Started working with my laptop and desktop tonight to find that neither machine can locate the other over the homegroup. Both machines are running win7 beta. I left the homegroup on both computers, created a new one on the desktop and now neither machine is recognizing the other. Anybody else have this issue come up? Tonight in particular?

Hi, What is the symptom? Can you see the computer each other? If you cannot access the other computer. What is the error message? I suggest that you launch Network and Sharing Center, click Change advanced sharing settings. Enable every options. Also please create same user/password on the two computers and log on with it. Please let us know if the issue is resolved. If it persists, temporary disable the anti-virus and firewall. Arthur Xie - MSFT

Yes, I am having this same issue; I just installed Windows 7 on a second computer yesterday, joined a Homegroup I created on the first computer, and they could see each other for about one minute... After that, they could never again detect each other. I made sure that the password is matching, I currently have no antivirus installed, and all advanced sharing options are enabled.I also checked the "Share with media devices" section and each computer shows up on the other's safe list... Seems this might have been caused by a Windows Update, as it was working before I Checked for and installed the latest updates.By the way, there is no error message. It just says Homegroup, 0 items. When I right click Homegroup in the left pane, there are no configuration options, only "Open in New Window" and "Delete". I also turned off the Firewall, no change.Edit: Also tried both computers over wireless, and both computers plugged into network... No difference.

I had a problem using Windows 7 and Windows Home Server together. I could not see the shares on Windows Home Server from Windows 7.

Any update on this? One of the main reasons I installed Windows 7 on a second computer was so I would be able to share media easier across computers over the network via Homegroup, and it's not even working?

Hi, Can you access the other computer after entering \\Computer name in the Start Search box? If the connection fails, please make sure that you have set the same username/password. Also again check if Network Discovery is turned on. If the settings are all correct, I suggest that you temporary disable firewall including Windows Firewall and anti-virus on both computers (not only on the Windows 7 computer). If the above suggestions do not help, please enter \\IP address in the Start Search box to access the other computer, and let us know the result. Also please let us know the system of the other computer. Arthur Xie - MSFT

Arthur Xie said:Hi, Can you access the other computer after entering \\Computer name in the Start Search box? If the connection fails, please make sure that you have set the same username/password. Also again check if Network Discovery is turned on. If the settings are all correct, I suggest that you temporary disable firewall including Windows Firewall and anti-virus on both computers (not only on the Windows 7 computer). If the above suggestions do not help, please enter \\IP address in the Start Search box to access the other computer, and let us know the result. Also please let us know the system of the other computer. Arthur Xie - MSFTBoth laptops are using Windows 7, and I have tried to diagnose this connection problem both via wireless and hardwire, with no change. I tried to enter \\Computer name as you suggested, and it says Logon failure: unknown user name or bad password. It tells me to enter my network password to connect to the other computer, where the username is apparently "CHRIS-NBX7\AlphaUser$". The main problem is, from what I understood, having the Windows HomeGroup connections set to "Allow Windows HomeGroup to manage homegroup connections" would let the two computers connect to each other's "Trusted Content" without having to have the same username and password... And, that's how it worked, up until February 20th. I did not have to enter a username or password when connecting; All I had to do was join the homegroup using the homegroup password, once, and from then on whenever both computers were on they would automatically show all shared content on each other. Shouldn't each computer user be able to have their own unique, personal computers and be able to log into their own User name to access trusted content? We should not have to log out of our main user name, and log back in under a "common" username/password just to access each other's files, and that's how it used to work... I could click on HomeGroup in the left pane, and it would show the computer name as a drill down, then in the main right pane it would show Music, Pictures, etc from the other computer. It was easy. So why did this change all of the sudden?As far as I know, Network Discovery is turned on, but if you could please direct me to where I could verify this. I also did disable firewall and antivirus, and there was no change. When I type IPCONFIG in CMD, I noticed that it says "Media Disconnected", though I am connected via wireless and able to access any website. There are no parental controls, or antivirus, or firewall that I have that would limit this. Not sure if that makes a difference...? I have not tried to enter the IP Address of the other computer, because I don't know it, but Im guessing that would get me the same results as typing in the computer name... Asking me to log on via AlphaUser.

Hi, Since you could not get any information from IPconfig, I suspect that the connections are not configured properly. Please let us know how the computers connected with both wireless and wired connections. Are they connect to Internet via a router, or one of them is directly connected to Internet? Then, I suggest that you remove the driver of the wired or wireless connection, and then reinstall the driver. 1. Click Start. In the Start Search box type "devmgmt.msc" and press Enter.2. Expand "Network Adapters", double-click on the entry of the network device.3. Click the tab "Driver", click "Uninstall".4. Click Start. In the Start Search box type "appwiz.cpl" and press Enter. 5. Remove the entries related to the wireless network adapter.6. Reinstall the driver with the downloaded latest driver installation pack.Arthur Xie - MSFT

NO!!!!! That is not the "Answer". I deleted the drivers, ethernet and wireless, on BOTH computers, went to manufacturers websites and downloaded/installed the newest drivers, and now I get error code 0x8007012f. Now I can't even make a Homegroup at all, it's even worse than before. These people are all having the same problem:http://www.sevenforums.com/network-internet/2479-cant-join-homegroup-3.htmlPlease post the ACTUAL solution here ASAP or I will be uninstalling Windows 7!

venomshot629 said: NO!!!!! That is not the "Answer". I deleted the drivers, ethernet and wireless, on BOTH computers, went to manufacturers websites and downloaded/installed the newest drivers, and now I get error code 0x8007012f. Now I can't even make a Homegroup at all, it's even worse than before. These people are all having the same problem:http://www.sevenforums.com/network-internet/2479-cant-join-homegroup-3.htmlPlease post the ACTUAL solution here ASAP or I will be uninstalling Windows 7!I had almost the same problem. I would see allthe network computers and after awhile they were gone ( one WHS and one XPpro ). Since I was desperate I just went to control panel -> Network& Sharing Center ->Choose homegroup and sharing options ->Change advanced sharing settings. There I turned everything off from what it was marked. I restarted the system went into it again as I outlined above and turned everything back on. I againrestarted the system and a miracle happened: All worked as supposed.I again had access to all workgroup computers files and printers. After two weeks it is still working. I however would try firstto turn off 'Turn off network discovery' and change 'Allow Windows Home Group manage homegroup connections' restart and remark as outlined above and restart again.I hope it works for you as it did for me.

Actually, your restarting technique is probably close to the global fix for this problem in general...I read on another forum that Homegroup is definitely not what one would consider "plug-and-play" yet, and requires several restarts.The fix for Homegroup between Windows 7 Computers, which worked for me, is the following:1. If you have already tried Homegroup and still have it currently enabled, have both computers leave the HomeGroup and restart the computer. In advanced sharing settings, it is a good idea to have most settings on or enabled aside from Public folder sharing.2. Next, have one computer start a new Homegroup.3. Have the second computer join the new Homegroup (it shouldn't matter here whether you change the password or not). 4. After the second computer has given you a message that it has joined, restart both computers. 5. Upon restarting both machines, Homegroup should now be working and there should be no more issues.