Complex (home) Network config help needed -- Nothing Works!
BRIEF PROBLEM STATEMENT: W7 on HP Laptop will not connect to W7 on Desktop nor to HP MediaSmart Server running Windows Home Server SP2 (neither via wireless nor wire) through AT&T Residential Gateway model 3800 HGV-B. Desktop & Home Server connect just fine.HARDWARE SPECS:Laptop:HP Pavilion dv2120 dual-core, 2Gb ram, running Win7 Ultimate x64. Wireless & wired connections available, wireless preferred.Desktop:Home-built Intel quad core on MSI motherboard, 8Gb ram, running Win7 Ultimate x64, software/driver updates all current.Home Server:HP MediaSmart 475, Processor upgraded to AMD Athlon 1640 2.8 GHz & 2 Gb ram, w/2 Tb on 4 drives, running Windows Home Server servicepack 2 (x32), software/driver updates all current.Residential Gateway:AT&T model 3800HGV-B, running fine w/appropriate portsavailable to Home Server.Printer #1:Dell 1600n MFP installed via USB on Desktop. All features working.Printer #2:Brother Q500 Label Printer installed via USB on Desktop. All features working.Printer #3:Epson C88+ Inkjet installed via USB on Desktop. All features working.PROBLEM DETAILS:Laptop will not join Home Group on Desktop. Desktop lists its ownstatus w/Home Group as "joined". System-selected password accepted when input on laptop, but no connection results. If option "no password required" is selected on both machines, system still asks for a password, won't take "blank" for an answer.Why? Laptop can "see" all printers on Desktop, but will not connect to any of them. Error message 0x80632094 returned, but related KB info is no help. I need to be able to access printers from Laptop. Res-Gateway shows internal IP address for Laptop, both wired and wireless.Also need to be able to access Home Server. Can I connect to both Desktop & Home Server via Home Group? If not, can I connect to Home Server if I am connected to Desktop via Home Group? If not, how do I disable Home Group? What procedures do I then use for setting up Network via Win7. All advice appreciated. The more specific, the better.
April 2nd, 2009 1:01am

Can you see the server via the "Network" from My Computer?IT/Developer, Windows/Linux/Whatever I need a new web server, the antique IBM 300GL has a 137GB disk limit, for my chess site. I wanted to post many more downloadable files, the existing 30GB disk is insufficient.
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April 2nd, 2009 2:41am

INFO UPDATE & A CORRECTION:1. Windows Home Server now visible & accessible after cold reboot. That problem solved!2. Correction: Error message when attempting to install/access the printers is 0x00000721.3. Able to access shared folders on Desktop, but NOT able to access printers. Printers are visible via Network from the Laptop. Still need help with this, thanks.
April 2nd, 2009 3:13am

I assume the updates are installed for the home server. Printers are another nuisance. Are the drivers OK with WIndows 7?IT/Developer, Windows/Linux/Whatever I need a new web server, the antique IBM 300GL has a 137GB disk limit, for my chess site. I wanted to post many more downloadable files, the existing 30GB disk is insufficient.
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April 2nd, 2009 3:15am

Yes, Home Server software is totally current. I was a beta tester for the Squalnomie upgrade which was RTM at the end of January. When I click on "Home Group" in Libraries, it asks "Do You Want To Join A Home Group?", then walks me through the process, including request for Password, even though I have selected the "no password" option on both Laptop & Desktop. However, it dies not connect me to any "Home Group". Printers are diagrammed off the Desktop when I view Network on the Laptop, but when I click to connect to one it says "Cannot Connect...." w/error 0x00000721.Microsoft KB on the error code, nor anyforum seems tohave any helpful hints in this case. What can you offer??
April 2nd, 2009 11:02am

Dumb question, I know.. but do you have printer sharing turned on, under the network/homegroup options, on all computers?I also wonder if there's a port conflict via the router, as you can see them but not access them. Any special port forwarding going on in the router? My not-so-complex experience was, laptop with W7, and Home computer with W7, I had to change both from the former vista 'private' network to 'public' to even get things started. Then after a reboot they joined Home group just fine. Is it possible the password you're given (setting up homegroup gives you a random something like 'Asq7yfE32' or similar was entered incorrectly? No password required for running and accessing the network, with passwords set to off, but the home group config itself requires a 'door cover charge' type of password, (entry into the shell of the home group itself) similar to how you get 8 digits to get a Xbox 360 set up.
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April 2nd, 2009 11:22am

SandmanXX, Thanks for these suggestions. Pretty late here so I'll check all of them out tomorrow a.m. One thing I do know is that Password was verified, then entered correctly on several occasions. Later...Mike (The Wob).
April 2nd, 2009 11:27am

Thanks! But still nosuccess w/Printers. Here's the latest:1. No problem w/router config.2. "Join" network attempts hashad wierd results. I still don't know if Laptop & Desktop are "joined" together, even though they now both say they are "joined" "At first could not get laptop to "join" desktop home group. (I did not know the "door cover charge" aspect - great explanation, thanks!) Password request would come up, I would enter password, then the dialogue box would just close. Desktop would say "joined" even though it was only computer set up. Laptop would say "join home group?" Laptop could see Desktop & Printers attached to desktop, access Desktop shared files, but NOT printers. I then changed Network Location to Public on both, & rebooted. After that, Laptop could not see Desktop. However, "Properties" for Network still said "Private" even though both printers were set to Public Location. Is there more than one place to set the network to "Public"?? If so, what's the difference? I changed both back to "Home Network", rebooted. Then, on Laptop, I clicked on "join" it presented me with a new Password, told me to write it down, then created a network with the Desktop clearly visible & accessible. Desktop also listed itself as "joined" & could access Laptop. Seems I now have a Home Group network, although I have no idea why it worked this time.However, Printers are listed in network / Home Group, but I still cannot access them from the Laptop.I have checked all permissions / passwords, etc. What's the trouble. I really need these printers.Any response appreciated!
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April 5th, 2009 1:12am

Hi, Answers are listed below. 1. Can I connect to both Desktop & Home Server via Home Group? No. Home Group is only for Windows 7 systems. 2. If not, can I connect to Home Server if I am connected to Desktop via Home Group? Yes. Home Group is a new network feature for Windows 7 beta. Additionally, the LAN connection and sharing work as previous Windows systems. 3. If not, how do I disable Home Group? What procedures do I then use for setting up Network via Win7. I think we do not need to disable it. The issue of joining in Home Group and use the shared printer can be caused by several reasons. Could you just add the shared printer by the following method? 1. Click Start, click Control Panel and double click Printers.2. On Keyboard press Alt, then click File->Run as administrator->Add Printer. When UAC window pops up, click Continue to go on. 3. Select "Add a local printer". 4. Select "Create a new port". Choose "Local Port" as the type of the port. 5. In the box "Enter a port name", type the address as the following format. \\[IP address of the host computer]\[The Share Name of the printer] Then click Next. 6. Follow the instruction to finish the installation. During installing, choose the correct driver in the driver list. Additionally, most printer driver installation program can help us to install a shared printer. During the installation, it may prompt that if you would like to install a local printer or a network shard printer. Then select the correct option and finish the installation. To resolve the issue that the computer could not join in Home Group and accessing printer in Home Group receives error code 0x80632094, I suggest that you enable IPv6 Protocol in all of your Windows 7 beta computer. Then let us know the result.Arthur Xie - MSFT
April 7th, 2009 8:25am

I suggest reinstalling Windows 7 and use the corporate networking rather than the home network as the resources you have are not at all suitable for the Windows 7 home networking features. This is due to the way Microsoft has attempted to secure homes who often find themselves with unsecure connections etc. My own shop has a Linksys WRT54G with a Linux machine, and XP machine, a Mac notebook and a Windows 7 machine and everything works fine here including the network printers. IT/Developer, Windows/Linux/Whatever I need a new web server, the antique IBM 300GL has a 137GB disk limit, for my chess site. I wanted to post many more downloadable files, the existing 30GB disk is insufficient.
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April 8th, 2009 12:16am

Sorry, but reinstalling Win7 is a non-starter. If reinstallation is the only fix for my problem, then this OS is not even ready for Beta. Should not have to reinstall to switch from Corp network to Home network.
April 8th, 2009 5:38am

Well you might want to be aware you may need to reinstall from scratch when the RC comes out. I use everything corporate here so picking a business platform was a standard choice. Many companies have bizarre ranges of gear on the LAN not unlike mine. Go to control panel and choose network and sharing center. Choose network where it says home network or work network and chick on it and chose work network. Then reboot and see if that works. IT/Developer, Windows/Linux/Whatever I need a new web server, the antique IBM 300GL has a 137GB disk limit, for my chess site . I wanted to post many more downloadable files, the existing 30GB disk is insufficient.
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April 8th, 2009 7:35am

RESPONSE TO ARTHUR XIE'S LAST POST - you said: To resolve the issue that the computer could not join in Home Group and accessing printer in Home Group receives error code 0x80632094, I suggest that you enable IPv6 Protocol in all of your Windows 7 beta computer. Then let us know the result. NOTE: IPv6 & IPv4 have both been enabled since Win7 install some time ago. Windows Firewall with Advanced Protection is & has been completely disabled in all aspects on both computers. Sharing & Permissions have been enabled for Everyone & their brothers & sisters on all files, printers & other devices, then checked & re-checked. Im not saying all these settings are as they should be, or that I have still not got their settings correct just that, so far as I can tell, there are no impediments in any of these settings to any connection. If you think I should check them again, please give very specific place/setting to check and state the theory behind the request, not just a general shotgun request to check your permissions, thanks. General suggestions are not much help any more. CURRENTLY: HOME GROUP JOINING NO CLOSER SINCE FIRST POST: For the past week, until yesterday, my Desktop had Joined the Home Group but I could not get my Laptop to Join the Home Group. But, Guess What! When I re-booted both machines this morning the Laptop has mysteriously Joined the Home Group, but the Desktop has dropped out!!! I still have that very odd one-person group but now, I am trying to get the Desktop to join the Laptops Home Group, instead of the other way around!! Maybe there really is a Ghost in This Machine When I check my Network from the Laptop, my Desktop share drives and Media, including Video, Photo & Music are all accessible & playable from my Laptop. The USB Printers are also visible, but I cannot connect to them (see below). When I check my Network from the Desktop, my Laptop share drivers and Media, including Video, Photo & Music are all accessible & playable from my Desktop. When I try to Join the Home Group, I get the error message: Windows cannot set up a Home Group on this computer. Error code 0x80070057. Once every so often the message is the same but the error code changes to 0x80090016. (!?) ANOTHER ODD NOTE: Even though I can access drives & media on the Laptop from the Desktop, when I try to use the Remote Desktop Connection to connect to the Laptop, it asks me for a password for the Laptop. I have a password for my account on the Desktop (1 other user), but not for my Laptop. However, RDC refuses to let me connect to my Laptop w/o a password. Since I DO NOT HAVE a password assigned, I cannot connect. But of course, I am already connected another way, so what is the point of not letting me connect without a password which I have never assigned. What the ____ is that all about, anyhow. (I am getting more & more irritated as I write about these inexplicable, illogical, nasty, time wasting obstacles that have cost me a FULL WEEK of not being able to be productive from my laptop. When I was running Vista x64 on both computers I had no network connectivity problems at all. Are you sure this edition is not the Beta of the Beta?? In any event, I really need some more sophisticated suggestions than those have come up so far. Please. **By the way, can someone please explain how there can be only one member of a group? Please, I am serious about wanting to know. I believe the most meanings of the word joined imply that at least two people, units, things, etc., are being brought together. That is clearly not happening here with my Home Group, even though one computer says that that is the case. It would be humorous if it were not so serious a miss-labeling. If one assumes that my Laptop is right, then one could spend a lot of time trying to discover the nature of the second element of the Home Group (clearly NOT my other computer) that has joined as a member but is strangely not listed anywhere. Or, one would wonder whether in fact my second computer had in fact actually joined so that the available label was in error, and spend a lot of time trying to figure out THAT. Clearly, Joined as used here is an equivocal, ambiguous label at best and dead wrong at worst. Either way, it needs to be replaced with a label that provides more specific, accurate information. ** CURRENTLY: PRINTING FROM LAPTOP NO CLOSER SINCE FIRST POST: Sorry, Arthur, but your directions dont work. First, there is no Printers item listed in Control Panel. There is an entry Devices and Printers listed there along with the other +-59 Control Panel items. The same entry is on my Start Menu, two items below Control Panel. (We will ignore for the moment the Print Management Console listed under Administrative Tools). Assuming you meant to say Devices and Printers, I continued with your instructions BUT, if I press ALT key, the entire list disappears immediately! No option given to run as administrator on any right-click, nor is there any File Edit View line on any subsequent screen. Another Ghost in the Machine! So, continuing by other means to the Add Local Printer option, I request the following Local Port Name: \\192.168.1.64\dell mfp or \\192.168.1.64\brother ql-500 and I get the message Access is Denied", but no error code. Same thing if I use the Desktop Name instead of the IP: \\mps-desktop\dell mfp or \\mps-desktop\brother ql-500. However, I do have Print Manager Console permanently sent to Run As Administrator and performing the same sequence of steps you suggest to create a Local Port via that route yield the same negative results. Please help, thanks.
April 8th, 2009 3:01pm

RESPONSE TO VEGAN FANATIC'S LAST POST:Thanks much. If I get really desperate I will. But in the mean time I will keep trying with the current install. At base,my problem is just that one Win7 x64 computer (a desktop) fails to link up via a 1-1 Home Group with another Win7 x64 computer (a laptop)-- forget the printers. The software ought to be able to accomplish that most basic and common of connections w/o resorting a reinstall or a switch to a work network.All I am trying to do is make the elementary network connection via Home Group - a processthat this build of Vista claims to have greatly improved & made easier for the average home user. Well, you couldn't tell it by me...Another reason to persist is that we are beta-testing. I assume that Microsoft would like us to hammer away at these problems that arise, rather than find a convenient work-around. But no matter what course I choose, I thank you for your responses - I appreciate the time you have spentthinking about my problem & welcome any more thoughts & suggestions you may have.p.s. Please see my latest response to Arthur, above for more late-breaking info.
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April 8th, 2009 3:11pm

I am planning to make some comments on my IT forum for others to see, as I have a wide range of gear to work with. Click on some helpfuls please. IT/Developer, Windows/Linux/Whatever I need a new web server, the antique IBM 300GL has a 137GB disk limit, for my chess site . I wanted to post many more downloadable files, the existing 30GB disk is insufficient.
April 8th, 2009 5:33pm

Some of this is still boggling me. From what I've read/heard, W7 will get printer drivers from the printer's base computer now, and install on network boxes, instead of needing drivers installed with human interaction.On the printers computer box, under control panel/devices-printers, right-click the printer, select printer properties, click sharing tab. Do they say 'sharing not supported'? If they say that, it's a driver issue, at least.If it doesn't say that, check through those options.
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April 11th, 2009 12:08pm

I think Art may have meant to say Alt-F. :)
April 11th, 2009 12:10pm

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