homegroup problem

I have three pcs all running windows 7. The main desktop is connected
directly to the internet via ethernet and a router; the others are
wireless connections.

When I click on Homegroup in the main pc I get the message "the
homegroup is not available because you are not connected to the home
network."

When I try to create a homegroup in control panel I get the same
message. If I try to "join an existing network" a panel opens up in the
bottom right of the status bar saying "currently connected to network.
Internet access." And all homegroup options are greyed out except "Leave
homegroup"- which apparently isn't available!

I have no idea what's going on. Can anyone cast any light on the problem?

TIA

"Seasidepeter" <> wrote in message
news:...
> I have three pcs all running windows 7. The main desktop is connected
> directly to the internet via ethernet and a router; the others are
> wireless connections.
>
> When I click on Homegroup in the main pc I get the message "the homegroup
> is not available because you are not connected to the home network."
>
> When I try to create a homegroup in control panel I get the same message.
> If I try to "join an existing network" a panel opens up in the bottom
> right of the status bar saying "currently connected to network. Internet
> access." And all homegroup options are greyed out except "Leave
> homegroup"- which apparently isn't available!
>
> I have no idea what's going on. Can anyone cast any light on the problem?
>
> TIA

make sure "client for microsoft networks" is installed on main computer.

On Wed, 11 Aug 2010 11:51:28 +0100, Seasidepeter
<> wrote:

> I have three pcs all running windows 7. The main desktop is connected
> directly to the internet via ethernet and a router; the others are
> wireless connections.
>
> When I click on Homegroup in the main pc I get the message "the
> homegroup is not available because you are not connected to the home
> network."
>
> When I try to create a homegroup in control panel I get the same
> message. If I try to "join an existing network" a panel opens up in the
> bottom right of the status bar saying "currently connected to network.
> Internet access." And all homegroup options are greyed out except "Leave
> homegroup"- which apparently isn't available!
>
> I have no idea what's going on. Can anyone cast any light on the problem?



I strongly recommend that you avoid homegroups and use workgroups
instead. They are almost identical, but a homegroup works only with
Windows 7 computers. That may be OK for you now, but if you ever need
to add a Windows XP or Vista computer, you'll be out of luck.

On 8/11/2010 10:16 AM, Ken Blake wrote:
> I strongly recommend that you avoid homegroups and use workgroups
> instead. They are almost identical, but a homegroup works only with
> Windows 7 computers. That may be OK for you now, but if you ever need
> to add a Windows XP or Vista computer, you'll be out of luck.
>

Well, homegroups are all that's available in Win7. However, the
homegroups can be made to be compatible with older-style workgroups by
disabling the requirement for encryption.

Yousuf Khan

"Yousuf Khan" <> wrote in message
news:...
> On 8/11/2010 10:16 AM, Ken Blake wrote:
>> I strongly recommend that you avoid homegroups and use workgroups
>> instead. They are almost identical, but a homegroup works only with
>> Windows 7 computers. That may be OK for you now, but if you ever need
>> to add a Windows XP or Vista computer, you'll be out of luck.
>>
>
> Well, homegroups are all that's available in Win7. However, the
> homegroups can be made to be compatible with older-style workgroups by
> disabling the requirement for encryption.
>
> Yousuf Khan

My Windows7 Home has both workgroup and homegroup available.
I am using workgroup through a router with 3 computers (WinXP and Win98SE)
using Ethernet cables and 2 Netbooks (Win7 Home) using WiFi.
No problems with sharing files and/or transferring content.

On Wed, 11 Aug 2010 20:30:58 -0400, Yousuf Khan <>
wrote:

> On 8/11/2010 10:16 AM, Ken Blake wrote:
> > I strongly recommend that you avoid homegroups and use workgroups
> > instead. They are almost identical, but a homegroup works only with
> > Windows 7 computers. That may be OK for you now, but if you ever need
> > to add a Windows XP or Vista computer, you'll be out of luck.
> >
>
> Well, homegroups are all that's available in Win7.


Sorry, but that is *not* correct. Workgroups are available (as I said
above), and if you are running Professional, Ultimate, or Enterprise,
Domains are also available.