Homegroup not working with Norton Firewall

[agvod]

I have an issue with homegroups where both devices run Norton (NIS).
Environment is as follows:-
Laptop running win 8.1 and NIS
Desktop running win 7 and NIS
Have both wired and wireless network but have disabled the wireless adapters in both devices.


After much experimentation and research to get ensure all settings on each device are correct (using posts on this forum and HOWTOGEEK) I am able to create a homegroup on either device and then get the other to join ONLY IF I SWITCH OFF THE NIS FIREWALL on both devices.


It all works fine until I switch the firewalls back on. Initially only the device which joined the homegroup can access the other devices files. I have tried resetting the firewall rules as well as reinstalling Norton on both after setting up the homegroup.


After rebooting today neither device could access ther homegroup. Switch off the firewall, run the homegroup trouble shooter and they're working again until firewalls are turned back on. Firewall history shows


Rule rejected UDP(17) traffic with ..............................
Rule rejected TCP(6) traffic with ................................


So I have some simple questions:-


1. Anyone succeeded in using HOMEGROUPs where NIS firewall is in use? If so any advice?
2. Since it's not possible to disable NIS firewall and run the Windows firewall, which antivirus / firewall products do allow homegroups to work.

 

[agvod]

An update.

I installed Avira antivirus on the Win 7 PC on which the homegroup was created. - no change.
Norton supprt told me to add a rule to allow all traffic between the 2 computers - after running the HOMEGROUP troubleshooter The WIN 7 PC was able to "see" the libraries on the WIN 8.1 laptop. However was unable to expand the libraries.

Checked the library properties and each had HOMEGROUP read in the Share with. After some experimentation with the folders within the libraries I found SHARING these with HOMEGROUP and GUEST finally allowed access. So I have a workaround but the issue with libraries remains unresolved.

Note that after installing AVira I was able to expand the libraries on the WIN 7 PC from the WIN 8.1 laptop.

So it appears that on my systems Norton prevents homegroups working unless the firewall rules are modified. There is further issue with library security settings not being effective.