Hi group,First, I have to admit I made a mistake when installing Windows 7 - I created a homegroup on both PCs, with the same passowrd, instead of creating one on the first, and letting the second join.Windows 7 RC (x64) is installed on a desktop PC and a notebook. Both have access to the internet, they can see each other under "Network" in Explorer, shared folders are visible - great!Problem #1 is the firewall (ESET anti-virus and firewall), that I have to disable to have the two machines see each other - does anyone know which ports are needed?Problem #2 is a strange one. With the firewall, and any other protection, completely switched off on both machines, I create a homegroup on one machine, try to join on the other one - and it fails, without further explanation. The two see each other, on the one that is trying to join I see that the right user (me) has created a homegroup on the right machine, I enter the password - and it fails.The Troubleshooter doesn't help, I tried everything suggested, it makes no difference. I leave the homegroup on the machine where I created the homegroup, reboot both machines, disable every possible protection, and create a homegroup on the other machine - exactly the same result. I have repeated the whole process a few times over the weekend, the result is allways the same.Any suggestions?Cheers!Harold

You'll have to go into ESET's Advanced setup and put your firewall on either Interactive, Automatic with exceptions (user defined rules), or Learning mode. I've had good luck with Interactive mode. If your using just plain Automatic mode that's 90% of the problem.Since HomeGroup uses the IPv6 over TCP/IP Protocal, you'll have to create a custom rule (or rules) on all the systems partaking in the HomeGroup environment. Since I'm not interested in using HomeGroup (my system's the only one on our network with Windows 7) I really can't give you exact details of how you need to configure the rules. You'll have to experiment like I had to do. I couldn't see any of the systems on our standardnetwork nor could the other systems see me. It was all the ESET Firewall's doing. Windows 7 had nothing to do with it apparently. Finally got the right rules made up in the ESET Firewall and was able to network with the other systems again.GA P35 DQ6 Mb, Intel Wolfdale 8600 3.33Ghz C2D CPU., 4x2Gb Mushkin DDR2 1066 PC2 8500 Ascents Memory Mods., PNY-nVidia GE Force 8800 GTS (640MB), 4-Western Digital Caviar SATA(2) HDD's (internal), 1 EIDE-USB External; Hauppauge PVR 1600 TV tuner, Dual Monitor: (1) Standard up top, (1) WideScreen below; Altec Lansign Speakers...

Thanks, problem solved!It is indeed not a Windoes 7 problem - but it helps to get the information which services the Windows 7 homegroup uses to configure the firewall, and that is exactly what I got here.Enabling traffic for Netbios and IPv6 within the trusted zone solved the problem - and I guess that will apply to any non-Windows firewall, not just the ESET firewall.If ESET users are interested, I could post a step-by-step guide how to make the neccessary changes.Thanks again for the help!Harold

^Please do, am having real issues trying to get ESET to work with homegroups, a TUT would be much appreciated. Thanks in advance

I have been trying to resolve the same issue with Eset Smart Security and HomeGroup.Please do post a step-by-step guide.Thanks,Mike

Yes, please!! Have not been able to configure ESET to allow me to join a homegroup. Would appreciate the help!

step-by-step guide, pleaseEdit: fine, I gave up :(

All,Sorry it took so long, other priorities came in the way, and the solution I thought would be working did not work, so I had to find another one.You may also read this thread, where I got the following solution from (credit where credit is due!): http://www.wilderssecurity.com/showthread.php?t=240619&highlight=homegroupFirst, a word of warning: This solution is by no means guaranteed to be safe, you do it at your own risk,and it might increase the vulnerability of your network. I'm not saying it is the right solution, or that it will work everywhere anytime, all I can say that it works (nicely) for me.Without further ado:- Open the "ESET Smart Security 4" window.- Click on "Setup"- Click on "Personal firewall" on the left pane- Click on "Advanced personal firewall setup" on the bottom of the right pane- Find "Personal firewall" in the tree view, select "IDS and advanced options"- Under "Intrusion detection", uncheck "TCP port scanningattack prevention" and "Block unsafe addresses after detection"- Okay the window, close the SmartSecurity window, reboot, and try it it works!Hope it does - good luck!Harold