Windows No Longer Detects a Homegroup


  1. Posts : 516
    win10
       #1

    Windows No Longer Detects a Homegroup


    my boys want to play minecraft on the lan.

    so i create a homegroup. with their machines switched off.

    then i switch on their machines and see the message that i've created a homegroup.

    so i click 'join' and input the password.

    and both machines give me an error message that they 'no longer see a homegroup'.

    that's a bit weird isn't it?

    we all have IPv6 enabled. the connection is wifi. the router has IPv6 enabled, each machine says so.

    i have run the network and the homegroup troublemakers.. no luck.

    any suggestions?
      My Computer


  2. Posts : 9,765
    Mac OS Catalina
       #2

    Homegroup has zero to do with using programs between two or more computers on a network. It is just for allowing the access of the libraries on Windows 7, 8.x and 10.x OS. If you have the native Windows firewall or a third party security software, it can stop Minecraft from working. There is a huge forum relating to Minecraft and along with how to use a third machine and even a Raspberry Pi as a server.

    You also do not need IPv6 to play games between machines.
      My Computer


  3. Posts : 516
    win10
    Thread Starter
       #3

    Thanks for that. Good to know. The homegroup thing totally besides the point, eh? Good.

    As it happens I was able to fix the homegroup thing - I left all the machines switched on with the 'failed to connect' machines still showing that window.

    Then I went back to my machine and quit the homegroup. then I was able to create a new homegroup. And I got a new password.

    I went back to the other machines and closed the 'error window' which revealed the input password screen. I input the new password and after a moment got 'you are connected'.

    So that's that.

    So back to minecraft (which wasn't the subject of this query, just background info). My boys tell me they can't get it going. So I'll look for the reason for that somewhere in the network setup.

    I simply hadn't realised there was a clear distinction between homegroup and network. So one still needs the network setup in win10? The similarity between words: 'homegroup' and 'workgroup' was enough to confuse me. I never thought much about it but I guess generally thought win10 homegroups were the win10 network.

    so I'd guess i should look at firewalls and anti virus for starters.. and consult minecraft forums...

    thankyou.

    :)
      My Computer


  4. Posts : 9,765
    Mac OS Catalina
       #4

    Home Group does not allow Minecraft to work. It is only for connecting to shared libraries, which are shortcuts to a user "My" folders (ie My Documents, My Pictures, etc.). You should not have any firewalls running on machines within your network behind the Gateway. If they are connecting to an outside server, there can be a limit to the fact that you only have one IP to share and game servers will not allow two machines to connect with the same IP.
      My Computer


  5. Posts : 516
    win10
    Thread Starter
       #5

    bro67 said:
    Home Group does not allow Minecraft to work
    but does it stop it from working?

    It is only for connecting to shared libraries, which are shortcuts to a user "My" folders (ie My Documents, My Pictures, etc.).
    That's absolutely all it does? Cripes. I hate that user folders/shortcuts feature. I just find it needless complication and source of confusion. a simple directory tree is all I require.

    And across the LAN we do virtually nothing ( just a family at home here ) only I may copy some files/apps onto family machines from time to time.

    Sounds like I might as well totally disable/uninstall Homegroups and lessen complication all around?

    You should not have any firewalls running on machines within your network behind the Gateway. If they are connecting to an outside server,
    'they' ? who? the apps/games or the firewalls? minecraft connects to an outside server, of course (what little i know about it - i've never played it) but when playing on the LAN I believe it is then not connecting with the minecraft servers out on the web.

    there can be a limit to the fact that you only have one IP to share and game servers will not allow two machines to connect with the same IP.
    minecraft game servers allow two machines on the LAN to play their web based game via their web servers because, of course, they are messaging machines through the local router via NAT tables.

    When playing the game locally, on the LAN, which is what we're trying to achieve, I suppose the machines address each other using local IP's 10.x.x.x in this case.

    Have I misunderstood anything?

    I use Windows Explorer as my first check of LAN connectivity. If I can see a machine there I assume basically the LAN is configured right.

    Then I look to see files and if I can't I assume there's a problem with sharing/permissions.

    Would you accept that as a valid methodology?

    If not, then how do you think I'd be better to proceed?


    Right here and now I can see all four of the family's machines - three win10 and one win7. And can see the user directories on the win10 machines.

    So where to look for the minecraft connectivity problem I don't quite know right now....

    :)

    p.s. (maybe) that's funny. my wife reports no internet from her win7 machine. I check a ping from cmd and address not found - no dns it looks like.

    and my son comes and tells me he has no internet on his win10 machine.

    and yet I post my reply and it goes okay - and even this edit will go.. perhaps?

    how does win10 do this? have internet and not have it?
      My Computer


  6. Posts : 9,765
    Mac OS Catalina
       #6

    Home Group has zero to do with network connectivity. It is just an interface that secures connection between shared "libraries" that are folder shortcuts for personal folder items. Basically a key and a lock to allow only those into that particular home group shared libraries, which is really not good to begin with.

    You need to look at the setup of the Minecraft installs on the machines, are they trying to connect to the same server or different servers. If so, then we are looking at a single IP only issue. If on the network and playing between each other, this is a good chance to show them how to setup and run a Minecraft server on a Raspberry Pi 3.

    How to Build a Minecraft Server with Raspberry Pi 3 | Linux.com | The source for Linux information
    Setting up a s blog
    Dead Easy Raspberry Pi Minecraft Server Tutorial - Pi My Life Up

    As for no internet connection, sounds like the boys are being boys and trying to troubleshoot the problems on their own. Just keep a back up of their hard drives and let them figure it out with them teaching you. If they run into an issue in learning how to fix their issue, help by helping to try the most obvious. That is to make sure that they have not turned off or deleted stuff, try a Linux Live DVD like Linux Mint to make sure that the computers can still connect to the network.

    All machines no network connection or outside, start with the Gateway and work backwards, with the Linux Live DVD to help make sure that the boys have not been changing things on the router or computers to try and fix their issues on their own.
      My Computer


 

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