When Windows 7 was first released I installed it on a computer named VISTA01. During the installation I setup a Homegroup. As I added new Windows 7 computers to the network I always did NOT add the new computer to the Homegroup. In other words, the only computer to ever join the Homegroup was the first Windows 7 computer (VISTA01). Several months ago VISTA01 died and went to computer heaven. I have no idea what the Homegroup password was as the only time it was ever used was in the inital setup. I would now like to give Homegroup a try, but I cannot as I do not know what the original password that was used to set up the Homegroup. None of the computers can tell me what pasword to use as they never joined the Homegroup. They do however inform me to get the password from VISTA01 which I as I said earlier is dead and buried. I do not get the display password prompts that everybody offers as a solution. I do get the offer to join the Homegroup on all the computers, but to do so I need the unobtainable Homegroup password. So how do I remove all references to VISTA01 from the current computers on my network and how do I reset the unknown password so I can create a new Homegroup.Bud - Alameda, CA

Hi, First, please make sure that the VISTA01 was quitted from your home network. After that, please refer to the steps in the following link to create a new homegroup: HomeGroup from start to finish Note: In Windows 7 Starter and Windows 7 Home Basic, you can join a homegroup, but you can’t create one. If there is any issue encountered, please check if the suggestions in the following article helps: Why can't I create a homegroup? Regards, Sabrina TechNet Subscriber Support in forum. If you have any feedback on our support, please contact tngfb@microsoft.comThis posting is provided "AS IS" with no warranties or guarantees, and confers no rights. |Please remember to click Mark as Answer on the post that helps you, and to click Unmark as Answer if a marked post does not actually answer your question. This can be beneficial to other community members reading the thread.

Been there, done that without success. However, I just tried again. At Step 1 #2, I do not get the option to create a new Homegroup, I get the option to join a group for which I do not have a password for. When I request the password from Windows Explorer, the display flickers and returns to the original screen I requested to view the password from. Microsoft Fix-It found no problems and reported that Homegroup was available Services are all up and running as needed The original Homegroup was set up on the day Windows 7 RTM was released on Technet. No other computer has ever joined the Homegroup. The computer that the Homegroup was created on died and is in computer heaven. In other words none of the current computers have ever been a Homegroup member. They cannot be removed because they were never added yet they all tell me that "<username> on VISTA01 (the original computer name) has created a Homegroup on the network". The computer then is given a choice to "Join Now" or "Cancel". Seeing that the password is unknown, the only option is to cancel. It would be my guess that since none of these have ever joined the Homegroup, none of them would know what the join password is. This would explain why I just get a screen flicker when I ask to view password from Windows Explorer. It has nothing to display. I think what is needed is a method to somehow reset the network so that it thinks that Homegroup has never been associated in any way, shape or form with the network.Bud - Alameda, CA

Hi, You may try to delete your network profile in your Windows 7 computers to test this issue. References: Create or modify network profiles Win 7 HomeGroup. Can HomeGroup be completely reset i.e. remove the creator so that another HomeGroup can be formed? Regards, Sabrina TechNet Subscriber Support in forum. If you have any feedback on our support, please contact tngfb@microsoft.comThis posting is provided "AS IS" with no warranties or guarantees, and confers no rights. |Please remember to click Mark as Answer on the post that helps you, and to click Unmark as Answer if a marked post does not actually answer your question. This can be beneficial to other community members reading the thread.

Hi, Just want to say Hi, and I was wondering how everything is going. If anything is unclear, please let me know. It is my pleasure to be of assistance. Regards, Sabrina TechNet Subscriber Support in forum. If you have any feedback on our support, please contact tngfb@microsoft.comThis posting is provided "AS IS" with no warranties or guarantees, and confers no rights. |Please remember to click Mark as Answer on the post that helps you, and to click Unmark as Answer if a marked post does not actually answer your question. This can be beneficial to other community members reading the thread.