Hello

I have a new Win 7 PC and I have now created a homegroup - there are no 'members' in it as yet. What I now hope to do is get my Win XP PC to join the new homegroup and this is the stage I am up to now (please see attached screenshot).

The screenshot refers to creating a homegroup with other Win 7 computers, but I wish to share files with my Win XP PC. Do I need two LAN ethernet cables plugged into the same router to do this (neither PC has wireless) with both PCs switched on at the same time?

Thanks.

High1

[year+ old attachment deleted by admin]Try going to Microsoft links 1 or 2Hello Jason

Thanks for that.

I thought there may have been an easier way - that document is 33 pages long!

Cheers

High1I imagine the main problem is that Windows XP doesn't have a concept of "homegroups". Since "homegroups" are a Vista/7 feature.

However, you can do it- you have to make the Windows 7 Machine also support the previous NETWORKING protocol. (Additional note to others that may read this too: This is also helpful when configuring a Linux SAMBA network share)

First you have to make sure they are part of the same Workgroup. This can be found and changed in system properties. In Windows 7, that would be accessible using Windows Key+Pause/Break, and then clicking "Advanced System Settings". On XP, Control+Pause/Break will take you to the right dialog. In both cases, you want to select the "Computer Name" tab, and confirm that both the computers are set to the same workgroup. XP I believe defaulted to MSHOME, which is sometimes part of the problem when people try to network XP and Vista/7 machines, since Vista/7 default to WORKGROUP.

Next, you need to change settings on the Windows 7 machine so it knows how to talk to the XP machines without sounding condescending. Go to the Network and Sharing Center. You can right-click the network icon in the Notification Area and choose "Open Network and Sharing Center" to do this. Once there, select to "Change Advanced Settings". Make sure everything is turned on. (You can turn off password protection if desired).

Shares on the XP computer should be visible on the Windows 7 machine and vice versa now.Hello BC Programmer

Your reply gave me some hope, but I am still having difficulties.

I posted a message earlier TODAY about me getting a 'duplicate name' error when I logged in to the XP computer, so I have changed its name from WORKGROUP to XPWORKGROUP and now that error has gone on restart. However, I am still unable to see the XP files when logged in to my Win 7 computer. The state of the XP computer now looks like this (please see the two XP screenshots).

I will need to continue this post in another message as I am only allowed four screenshots per post.

[year+ old attachment deleted by admin]So, I changed the name of the XP computer to XPWORKGROUP and then logged on to the Win 7 computer and tried to change its name also to XPWORKGROUP, but a pop-up informed me that a duplicate name exists on the network, so I have had to leave it. Again, please see the Win 7 screenshots to see where I am up to at the moment.

I suppose I am a bit confused by the concepts of Computer Name and Workgroup!

Thanks for any advise.

[year+ old attachment deleted by admin]Do not change or make the Computer Names the same. Only the workgroups.Hello BC_Programmer

Thanks again.

OK, I will ensure that the computers are all assigned to WORKGROUP.

At the moment, one PC (wireless Win 7) is called STEVE_OWNER-PC; the wired Win 7 PC has the full computer name of don-pc; and the XP PC is called XPWORKGROUP (I don't seem to be able to change that EVEN as Administrator). All three computers have: workgroup: WORKGROUP.

Does that sound OK so far?

CheersHello BC_Programmer

I have uploaded three screenshots to give you a better idea of what I can see on each computer.

As you will gather, the My Network Connections screen in the wired XP computer is divided into Internet and Local. The Win7 wired computer can see the wireless Win 7 PC, but not the wired XP computer, while the wireless Win 7 computer can see nothing.

None of this has anything to do with creating a Homegroup, and all three computers now have:

Workgroup: WORKGROUP and are called dfifferent names. The XP computer is called XPWORKGROUP; the Win 7 wired PC is called don-PC; and the wireless Win7 PC is called STEVE_OWNER-PC.

Incidentally, the wireless Win7 PC (STEVE_OWNER-PC) is showing a BELKIN N wireless router; I am not sure where that came from as the router we all use is the Sagemcom router - that's probably besides the point: I was just hoping to get all three computers to 'see' one another first.

Thanks for your patience.

[year+ old attachment deleted by admin]Have you done this? It looks like neither of the windows 7 machines have Network Discovery turned on.
Quote from: BC_Programmer on July 04, 2012, 09:05:22 AM

Next, you need to change settings on the Windows 7 machine so it knows how to talk to the XP machines without sounding condescending. Go to the Network and Sharing Center. You can right-click the network icon in the Notification Area and choose "Open Network and Sharing Center" to do this. Once there, select to "Change Advanced Settings". Make sure everything is turned on. (You can turn off password protection if desired).