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Cant connect to homegroup

I am having all sorts of problems setting up this network. For some reason after I installed the router and set up the network everyting was working great. I left the customers house planning on coming back after some software and a surge protector was bought. Anyway today when I cmae over here all I did was change out the surege protector and after that I could not get back on the internet wirelesslly. Since then I have reinstalled the router but now the homegroups on one PC is named different than the wireless laptop and I don't know how to fix that. It seems the more I do the more confused I am getting with all this homegroup and network security key etc. Anyway as you can hear, I am a little frustrated and don't understand why two brand new Windows 7 computers would be so diffulcult to network. Any help would be appreciated,
bbbb2

ASKER

When I did a network diagnostics, in the problems founds section was this:

Problems Found
Problem with wireless adaptor or access point not fixed X

Thanks,
bbbb2

In the start menu, type "Find and Fix problems with Homegroup"

Let it run to see what it finds.....

Also, in the My Computer Screen", you can right click the Homegroup link on the left, and select "Homegroup" on one of the machines.

On the machine STILL in the HG, go to the Control Panel, and select Homegroup, and select "View or print the HG password"....

Then retry joining on the other PC.....

Make sure that the Network Types didn't get out of whack, set them both to "Home"

Mohammed Rahman

Hi bbbb2:

A very neat article explaining HOMEGROUP setup. Any questions, please revert.
Sorry to post the link instead of solution. The reason I am posting the link is that it has got steps with Screen Shots. It would be little time consuming for me to copy those images and embed here :(

http://www.windows7news.com/2009/09/19/how-to-create-a-windows-7-homegroup/

ASKER

DANG!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I can connect to the laptop using ethernet but when I try yo connect wireless and it ask for a security key and I type it in it says:

"Windows was unable to connect to VJSLAPTOP-PC-Network.
I just do not understand why this is happening. Does someone know what I am doing wrong?
bbbb2

ASKER

I think I know why but I dont know how to fix it.

On the desktop PC Home network is call "Network 2" and the desktop pc connects though network 2 to get on the internet. It says...JimmyPC connects to Network 2 to connect to internet

The laptop "HOME" network is called "JStewert" and get this....VJSLAPTOP-PC connects to JStewert to get to the internet. What have i done and better yet how do I get out of this mess?

Thanks
bbbb2

Mohammed Rahman

I assume you created the homegroup on the desktop and joined the laptop the te homegroup.

You may have tried join the laptop to the homegroup with Wireless. If so, please try join the laptop to the home group with hard wired. Once the laptop becomes a member of the home group, start using Wireless and that should allow the laptop to access the homegroup wired and wireless.

One last checklist you may go through, I have read the entire article and its impressive.

http://helpdeskgeek.com/windows-7/windows-7-cannot-connect-to-homegroup/

ASKER

Look at this and tell me why its not working. Some of you smart guys should now this
network.jpg

ASKER

here is another diagram

These are all on my desktop.

bbbb2
Untitled.png

ASKER

I am also getting when I go to control Panel>Network and Internet> HomeGroup It says This computer belongs to a HomeGroup.

Then it says: The Homegroup is not available because you are not connected to the internet.

But I can connect to the internet if I use the ethernet cable but not the wireless t hat is built in.

IS ANYBODY READING THIS???????????????????????????????????????

Thanks if you are,
bbbb2

Mohammed Rahman

The desktop shows as "home network" in the second pic. Does laptop show the wireless network as Home Network or is it public or private ?

Make sure the network is set to Home Network on the laptop.

What happens if you create a homegroup on laptop and join desktop to it.

ASKER

I had to leave from that job.So I cant see anything. I tried to send as much pics has I could before I left, I an really kinda frustrated and wondering how I am going to get an answer to my problem before I go back over there tomorrow.
bbbb2

If I understand you correctly, it is the wirelless mode that is giving you the headache.
It does not matter what network you are connecting to.That is irrelevant.
Your laptop needs to get the wireless signal from the router.
Your rooter wireless probably has a name for ssid broadcast and you need to connect to that name.
If it is protected by wep key , you will need to provide that key too.
What is important is that your laptop is receiving the router broadcast and that you instruct your laptop to connect to it. Also you must tell your laptop to connect automatically to this network if it is in range.
To avoid confusion,in wireless networks management,delete all previous registered networks.
But probably,you know all this. However if the connection is giving you still a rough time,I suggest you disable all AV software including the firewall as it can be one of the causes for not connecting.
Also make sure you dont have mac filtering enabled on the router. W7 really connects easily to a wireless network...I suspect a firewall is blocking the connection. Do check and see how it goes ...

ASKER

As I was sitting I had this thought. With this being a new router not to mention everything is new. Desktop, Laptop, and Router are all new. Getting back to my thought. Could it be that the laptop is not renewing the IP address and that is why the laptop is not found on the new network.

Just a thought,
bbbb2

ASKER

I am at the job now and I am wondering why when I try to connect to the wireless network it says:
Windows was unable to connect to VJSLAPTOP-PC-Network

Thanks,
bbbb2

ASKER

OK SOMEBODY Please help me. I have restored the router to factory settings and installed the router to the desktop. Everything went smooth but when I go to connect my wireless laptop and typr in the security code it will not log onto the network. I don't understand it. I have not created a homegroup or connected to ine yet! I was going to try to do it the old way but it didnt connect. I need someone to tell me what I need to do from here and I need help asap.
Thanks
bbbb2

ASKER

I have another question. When I plug an ethernet cable into the laptop why does it still say JStwert when I put my cursor down by the network Icon?
bbbb2

You are trying to connect to your PC for internet access with wireless !
This can not be done,not in a million years.
Like I said, your router is broadcasting (at least it should) wireless signal
and it is this signal you must connect to.
Do you understand me ?

ASKER

yes I do

ASKER

When I try to connect to the network it ask for a security key and I typed it in and it still want connect. Why?

ASKER

What am I doing wrong?

On wireless,you dont connect to network but router.
Once laptop-router connection is established,you can connect to any network you wish.

what you are doing wrong is this:
You are trying to establish a wireless connection to VJSLAPTOP-PC-Network
without establishing an internet connection (with you router) first .
Ethernet cable will work of course.... but not wireless.
What router do you have ?

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ASKER

This question is closed and D-Link customer Support solved my question but I got the answer through a phone call, not from this site. This question is solved and time to move on to another job. I am sure I will be back here with another problem. I just hope I can get some answers instead of some expert telling me how a network or router works and I hope it want take a million years either. :-)
bbbb2

ASKER

I am just wanting to close this question since it has been answered by D-Link customer support over the telephone. I don't want points or anything like that. I am just glad this nightmare is over and I can move on to the next job.
bbbb2