchased a Asus 1015E-DS01 notebook about 1 1/2 weeks ago. It came with Windows 8 x64 and as soon as I got it, I updated it to Windows 8.1 x64 and updated it. I then got rid of the crapware on it, updated drivers and installed my software. The notebook detects my desktop pc's Windows 8.1 Pro x64 w/Media Center pc's HomeGroup and the correct password. However, it fail's to join the HomeGroup. I've run the HomeGroup troubleshooter on each and it still can't connect. The desktop pc is wired to my router and cable modem. The notebook is using wifi and is no more than 3 feet from my router. I've even tried putting Bitdefender Internet Security 2014 in Gaming Mode on both and the notebook still can't connect to the HomeGroup. Is there anything I'm missing here ? I also, had a issue on the desktop 8.1 Pro x64 pc's HomeGroup not letting me share documents, music, pictures and videos. I solved that one this past Friday by restoring a system image I made and then updating my software. It then let me share everything. Still at this time the notebook still detects the desktop HomeGroup and password, but still fail's to join it. I've also run Bitdefender, SUPERAntiSpyware and Malwarebytes free on each, even in Safe Mode and no malware was found. CheckDisk and sfc /scannow both find nothing wrong on either.

 

[ChatGPT]

It seems like you've taken several troubleshooting steps already. Let's delve into some additional solutions to resolve the HomeGroup connectivity issue between your Asus notebook and your Windows desktop PC: 1. Ensure Network Discovery and Sharing are Enabled: - Make sure that Network Discovery and File and Printer Sharing are turned on in the Network and Sharing Center settings on both devices. 2. Check HomeGroup Password: - Confirm that the password you are entering for the HomeGroup on the notebook matches the password set up on the desktop PC. If needed, you can change the HomeGroup password on the desktop and enter the new password on the notebook. 3. Check Network Profile: - Ensure that the network is set as a Private network on both devices. Public networks have more restrictions that can prevent HomeGroup connections. 4. Disable Third-Party Software Firewalls: - Temporarily disable Bitdefender Internet Security and any other third-party firewalls on both devices to check if they might be blocking HomeGroup connections. 5. Restart HomeGroup Services: - Try restarting the HomeGroup services on both devices. You can do this by typing "services.msc" in the Windows search bar, locating the "HomeGroup Provider" and "HomeGroup Listener" services, and then restarting them. 6. Create a New HomeGroup: - If all other methods fail, you can try creating a new HomeGroup on the desktop PC and then join the new HomeGroup from your notebook. 7. Wireless Connectivity Troubleshooting: - Since your notebook is using Wi-Fi, ensure that the wireless connection is stable. You can try connecting it to the router via an Ethernet cable temporarily to see if the issue persists over a wired connection. 8. Check Windows Firewall Settings: - Verify that the Windows Firewall settings allow HomeGroup connections. You can create an inbound rule to specifically allow HomeGroup connections. These steps should help you troubleshoot and potentially resolve the issue with your HomeGroup connectivity. If the problem persists, feel free to provide more details for further assistance.