Hi, all.  I WOULD like some help with setting up a home network.  Here are the specs on what I have.

1 X tower system running Win 7 Ultimate (quad-core/6GB ram)
1 X LAPTOP running Win 7 Home (quad-core/8GB ram)
1 X Laptop running Win XP Pro (Core 2 Duo/4GB ram)

I want to take my tower system and make it a server/data storage system.  Then, I can have either laptop access the entire 2TB in the tower system.  The internet will run (hardwire) into the tower and wireless N to both laptops.

I also plan to ADD an IPAD 2 and Samsung Galaxy to the fold soon.

Will Win 7 homegroups do this efficiently for me or should I look at other options?  Will setting the tower up with homegroups leave me open to unauthorized access outside of my homegroup?

I am PRETTY well versed with individual computers (hardware/software) but relatively new to networking.

Thanks
Refer here about homegroups or sharing --> http://windows.microsoft.com/en-US/windows7/products/features/homegroupThanks for the link.  That will help but does anyone know the answers to the questions...

Will Win 7 homegroups do this efficiently for me or should I look at other options? 

Will setting the tower up with homegroups leave me open to unauthorized access outside of my homegroup?

Thanks.

Quote from: DaBooch on April 20, 2011, 07:51:44 AM

Will setting the tower up with homegroups leave me open to unauthorized access outside of my homegroup?