Homegroup Printer sharing woes

MoridinUK · 27 Apr 2017

I have a bunch of pcs, (1 laptop, 2 desktops) at home all running windows 10.

They were happily sharing printers over a homegroup I had set up on computer A my biggest machine.

Now none can print over the network. My printer had vanished form devices but I have got that back, however, they still can't print.

I went to check the homegroup to find none of the pcs are in it anymore. However, they all only have the option to join rather than create a new homegroup. When I try to join I'm told they are joining a homegroup maybe by my local admin user on computer A. This is even while logged on as said local admin user on computer A.

I do not have the password and so nothing can join.

Attempts to connect to the printer across the network fail, though the network pc can manipulate files in other shares.

I'm really confused as to how to proceed. I'm unsure why they can't just use the printer across a workgroup..

Caledon Ken · 27 Apr 2017

Hi MoridinUK.

If I understand correctly your printers are attached to what you call Computer A.

Have you considered just placing your printers on the network, directly, so Computer A doesn't need to be turned on?

I assume you set your Homegroup up on computer A. Right click on the network icon in the systray, click on Open Network and Sharing and you should see Homegroup in the lower left corner. If you click on it there should be an option to get password.

It may just be easier to throw in the towel, delete all Homegroups on all machines and then create a new Homegroup.

I don't share printers this way but one other item to check, open up Settings, Devices, Printers, click on your printer, click on Manage, click on printer properties. There should be a tab called sharing. Not sure but I think this has to be enabled.

Ken

MoridinUK · 29 Apr 2017

Thanks Ken,

Only one of my printers can run on the network itself, and I'm unable to place it neat the hub to use the cat 5 to do so, so sadly that isn't an option for me,

The homegroup was set up on comp A but comp A no longer thinks it is a member and I can find no options for deleting or creating a new one.

I have put a manual share on the printer already, there was a second issue that is caused by win10 not 'seeing' the printer as it is set up on HP Dot4 port. If I swtich it to USB I get to see it in devices and printers but it wont work! sigh...

I can currently print so I'm unlikely to prod it again, I ended up ripping our every reference to the printers and starting again.

Thanks for your help though!

Caledon Ken · 30 Apr 2017

Interesting. If you go Start=>Setting => Network and Internet. On the status page there is a link to Homegroup.

There is a Homegroup trouble shooter you may wish to explore and of course the "Network Reset" well below the Homegroup link.

If you right click the network icon in systray, the "Change advance sharing options" (upper left) you will see the heading Private. If you expand you will see a heading on Homegroup.

I also understanding leaving it alone. Good luck.

Ken