I have 4 PCs (Desktop, fileserver, Linux machine, and laptop) all connected to a local network called KEITHJ. It works fine between Windows 2000, XP Pro, and Mandriva etc.Windows 7 won't let me set up a connection to it. The only offer is to create a "WORKGROUP" that everything else has to connect to. That's not the way I want to go. Clicking on "Connect to a network" just pops up the icon from the system tray. "Set up a network" brings up a blank box which is supposed to be the list of networks it can see.I'm sure it's very simple, but how do I get Windows 7 to connect to the network? If I boot the same machine to XP Pro, the network is there, working fine.

SORTED!For anyone else who has the same problem...Click on the start blob, then in the search box type AdvancedOne of the options is "View advanced system settings"Run that.Click "Computer Name" at the top of the box that opens.Click "To rename this computer or change its domain or workgroup..."Change the name of the workgroup to the one that already exists.YES your way out, and reboot the computer.

I eventually found where to change my local workgroup name on my test Windows 7 Build 7000 pc. It was annoying that Win7 did not detect the existing workgroup name and ask if I would like to join it. The "Home Network" setting did not seem to allow one to change a workgroup name at all. It expected one to change all other computers to match its settings. This needs improvement!When using the "Work Network" settings, I eventually found the Advanced Settings and changed the "Workgroup" to my existing group name.After rebooting, I could easily connect to XP shared folders. I could drill down and "see" files on my Vista Business 32 bit pc but could not access files and was told I did not have the correct permission to copy or open the files. Odd, I can copy and do everything from an XP pc but not from the Win7 test pc when looking at files on a Vista unit.