Solved Unable to join HomeGroup

I am having problems setting up a Homegroup which I would like to do so that I can use one external hard drive for backing up data etc from two Windows 8 computers. Although I am still running a third desktop with Windows Vista, I will remove that computer once all is up and running on the two Windows 8 computers as I realize Vista cannot join the Homegroup. The following is the computer information and troubleshooting steps done so far:

Currently running three desktop computers:

Windows VISTA Home Premium SP2
Computer Name: Shark
Workgroup: Workgroup

Windows 8
Computer Name: DRB-ASUS
Workgroup: Workgroup

Windows 8 64-bit
Computer Name: SAM-ASUS
Workgroup: Workgroup

Computers are currently networked through a router/modem.

Both Windows 8 computers are able to create a Homegroup, but no matter which computer creates the Homegroup, the other Windows 8 computer is unable to see the Homegroup and therefore cannot join it, even though neither computer is asleep nor hibernating. There is no error message, just the information that there is no Homegroup available to be joined.

Troubleshooting:

Both computers networks are configured as Private Network.

Computer clocks are synchronized on all computers.

All computers are connected by Ethernet rather than wireless.

Sharing: On both Windows 8 computers, the following sharing is configured – Private has network discovery turned on with automatic setup of network connected devices ticked; file and printer sharing is turned on; Windows is allowed to manage homegroup connections. Guest or Public – network discovery is turned on; file and printer sharing is turned on. All Networks – public folder sharing is turned on; file sharing connections uses 128-bit encryption; password protected sharing is turned off. When creating HomeGroups from either Windows 8 computer in an attempt to link, sharing was turned on for Pictures, Videos, Music and Documents.

In Administrative Tools / Services, both Windows 8 computers have the following files shown as running: DNS Client, Function Discovery Provider Host, Function Discovery Resource Publication, Homegroup Listener, Homegroup Provider, Network List Service Peer Name Resolution Protocol, Peer Networking Grouping, Peer Networking Identity Manager, Server, SSDP Discovery, and UPnP Device Host.

Both Windows 8 computers have the network connection adapter settings turned on in the properties for the following: File and Printer Sharing for Microsoft Networks, Internet Protocol Version 6, and Internet Protocol Version 4. In the Ethernet Status window however, both computers show IPv4 Connectivity as Internet, but IPv6 Connectivity as No Internet access. I am not sure what this means or whether it matters.

I have run the Homegroup Troubleshooter (including the Network Troubleshooter) on both computers with no resolution of the problem.

I have temporarily disabled the firewall and anti-virus, anti-spyware software on both Windows 8 computers to no avail. (Both computers have Total Defense Security Software installed and running.)

I noted two interesting items but am not knowledgeable enough to interpret. The name of the private network is different on one Windows 8 computer. It is called Beekeeper (the name of the router-modem) whereas the other two computers (Windows 8 and Vista) show the name Network 2. The first Windows 8 computer was initially named Network (as opposed to Network 2) and changed to Beekeeper when I connected it via wifi in an attempt to standardize the name of the network on all three. Now although I`ve reconnected by Ethernet, the name remains as Beekeeper and did not revert to Network.

Also the current sharing through the network is weird. When viewing in Windows Explorer under Network, all three computers see all default and public folders but vary regarding the individual user folders:
Vista computer (Network 2) and Windows 8 (Beekeeper) can see the user folders for each other but neither can see the other Windows 8 (Network 2) user folders. Windows 8 (Network 2) can see the user folders for all three computers.

I am by no means an expert user and have no idea how to resolve this problem. Any assistance would be greatly appreciated.

Hello Sam, and welcome to Eight Forums.

Unfortunately, only PCs running Windows 7 or Windows 8/8.1 are able to create or join a homegroup together. Vista will not be able to join.

For the Windows 8 PCs, double check through the items listed in the tutorials below to see if it may help.

http://www.eightforums.com/tutorials/15824-homegroup-create-windows-8-a.html

http://www.eightforums.com/tutorials/15831-homegroup-join-windows-8-a.html

Thanks for the quick response Brink. I don't plan to include the Vista computer in the HomeGroup. I am just trying to link the two Windows 8 computers by HomeGroup. I will check through the links you provided although I feel I have probably exhausted all tips I was able to find on the internet.

I reviewed these two links prior to posting my question but neither one was helpful or addressed the issue I seem to be experiencing. Any other ideas?

You can set up the regular Home Network:
http://www.eightforums.com/network-...-network-each-cant-see-others.html#post211075

Hello Sam, If you are interested in fixing the Homegroup problem please post a screen shot of the ipconfig/all from each machine if you can please.

Thank you topgundcp. The computers are already linked through a home network. I was hoping to link the two Windows 8 computers through a HomeGroup as it is my understanding that would make it easy to use one external hard drive linked to only one of the computers to automatically back up both computers through Windows 8 File History. The regular home network does not have this feature, as far as I understand and I would have to find another way to back up the second computer.

Thank you chev65. Obtaining and posting the ipconfig/all files from all three computers is a little out of my comfort zone but I am attempting to do so.



If I have done this incorrectly, perhaps you can refer me to a site that will assist me.

Thanks for your feedback.

The first one appears to be missing some tunnel adaptors and the IPv6 protocol is completely missing from the ipconfig which is rather strange.

Which machine is the first ipconfig from?

The first one is from the desktop running Vista. I know I'm unable to include that one in the HomeGroup and I have not been trying to do that. I am actually migrating from that computer to one of the new ones with Windows 8 and will no longer use the Vista computer once I have the two new computers linked by a HomeGroup and have transferred over my data. I simply provided information on all three computers as they are all connected through the home network.

The Vista machine explains it fine.

It sounds like you did your homework on this. The problem you are describing isn't typical at all so I'm suspecting that a third party program is involved.

Are you able to leave the Homegroup that you have created? Best to leave the Homegroup on both machines for now.

There may be some corrupted files in Peer Networking Grouping which may required deletion although that problem is usually related to not being able to leave a Homegroup rather than joining one. Cannot create Homegroup, Only Join... - Windows 7 Help Forums

There may be something blocking the Homegroup from being picked up, the total defense security is the most likely suspect in these cases.

What puzzles me is that, through the Home Network (rather than the unsuccessful HomeGroup), the Vista desktop and one Windows 8 desktop are able to see each other's "individual" user folder, but neither can see the "individual" user folder on the second Windows 8 desktop. That second Windows 8 desktop, however, is able to view "individual" user folders on both of the other computers. The two Windows 8 computers were purchased together and, as far as I know, were configured the same. It doesn't seem logical that the security software would allow visibility one way but not the other when I've done everything I can to configure the software the same on both computers. ?? I'm certainly at the extent of my average computer skills at this point.

Sam3 said:

What puzzles me is that, through the Home Network (rather than the unsuccessful HomeGroup), the Vista desktop and one Windows 8 desktop are able to see each other's "individual" user folder, but neither can see the "individual" user folder on the second Windows 8 desktop. That second Windows 8 desktop, however, is able to view "individual" user folders on both of the other computers. The two Windows 8 computers were purchased together and, as far as I know, were configured the same. It doesn't seem logical that the security software would allow visibility one way but not the other when I've done everything I can to configure the software the same on both computers. ?? I'm certainly at the extent of my average computer skills at this point.

Click to expand...

On the second Windows 8 desktop, can you make sure that the C:>Users folder is shared out through the Sharing tab like in the picture.

The ipconfig was from the Vista machine Ed.

chev65 said:

The first one appears to be missing some tunnel adaptors and the IPv6 protocol is completely missing from the ipconfig which is rather strange.

Which machine is the first ipconfig from?

Click to expand...

I believe you have to have IPv6 enabled to join a HomeGroup...

Responding to message #13 from chev65 - I checked both Windows 8 desktops and both showed the sharing privileges as set out in your example.

Responding to message #14 from Wifi Ed - I assume the comment in message #13 from chev65 satisfies your concern that IPv6 has to be enabled to join a HomeGroup. Apparently what you were viewing was the ipconfig from my Vista desktop which I am not trying to link into the HomeGroup. Although as I noted in my first post, the Ethernet status for the two Windows 8 desktops show both the IPv4 and IPv6 turned on, the IPv4 Connectivity shows Internet but the IPv6 Connectivity shows No Internet access. I have no idea what this means and whether this may be causing my problem.

I'm thinking that because this one Windows 8 machine can't be accessed from either machine and apparently can't see a Homegroup which was created on another machine in the same network then something is causing this, as the odds of both problems manifesting on the same machine are very slim unless there is a third party program involved. It's acting like Network Discovery isn't enabled or it's not staying turned on which is a problem sometimes but can be fixed.

This really isn't a typical Windows type problem unless Network Discovery isn't staying on so most likely the problem is caused from the anti virus software.

I hear what you're saying but what is confusing me is why the computer that can't be accessed by the other two computers is the one that sees all the individual user folders from all three machines. If it has such full access to all three computers, why can't it see the HomeGroup created by one of them?? (Which works the other way around too - when I create a HomeGroup on it, the other Windows 8 desktop can't see it.)

I guess I'll have to scrap my anti virus software and go to something else. I know this isn't the proper forum for that but I'd appreciate any recommendations you may have for a good relatively inexpensive anti-virus package.

Thanks for taking the time to read by lengthy post and giving it so much thought.

Sam3 said:

I hear what you're saying but what is confusing me is why the computer that can't be accessed by the other two computers is the one that sees all the individual user folders from all three machines. If it has such full access to all three computers, why can't it see the HomeGroup created by one of them?? (Which works the other way around too - when I create a HomeGroup on it, the other Windows 8 desktop can't see it.)

I guess I'll have to scrap my anti virus software and go to something else. I know this isn't the proper forum for that but I'd appreciate any recommendations you may have for a good relatively inexpensive anti-virus package.

Thanks for taking the time to read by lengthy post and giving it so much thought.

Click to expand...

The free anti virus solutions tend to work better and most everyone around this forum uses them, Windows Defender along with MalwareBytes for scanning the system only will take care the bad virus's while they won't cause any problems with the network.

If you plan on uninstalling the A/V you are running now it's best to use the special tool for the job in order to remove all remnants then run CCleaner to remove the registry entries etc.

Thanks for the advice. I'll uninstall my Total Defence AV software and try a free antivirus along with Windows Defender. I've used MalwareBytes Anti-Malware in the past when I got a virus and it neatly did the trick. It's my understanding that I need another AV program as well as the free version of MalwareBytes does not detect malware but is a cleaner to be used after the fact.

You said I should use the special tool for the job to remove the AV software. Are you referring to something other than Windows Uninstall feature? I've never heard of the CCleaner tool you mentioned but I'll probably run it on all three computers as it seems highly recommended as a registry cleanup tool. Thanks again for your help to date.