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I'm trying to set up a new laptop to join a HomeGroup on my desktop so I can share files over my home network. Got the password and everything seems hunky-dory on the desktop. However, the laptop won't connect to it - possible problems are:
a) clocks need to be synchronised on both machines (sorted that)
b) non-windows firewall in use (I've installed ZoneAlarm). How can I get ZA to allow HomeGroup?
c) ?
do you NEED zonealarm? i used to have it running on an old machine of mine and it ended up interfering more than it was worth, so i ditched it completely and not had any connectivity issues since (even my ISP said to me that ZA conflicted with all kinds of stuff, including the hardware firewall in my router).
if you're running windows xp or newer and you're up to date with all patches and windows firewall is enabled, then you really don't need a 3rd party software firewall as well.
i'd certainly be uninstalling that first to see if it resolved your issue.
OK.
ZA uninstalled on laptop and disabled on desktop. Both machines now running Windows firewall and both have time synced to internet time.
Any suggestions for what to do next?
wired or wifi?
can the laptop see your network?
what OS is on it?
WiFi - both machines have wireless access to BT Homehub.
Laptop is working fine on the network; full internet access, can even stream music from the desktop.
Both W7 64-bit Home Premium.
One error which has turned up when I try to change the homegroup password is that the network card/device on the desktop (i.e. the HomeGroup host) must be enabled for IPv6 - properties for the wireless adapter show this to be switched on, but HG setup isn't registering the setting and insists it is off.
discounting obvious stuff like network discovery being enabled, and sharing turned on on the laptop, i'm unsure off the top of my head but there's a lot of potential solutions in this thread here:
Try it with them both connected using cables first to eliminate any wifi issues
Actually, I'm not sure it'll be necessary after all. I've just discovered that all the documents are visible through the network anyway - a simple desktop shortcut should give me what I need!
Thanks for all your help though, xherbivorex and geoffj.
no problem.
simple workarounds are always good!
Time does not need to be synchronised on networked computers.
According to the W7 HomeGroup setup wizard it does, molgrips (it states that it's a security measure).
Well bugger me.