Trouble setting up homegroup on local network?

flycaster · 02 Oct 2017

I have a desktop (DT) and a portable (P)-both HPs and running the same Windows 10. I believe that I have followed all instructions well, but get confusing instructions when I go to add the P to the DT (main computer). Here's what i did: I set up a homegroup on the DT and got its password. I then opened the P and got to where I clicked "join homegroup." At this point I was prompted and confused when prompted to put in a password for the P and not the DT??? I do have homegroup PWs for both computers. Could it be that I had also tried to set up a homegroup with the P...and thus it also had a homegroup PW??? I think it may be best to get out of the P's homegroup setup and start over again. If a good idea, I don't know how to get out of P's homegroup setup.

cereberus · 02 Oct 2017

I find Homegroups more trouble than they are worth. I just set up conventional network shares on each pc, which means you can connect androids etc as well.

I set up each pc on my network as follows in three screenshots. I actually turn off passwords as I am only person on the newtwork.

Obviously, use passwords if you want to restrict others accessing your drives.

You then simply set up appropriate drives and folders as shared.

Trouble setting up homegroup on local network?-image.png

flycaster · 02 Oct 2017

If I set up network sharing, just what do I get? Here's what I think: Each computer so set up will be able to view what's on the other computer, but won't be able to transfer date from one to the other??? Also, with homegroup setup, is data is transferable between computers???

EDIT: Somehow I think I just made a network hookup between the computers. Will it be possible for P to access the browser in the DT? I think not.

cereberus · 02 Oct 2017

flycaster said:

If I set up network sharing, just what do I get? Here's what I think: Each computer so set up will be able to view what's on the other computer, but won't be able to transfer date from one to the other??? Also, with homegroup setup, is data is transferable between computers???

EDIT: Somehow I think I just made a network hookup between the computers. Will it be possible for P to access the browser in the DT? I think not.

Network share are just external drives on another computer instead of say a usb drive. You can certainly transfer data, open files directly on shared drive e.g. word documents.

Many companies use File Servers which are basically a computer which you have network shares to (the File Server may use Windows, Linux or even bespoke OSs).

As a rule, you cannot run programs on other device unless the program is a portable version (e.g. one that can run off a flash drive without actually being installed on a particular device). There are portable versions of browsers that you might be able to access for example.

Homegroups are no different from network shares except they are supposed to be easier to setup, and are restricted to Windows.

Networks shares can be accessed by any OS that conforms to SMB protocols (as android does). I have shared folders on my pc that I can copy/stream files to/from android over wifi.

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