Trouble setting up Home Group

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Have 4 Win 7 computers that I want to put in a Home Group. Computer 1 (main machine) is already in a Home Group but can’t see the other machines. Computer 2 is in a Network 3 but can’t see anything but itself. Computer 3 is in Network 2 but can’t see anything but Computer 4 which is also in a Network 2. Tried deleting Network 3 on Computer 2 but then I got the message that the computer had to be on a Network in order to join the Home Group. As for the other computers (3 and 4) I don’t see any option to join a Home Group. All computers are on the Internet and connected to the same router (hard wired).

I’m going round and round and getting nowhere :p. Could use some advice on what to do to get them all on the same Home Group as Computer 1.

artov10@cltel.net

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Are all 4 W7 at least Home Premiums? Starter may be different.
Things to try and report back

Go to command prompt and type
arp -a

you should see something like this

Interface: 192.168.1.3 — 0xb
Internet Address Physical Address Type
192.168.1.1 30-46-9a-01-17-c8 dynamic
192.168.1.99 70-77-81-81-01-a3 dynamic
192.168.1.255 ff-ff-ff-ff-ff-ff static
224.0.0.22 01-00-5e-00-00-16 static
224.0.0.252 01-00-5e-00-00-fc static
239.255.255.250 01-00-5e-7f-ff-fa static
255.255.255.255 ff-ff-ff-ff-ff-ff static

for the ip addresses up to 192.168.1.255

type: ping -a 192.168.1.99
[for example yours may be a bit different]
copy the results and paste into a reply .(right click the title bar at top of window and select ‘select all’ and then ‘copy’)

You might also make sure each computer has its network set as ‘Home’ rather than Work or Public.

Oh with all computers booted!:)
:cheers:

Just because you don't know where you are going doesn't mean any road will get you there.

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Microsoft Windows [Version 6.1.7601]
Copyright (c) 2009 Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved.

C:UsersArt>arp -a

Interface: 192.168.1.103 — 0xb
Internet Address Physical Address Type
192.168.1.1 6c-b0-ce-e2-95-71 dynamic
192.168.1.3 e0-cb-4e-c2-d1-63 dynamic
192.168.1.6 00-0f-b5-64-ac-5f dynamic
192.168.1.7 00-07-e9-6c-a6-0b dynamic
192.168.1.8 00-0b-db-0f-a6-3e dynamic
192.168.1.100 00-1e-8f-76-fa-83 dynamic
192.168.1.104 00-1e-8f-91-35-a2 dynamic
192.168.1.255 ff-ff-ff-ff-ff-ff static
224.0.0.22 01-00-5e-00-00-16 static
224.0.0.252 01-00-5e-00-00-fc static
239.255.255.250 01-00-5e-7f-ff-fa static
255.255.255.255 ff-ff-ff-ff-ff-ff static

C:UsersArt>ping -a 192.168.1.104

Pinging 192.168.1.104 with 32 bytes of data:
Reply from 192.168.1.104: bytes=32 time=2ms TTL=64
Reply from 192.168.1.104: bytes=32 time=2ms TTL=64
Reply from 192.168.1.104: bytes=32 time=2ms TTL=64
Reply from 192.168.1.104: bytes=32 time=2ms TTL=64

Ping statistics for 192.168.1.104:
Packets: Sent = 4, Received = 4, Lost = 0 (0% loss),
Approximate round trip times in milli-seconds:
Minimum = 2ms, Maximum = 2ms, Average = 2ms

C:UsersArt>Hope this comes thru OK. All computers are Home Premiums, all computers are on and all were Home except 4 which is Public. (Plan on changing that also.) Thanks for the quick reply.

Art

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Microsoft Windows [Version 6.1.7601]
Copyright (c) 2009 Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved.

C:UsersArt>arp -a

Interface: 192.168.1.103 — 0xb
Internet Address Physical Address Type
192.168.1.1 6c-b0-ce-e2-95-71 dynamic
192.168.1.3 e0-cb-4e-c2-d1-63 dynamic
192.168.1.6 00-0f-b5-64-ac-5f dynamic
192.168.1.7 00-07-e9-6c-a6-0b dynamic
192.168.1.8 00-0b-db-0f-a6-3e dynamic
192.168.1.100 00-1e-8f-76-fa-83 dynamic
192.168.1.104 00-1e-8f-91-35-a2 dynamic
192.168.1.255 ff-ff-ff-ff-ff-ff static
224.0.0.22 01-00-5e-00-00-16 static
224.0.0.252 01-00-5e-00-00-fc static
239.255.255.250 01-00-5e-7f-ff-fa static
255.255.255.255 ff-ff-ff-ff-ff-ff static

C:UsersArt>ping -a 192.168.1.104

Pinging 192.168.1.104 with 32 bytes of data:
Reply from 192.168.1.104: bytes=32 time=2ms TTL=64
Reply from 192.168.1.104: bytes=32 time=2ms TTL=64
Reply from 192.168.1.104: bytes=32 time=2ms TTL=64
Reply from 192.168.1.104: bytes=32 time=2ms TTL=64

Ping statistics for 192.168.1.104:
Packets: Sent = 4, Received = 4, Lost = 0 (0% loss),
Approximate round trip times in milli-seconds:
Minimum = 2ms, Maximum = 2ms, Average = 2ms

C:UsersArt>Hope this comes thru OK. All computers are Home Premiums, all computers are on and all were Home except 4 which is Public. (Plan on changing that also.) Thanks for the quick reply.

Art

The computer you post the docs for in post 12 is not on the same network. It seems to be set for DHCP, but has IP of 192.168.0.2.
I would first off
go to command line and type
Ipconfig /release

Press enter and wait for the C:

Ipconfig /renew

Press enter and wait for the C:

It should be on the same network
do ipconfig /all to confirm
I would reboot before making any changes and confirm that the new IP has survived the reboot.

:cheers:

Just because you don't know where you are going doesn't mean any road will get you there.

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Well it looks like you have at least 7 devices on your network (plus router), does that sound correct? I think it is safe to ignore what each computer calls it’s network. After changing one computer from Public to Home type is there any difference? Check to see if you now have the option to join a Homegroup in 3 and 4. :cheers:

Just because you don't know where you are going doesn't mean any road will get you there.

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Changed computer 4 to Home and the option to join the Home Group came up. Entered the password and both 3 and 4 joined the Home Group. Now for Computer 2. This is the closest I have been in months !! As for the devices on my network, 7 sounds right – 4 computers, my printer and 2 of my sons computers.

Art

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:cheers:

Just because you don't know where you are going doesn't mean any road will get you there.

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Did I miss something? No message in your last post. Any suggestions in getting the last computer (2) on Home Group?

Art

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Did I miss something? No message in your last post. Any suggestions in getting the last computer (2) on Home Group?

Art

Ok missed #2 still misbehaving. Will need to review thread.
:cheers:

Just because you don't know where you are going doesn't mean any road will get you there.

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Change the network location, reboot, change it back?

cheers, Paul

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Paul,
Simple solution but unfortunately it didn’t work. Wouldn’t give me an option to join a Home Group – wanted to start a new Home Group.

Thanks for the try.

Art

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on computer 2
What does Control PanelAll Control Panel ItemsNetwork and Sharing Center show?

Make sure Network discovery is on

Control PanelAll Control Panel ItemsNetwork and Sharing CenterAdvanced sharing settings

Check this too from help file:

The computer is running Windows 7 or Windows Vista and the Link Layer Topology Discovery (LLTD) protocol is disabled on the network adapter. Windows uses the LLTD protocol to map computers and devices on a network. To enable LLTD, follow these steps:

Click to open Network Connections.

Right-click the network connection, and then click Properties.

Select the Link-Layer Topology Discovery Mapper I/O Driver and Link-Layer Topology Discovery Responder check boxes, and then click OK.

That failing:
try arp -a and copy results
same w/ ipconfig /all

:cheers:

Just because you don't know where you are going doesn't mean any road will get you there.

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I’m including 3 files with the info you requested. These were taken from Computer 2. Also, the LLTD is enabled.

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Been behind for a while will try to help Wed
:cheers:

Just because you don't know where you are going doesn't mean any road will get you there.

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@ artov10

The screenshot in your #12 post shows your “Computer 2” is named “TEST”.

Check that each of your computers has its own unique name.

42791-System

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@ artov10

The screenshot in your #12 post shows your “Computer 2” is named “TEST”.

Check that each of your computers has its own unique name.

42791-System

Coochin,

Yes, all computers have a unique name.

Thanks anyway

Art

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Dave,
Tried the suggestion. But on the renew, still had the same IP address. I have included the “release” and “renew” screen shots. Also the only difference I can see between the main computer and the test machine (except for the addresses) is that the main computer has a Node of Hybrid and the Test has a Node of Mixed.

I appreciate the time and effort you are making to help me.

Art

Microsoft Windows [Version 6.1.7601]
Copyright (c) 2009 Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved.

C:UsersArt>ipconfig /release

Windows IP Configuration

Ethernet adapter Local Area Connection:

Connection-specific DNS Suffix . :
Link-local IPv6 Address . . . . . : fe80::35f5:40e1:6dae:66f1%10
Default Gateway . . . . . . . . . :

Tunnel adapter isatap.{9B467D3D-67E1-4A09-B068-371E7C43F541}:

Media State . . . . . . . . . . . : Media disconnected
Connection-specific DNS Suffix . :

Tunnel adapter Teredo Tunneling Pseudo-Interface:

Media State . . . . . . . . . . . : Media disconnected
Connection-specific DNS Suffix . :

C:UsersArt>ipconfig /renew

Windows IP Configuration

Ethernet adapter Local Area Connection:

Connection-specific DNS Suffix . :
Link-local IPv6 Address . . . . . : fe80::35f5:40e1:6dae:66f1%10
IPv4 Address. . . . . . . . . . . : 192.168.0.2
Subnet Mask . . . . . . . . . . . : 255.255.255.0
Default Gateway . . . . . . . . . : 192.168.0.1

Tunnel adapter isatap.{9B467D3D-67E1-4A09-B068-371E7C43F541}:

Media State . . . . . . . . . . . : Media disconnected
Connection-specific DNS Suffix . :

Tunnel adapter Teredo Tunneling Pseudo-Interface:

Media State . . . . . . . . . . . : Media disconnected
Connection-specific DNS Suffix . :

C:UsersArt>

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One more thing to check’
42812-Untitled

Make sure both boxes are checked as in the attached images.

:cheers:

Just because you don't know where you are going doesn't mean any road will get you there.

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Dave,
Both boxes are checked. Next?

Art

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Art
I got this from some one on the forum here’

At elevated command prompt:

netsh int ip reset resetlog.txt

Reboot test
Try the stuff in post #16 if not working
post the resetlog.txt which should be found in the same directory as your command prompt starts in.

Just because you don't know where you are going doesn't mean any road will get you there.

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Dave,

Tried the reset as per your last reply. Assume that the “elevated” Command Prompt is run as Administrator. Tried twice. The command seemed to take (told me to restart to complete). However, nothing changed – still have the same IP address. Also unable to find resetlog.txt in the same directory as the cmd.exe nor when I looked for *.txt. Tried the ipconfig /release and ipconfig /renew but again the same results. Is there a way to manually change the IP address?

Art

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…Is there a way to manually change the IP address?…

You could try setting a “static IP”:
42829-Static_IP

But for “IP address” use one that is unlikely to cause a conflict; if your other connected devices are using 192.168.1.2 through to say 192.168.1.10 then you could assign 192.168.1.20

“Default gateway” is the network address of your router; you can look that up on one of your other PCs.

However, it does seem very strange that the PC has been set to “Obtain an IP address automatically” yet was trying to use IPv4 Address 192.168.0.2 and Default Gateway 192.168.0.1

Have you checked that the network cable is connected to the router correctly?

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You could try setting a “static IP”:
42829-Static_IP

But for “IP address” use one that is unlikely to cause a conflict; if your other connected devices are using 192.168.1.2 through to say 192.168.1.10 then you could assign 192.168.1.20

“Default gateway” is the network address of your router; you can look that up on one of your other PCs.

However, it does seem very strange that the PC has been set to “Obtain an IP address automatically” yet was trying to use IPv4 Address 192.168.0.2 and Default Gateway 192.168.0.1

Have you checked that the network cable is connected to the router correctly?

Yes check that! There should (on most setups be an led indicator light on BOTH end of the Ethernet cable. If not that would be the point of trouble shooting.
After manually setting the IP info you could reboot and ping your router (default gateway) or one of the other computers on your network.

Just because you don't know where you are going doesn't mean any road will get you there.

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And a thought on the log file, might be in your user directory; c:usersUSERNAME

FYI It came be forced into the root directory (or any you would have access to thusly:
netsh int ip reset c:resetlog.txt :cheers:

Just because you don't know where you are going doesn't mean any road will get you there.

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Coochin and Wavy,

SOLVED – You mentioned to check the cable connection. At first I thought this no problem because I had Internet access but then I realized I had another router in the line to serve two computers that didn’t have a direct connection to the main router – one of which was Test. (Didn’t have a hub handy) Removed the second router, plugged into the main router, ran ipconfig /Release and Renew. Worked just like it was supposed to. Test is now on the Home Group.

THANK YOU for your patience and help. It sure is true that EBKAC :blush:.

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…but then I realized I had another router in the line to serve two computers that didn’t have a direct connection to the main router – one of which was Test…

Confucius said “any problem once correctly understood is already half-solved” and “it’s no use running harder if you’re on the wrong road”.

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Art
Very glad to be of help.

:cheers:

PS don’t feel bad we all do something a bit silly at times when we get frustrated and you had a couple of problems ongoing.

Just because you don't know where you are going doesn't mean any road will get you there.

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