Re-install Homegroup

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  1. Posts : 65
    Win10
       #1

    Re-install Homegroup


    Hi all,

    I help in a small school which has 6 laptops and one desktop. All running Win10 Pro fully updated. Each machine has one user account (for all pupils), and an admin account (password protected for staff only). I set up a homegroup from the desktop machine to allow pupils to share their files. I was logged in as administrator when I did this which means that the laptops view the admin account rather than the user account of the desktop which was not intended.

    The desktop is connected to the router directly by ethernet cable, the laptops connect via wifi.

    My question is, do I need to remove the old homegroup (and if so, how) before I re-install the homegroup as before but this time logged in as user on the desktop?
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  2. Posts : 9,765
    Mac OS Catalina
       #2

    What you need to do is use a NAS for storing the student files on and assign a username and password for their files to stay on the NAS and the assigned folder on their computer made to look local, but mapped to the folder on the NAS as their F: drive.
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  3. Posts : 65
    Win10
    Thread Starter
       #3

    bro67 said:
    What you need to do is use a NAS for storing the student files on and assign a username and password for their files to stay on the NAS and the assigned folder on their computer made to look local, but mapped to the folder on the NAS as their F: drive.
    We dont want the expense of a NAS device. I can see it would work though.
      My Computer


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

    keithjr said:
    We dont want the expense of a NAS device. I can see it would work though.
    A NAS is insurance to make sure that you have a copy of what you need to make sure that if the student does the wrong thing, you have a backup. You can use a computer with FreeNAS or even find a good low end unit that is certified as being still within mfg spec’s. The huge plus would be that you can access the unit offsite if you need to look over their work.

    Home Group is not intended for what you are dand as you have stated, it is a huge headache.
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  5. Posts : 65
    Win10
    Thread Starter
       #5

    bro67 said:
    A NAS is insurance to make sure that you have a copy of what you need to make sure that if the student does the wrong thing, you have a backup. You can use a computer with FreeNAS or even find a good low end unit that is certified as being still within mfg spec’s. The huge plus would be that you can access the unit offsite if you need to look over their work.

    Home Group is not intended for what you are dand as you have stated, it is a huge headache.
    Well ok maybe I can promote the idea. In the meantime if we forget the file sharing idea for the moment, is the homegroup required in order to share the printer which has ethernet connection to our router
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  6. Posts : 1,471
    Win10 Home x64 - 1809
       #6

    Hey keithjr,
    If you wish to continue using Home Group ...
    I would remove the Home Group you setup on the desktop with the admin account. To do this, have ALL PC's leave the current Home Group you setup and once that is done, the Home Group should no longer exist. Then you should be able to create a new Home Group under the correct user on the desktop.

    See this tutorial ... Leave Homegroup in Windows 10 Network Sharing Tutorials
      My Computers


  7. Posts : 65
    Win10
    Thread Starter
       #7

    Eagle51 said:
    Hey keithjr,
    If you wish to continue using Home Group ...
    I would remove the Home Group you setup on the desktop with the admin account. To do this, have ALL PC's leave the current Home Group you setup and once that is done, the Home Group should no longer exist. Then you should be able to create a new Home Group under the correct user on the desktop.

    See this tutorial ... Leave Homegroup in Windows 10 Network Sharing Tutorials
    That sounds simple enough - will give it a go. Can you clarify - should the printer driver be installed only on the desktop, and NOT on any of the laptops? In the past the printer has been installed on the laptops, so I think it needs removing where its installed. Also the desktop will need to be up and running (not asleep?) for printer sharing to work? Sorry for so many basic questions
      My Computer


  8. Posts : 1,471
    Win10 Home x64 - 1809
       #8

    should the printer driver be installed only on the desktop, and NOT on any of the laptops? In the past the printer has been installed on the laptops, so I think it needs removing where its installed. Also the desktop will need to be up and running (not asleep?) for printer sharing to work?
    Sorry, I don't know ... never used the Home Group Printer sharing. I don't even use Home Group anymore, too much of a pain
      My Computers


  9. Posts : 65
    Win10
    Thread Starter
       #9

    Eagle51 said:
    Sorry, I don't know ... never used the Home Group Printer sharing. I don't even use Home Group anymore, too much of a pain
    So how do I share the printer without a homegroup?
      My Computer


  10. Posts : 9,765
    Mac OS Catalina
       #10

    keithjr said:
    Well ok maybe I can promote the idea. In the meantime if we forget the file sharing idea for the moment, is the homegroup required in order to share the printer which has ethernet connection to our router
    A Home Group is not intended for what you are trying to do. It was basically another failed attempt by Microsoft in trying to believe that it could make folder sharing easier, which it does not.

    Stick with standard network sharing, with all shared folders by the students, use a specific username and password for them when they log in, that would allow them to access the mapped folder that would appear as a personal folder mapped to their My Documents or My Files folder, however you name it. Making it say F:, would keep it where each folder is only available to that user who is given the username and password, to access, which they would not have to enter, since you could do it through a script when they log into their machines.

    Even a Raspberry PI can be used for a Samba shares with a 1TB or even 120GB USB drive, if they are not saving large files.
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