I have a Win 7 Home Premium (SP1) (Dell) Desktop PC and a Win 7 Home Premium (SP1) (Dell) Laptop. Both computers connect fine to my Verizon FiOS router (the desktop wired, the laptop wireless). I have tried alternately creating a Home group on each computer. When I create it on the desktop PC, the laptop does not display an option to "join" the home group. When I create the Home group on the laptop (after deleting the Home group created on the desktop), my desktop has a "join" link, but when I "join" the Home group, the laptop will NOT see the desktop (or the wireless HP Officejet printer. (And yes, I typed the Home Group password correctly!) While I may be able to see my desktop from my laptop, I cannot access any files (and all file and printer sharing radio buttons ARE selected). From my desktop, I cannot "see" my laptop. (The desktop PC has McAfee, with firewall enabled. The laptop uses the Windows firewall.) Now, when I disable both firewalls, everything works fine. I can print from the wireless laptop to the wireless printer. From my laptop, I can open and edit files on my desktop. So, is it safe to keep these firewalls permanently disabled and just rely on the firewall built into the router? Or, what are the settings in the McAfee and Windows firewalls that need to be changed so my computers can "see" each other with the firewalls still enabled? I look forward to your useful replies. - Bob

Hi Bob, Regarding Windows Firewall, I hope the following article would help you. HomeGroup and Firewall Interaction http://www.microsoft.com/en-us/download/details.aspx?id=10561 After setting Windows Firewall, you can enable it separate for a test. Regarding MaAfee software, it is a third party software, I suggest contacting MaAfee support for more insights.Niki Han TechNet Community Support

Hi Bob, Regarding Windows Firewall, I hope the following article would help you. HomeGroup and Firewall Interaction http://www.microsoft.com/en-us/download/details.aspx?id=10561 After setting Windows Firewall, you can enable it separate for a test. Regarding MaAfee software, it is a third party software, I suggest contacting MaAfee support for more insights.Niki Han TechNet Community Support

Thank you. I had already downloaded this document. It's a bit too much for me to figure out - so many minute details and settings. Is there any way to simplify this? - BobBob Goldberg