• Can’t make Win8 computer visable on network

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    #489983

    When I initially installed Win8 Pro, MS helped me get it to work on my home network (I tried and failed). Recently, I installed a Haswell i7, so that required a new mobo and now I am back to being unable to make Win8 work with Home Group.

    I have three computers connected to a router: Win8, Win7, and Ubuntu. Since I basically rebuilt all three, I am presently only able to make one computer-to-computer connection … the Win8 computer can find all content on the Win7 computer. When I try to connect the Win7 computer to the Win8 one, the Win7 computer only finds itself. Both Win computers are set to use Home Group. How can I make my Win8 machine stop hiding?

    FWIW, the Ubuntu computer will not find either of the Win computers. I am using Ubuntu 13.10 and will be looking for a way to return to an earlier version, or move to a different distribution.

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    • #1400031
      • #1400044

        rmonroe –
        Thank you for the link. I went through the entire thing. My Win8 computer still does not show up on Home Group. It cannot even find itself. My Win7 machine cannot find my Win8 machine. Interestingly, my Win8 machine displays the password that was generated when I setup a Home Group on my Win7 machine.

        Does anyone have other suggestions?

    • #1400074

      Why using the Homegroup? It actually decreases network performance.

      • #1400148

        Maybe I can set up a different network connection. I was of the impression that Home Group was the feature that was intended for linking home computers. Should I disable it before trying something else?

    • #1400150

      Naw, Homegroup is a limited Microsoft invention just for Windows 7 or 8, I think it was just part of an attempt to get folks off of XP which doesn’t support Homegroup. If you use user accounts and a workgroup instead you can even network your Linux system.

    • #1400155

      Homegroup is an effort to make home networking easier. It is supposed to be an evolution of Workgroup networking. Yes, it is for Windows 7 and later only. Read into it what you wish, but it is not available for XP because it uses technologies that are not present in XP.

      Joe

      --Joe

      • #1400157

        Suppose to be and what it is are two different things. Not to mention any prior Windows version and any other mainstream OS, I have half a dozen NAS devices so it evolved right out the door (actually it never even got in the door)!
        No offense to anyone who can and does use it perfectly fine. For all I know Homegroup has more dependencies than a good old mapped workgroup.

    • #1400156

      I don’t use Homegroup and my network includes Vista, 7 and 8 computers. I think Homegroup is more trouble than it’s worth and performance is worse than when using WorkGroups.

      You don’t need to disable Homegroup, but I suggest you set both computers to the same workgroup. This article tells you how (not at the beginning of the page, though, it does after the second heading): http://windows.microsoft.com/en-us/windows7/networking-home-computers-running-different-versions-of-windows

      To see how you can share folders easily, maybe this will help: http://www.addictivetips.com/windows-tips/windows-8-file-sharing-share-users-system-folders-on-network/

    • #1400174

      I have Homegroup disabled on my desktop and laptop that have Windows 8 Pro, and use workgroup networking. My D800 laptop dual boots XP and Windows 7 Ultimate, my E5420 dual boots 7 Ultimate and 8 Pro as does my desktop, my son’s Lenovo runs Windows 7 Home Premium, and my NAS runs Linux.

      In addition, my son’s friends bring their laptops from time to time and they have a WIFI party playing League of Legends (I’ve given them the wireless encryption passcode), all machines can see each other and we’ve never had a networking problem.

      Always create a fresh drive image before making system changes/Windows updates; you may need to start over!
      We all have our own reasons for doing the things that we do with our systems; we don't need anyone's approval, and we don't all have to do the same things.
      We were all once "Average Users".

      • #1400202

        bbearren’s advice is right on the money! I’m running Win8 Pro and it networks perfectly with my old XP machine, my wife’s Win7 laptop, and also my Suse Linux machine. The trick is definitely avoid Homegroup, and use Workgroup instead. Had all sorts of trouble with Homegroup.
        Good luck!

    • #1400303

      My first attempt to set up a non-Homegroup network went nowhere. I will read the link from rurirb and try again. Before I tore my computers down and rebuilt them, I was able to also find the Linux machine or to use it to find the Windows machines. I think I will try to remove Homegroup before I go further.

      Thanks for the comments.

    • #1400308

      You might also want to look at:
      http://www.howtogeek.com/howto/15247/complete-guide-to-networking-windows-7-with-xp-and-vista/

      Its a windows 7 article but it should apply to Windows 8 as well.

      Jerry

    • #1400753

      Issue resolved. I set up again and Homegroup appears to be working. My attempts to set up a non-Homegroup failed–Windows seemed to be blocking the process.

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