Can't create homegroup (network must be private error)

[Piszi]

Hello,

Since a system restore on my Windows 8.1 Pro x64 PC my homegroup does not work any more. First I thought that solving a network list error will also solve the home group issue but it didn't. Than stupidly I deleted the HomeGroup and tried to create a new but since than I get "To create a homegroup, your computer's network location must be set to Private".
My network location is Private and finding devices and computers is enabled, all necesary services and their dependencies are running.
I checked and repaired the NetworkList registry keys permission end its subkeys and also repaired HomeGroup reg key and its subkyes.
I tried to repair the registry permissions with SubinACL, I changed the network type in Local Security Policy, but I still get the same error.
I tried SFC /SCANNOW and tried this after updating the system image with DISM.
checked HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\NetworkList\Profiles ->Category and its value is 1 which should be the Private Network, checked Workgroup name but it is set to the default WORKGROUP
I tried to uninstall Panda free 2015 but didn't helped.
Disabling Windows Firewall didn't helped.

Event viewer does not register any errors, only when trying to enable the media sharing registerd an error in the event viewer which was: WMPNetworkSvc with 0x80070005 (which is obviously access denied) but couldn't find what is denying access to wmp
Than I reinstalled WMP and since than this error is also gone, probably until I try to enable media sharing again.
I also deleted my Wi-Fi connection and reconnected and tried switching to wired connection, but still the same.

Is there anything I can do to make homegroup work?

Reinstall and repair install is not an option right now, because I have a lots of work and I don't have the time to reinstall and configure all the softwares I use.

 

[broe23]

Homegroup has always been a PITA. That is why most of us use standard networking Folder sharing.

 

[Piszi]

I have folder sharing, but two printers were shared on the homegroup which aren't available currently for the other PCs on my local network. And sadly both printers are old consumer grade ones and doesn't have network cards so I shared them over homegroup.

 

[broe23]

Regardless, you need to just use Network Sharing, and "Leave" the Homegroup. As for the printers, yes you will issues with them if they are discontinued units that stopped being supported when Vista or 7 came out.