New Technology Reviews!.: HomeGroup

<img src="http://img52.imageshack.us/img52/5800/owv51annohomegroupimage.jpg"> HomeGroup is a feature exclusive to Windows 7. It enables you to easily share music, photos, documents and even printers between different switched-on PCs on your home network without having to spend time configuring each system – you set up the HomeGroup using one PC, then join it using other machines on your network. It's a really useful system and is so simple to get going – just follow my step-by-step guide below. The great thing about HomeGroup is that you can share as much or as little as you want, and I'll also show you how to do that later in the tutorial. You can only create a HomeGroup in the Home Premium, Professional or Ultimate Editions of Windows 7, but you can join one with any version. 1. Find the HomeGroup settings <img alt="step 1" src="http://img808.imageshack.us/img808/5800/owv51annohomegroupimage.jpg" width="420"></IMG> You can get to your HomeGroup settings various ways, including searching for HomeGroup in the Start menu, but I've gone to Control Panel and under Network and Internet I've selected Choose HomeGroup and sharing options. By the way, you can only be connected to one HomeGroup at any one time. 2. Create your HomeGroup <img alt="step 2" src="http://img534.imageshack.us/img534/5800/owv51annohomegroupimage.jpg" width="420"></IMG> As you can see from the screenshot above, there's currently no HomeGroup set up on our system. This window just gives you a little bit of blurb about what a HomeGroup is, so you can safely click through it by selecting Create HomeGroup at the bottom of the screen. 3. Choose which files <img alt="step 3" src="http://img207.imageshack.us/img207/5800/owv51annohomegroupimage.jpg" width="420"></IMG> The wizard now asks you which libraries you wish to share. You can be more precise about included files and folders at a later stage, but this is just a general set-up step. Sharing printers means you'll be able to print from one machine using the printer on another computer. 4. Leave it out <img alt="step 4" src="http://img515.imageshack.us/img515/5800/owv51annohomegroupimage.jpg" width="420"></IMG> If in doubt, feel free to leave a library out – you'll be able to add it easily at a later stage. Here I've decided that I actually don't want to share my music and videos, but that I do want to share my documents so that I can access them from other machines on the network. 5. Start sharing <img alt="step 5" src="http://img607.imageshack.us/img607/5800/owv51annohomegroupimage.jpg" width="420"></IMG> Click Next and your HomeGroup is created – this may take a while depending on the speed of your PC. If you're worried about sharing your files, remember that only computers you allow (and that are running on your home network) can access your files. Click Next again when the process has finished. 6. Your password <img alt="step 6" src="http://img266.imageshack.us/img266/5800/owv51annohomegroupimage.jpg" width="420"></IMG> You now see this screen, with an automatically generated password. You need this password for other computers to join your HomeGroup. This is no substitute for password-protecting your wireless network – your router should be secure, too. Write down or print your password using the link. Click Finish. 7. The nerve centre <img alt="step 7" src="http://img225.imageshack.us/img225/5800/owv51annohomegroupimage.jpg" width="420"></IMG> Now you're presented with this screen, which is the nerve centre of all your HomeGroup settings. As you can see, you can alter the libraries that you're sharing as well as view or print the HomeGroup password, should you have forgotten it. You can access the troubleshooter from here, too. 8. Change settings <img alt="step 8" src="http://img529.imageshack.us/img529/5800/owv51annohomegroupimage.jpg" width="420"></IMG> I've changed my mind and decided that I want to share my music as well. Check the box next to the library in question, then click Save changes. My HomeGroup is now fully set up on my first machine and so next I'll explain how you can connect up another machine to the HomeGroup. 9. Connecting another machine <img alt="step 9" src="http://img638.imageshack.us/img638/5800/owv51annohomegroupimage.jpg" width="420"></IMG> Now I'm on a second PC – my laptop downstairs. It's connected to the same wireless network as my first PC. Once again, go to your HomeGroup settings in Control Panel. You can see that the machine has detected there is already a HomeGroup on the network, created by my first machine. Click Join now. 10. Which libraries? <img alt="step 10" src="http://img816.imageshack.us/img816/5800/owv51annohomegroupimage.jpg" width="420"></IMG> As with my first computer, my laptop is now asked which libraries I want it to share with other machines. This time I've asked it to share all the media on this computer but none of the documents – I don't really store too many files on my laptop. Now click Next. 11. Enter the password <img alt="step 11" src="http://img828.imageshack.us/img828/5800/owv51annohomegroupimage.jpg" width="420"></IMG> Now you're asked for the password that you saw on your first computer. Remember that if you've forgotten it, you can return to your first computer to view it or to print it out. The password is case-sensitive, so you have to type it carefully. Once that's done, click Next. 12. You're connected! <img alt="step 12" src="http://img715.imageshack.us/img715/5800/owv51annohomegroupimage.jpg" width="420"></IMG> This screen means you're connected to the HomeGroup – it really is that simple to share your media and documents, and you'll be connected to the HomeGroup every time you start your Windows 7 PC. I'll just click Finish and I'm done. Now repeat the process on any other Windows 7 PCs you want to connect up. 13. Indexing libraries <img alt="step 13" src="http://img812.imageshack.us/img812/5800/owv51annohomegroupimage.jpg" width="420"></IMG> This screen means Windows 7 is still indexing your libraries ahead of sharing them – I just leave it alone for a few minutes. If you connect to a different network using your HomeGroup machine, this same screen displays "The HomeGroup is not available because you're not connected to the home network." 14. Leaving a HomeGroup <img alt="step 14" src="http://img826.imageshack.us/img826/5800/owv51annohomegroupimage.jpg" width="420"></IMG> If you really want to leave a HomeGroup, it's just as easy as joining one. In your HomeGroup settings (under Control Panel > Network and Internet), click Leave the HomeGroup. You then see this screen of options, which is basically checking that you do want to leave. Click Leave the HomeGroup again. 15. Share or exclude files and folders <img alt="step 15" src="http://img412.imageshack.us/img412/5800/owv51annohomegroupimage.jpg" width="420"></IMG> I want to exclude some folders from being shared. Navigate to the file or folder you want to exclude, and select it. In the toolbar, click Share with, then click Nobody. Should you want to include other folders, select them and choose either HomeGroup (Read) or HomeGroup (Read/Write) from this menu. 16. And that's it! <img alt="step 16" src="http://img607.imageshack.us/img607/2594/owv51annohomegroupimagev.jpg" width="420"></IMG> You now have a fully-functioning HomeGroup. If you encounter any problems, there's a HomeGroup troubleshooter to ease your pain, available on the main HomeGroup settings page within Control Panel > Network and Internet. Click Start the HomeGroup troubleshooter.

Tutorial: How to set up a Windows 7 HomeGroup

HomeGroup is a feature exclusive to Windows 7. It enables you to easily share music, photos, documents and even printers between different ...

<img src="http://cdn.mos.techradar.com//classifications/computing/software/operating-systems/images/windows7logo-200-200.jpg"> In theory, HomeGroups are supposed to simplify the process of sharing key folders and printers on your network. Sadly, they can be more trouble than they're worth – try these troubleshooting tips. 1. Windows 7 only Remember, HomeGroups only work on PCs running Windows 7 – if your network includes computers running earlier versions of Windows, Linux or Mac OS, use the standard filesharing options instead. 2. Visit Action Center Click the flag icon in the Notification area of the Taskbar and click Open Action Center. Select Troubleshooting > Network and Internet, and click HomeGroup to launch a troubleshooter. 3. Check your network type HomeGroups will only work on networks designated as Home not Public or Work. Verify this on each PC by opening the Network and Sharing Center – if necessary, click the link under the network name and select Home. 4. Workgroup settings It shouldn't matter, but verify that each PC is on the same workgroup – view and change your workgroup by right-clicking Computer and selecting Properties, then click "Change settings" if necessary. 5. Public Folder sharing options Click "Change advanced sharing settings" in the Network and Sharing Center – expand "Home or Work", scroll down and verify that both Network Discovery and "Public Folder sharing" are On. 6. Check the Firewall Networking problems can often be traced to your firewall. If you can connect with the firewall switched off, you'll need to tweak its settings so it doesn't block network traffic – visit the firewall vendor's website for more help and advice if necessary. 7. Fix error 0x80632094 Your PCs need to support IPv6 and have it enabled in order to connect to a HomeGroup: from the Network and Sharing Center click "Change Adapter Settings", right-click your network adapter and choose Properties, then verify the TCP/IPv6 entry is ticked. 8. Check services Press [Windows] + [R], type "services.msc" and press [Enter]. Check the following services are running: HomeGroup Listener, HomeGroup Provider, Peer Name Resolution Protocol, Peer Networking Grouping and Peer Networking Identity Manager. 9. Fix error 0x80630801 Leave the HomeGroup, then delete the contents of the c:\ Windows\ServiceProfiles\ LocalService\AppData\Roaming\PeerNetworking folder – you'll need to click "Continue to" when prompted to access the LocalService folder, and AppData is a hidden folder. 10. Forget HomeGroups Remove the HomeGroup from your main computer, then click "Change advanced sharing settings" and configure your network manually. Once this is done, you can then share any individual folder by right-clicking it and choosing Share with > Specific people.

Tutorial: Windows 7 HomeGroup not working? Try these quick fixes

In theory, HomeGroups are supposed to simplify the process of sharing key folders and printers on your network. Sadly, they can be more trou...