Now that I have 2 Windows 7 machines at home, I decided to start trying the homegroup networking system in it. I figured, it had to be pretty simple to set up, since it was intended that the everyday Joe could do it. And yes it is easy to join a homegroup.
For me that is where it gets weird. I click on the homegroup in one machine and see nothing of the other. I click on network and can access the public folders on a machine easily. I try to set up for printing, I can’t print. Time to start troubleshooting, so I of course go old school, and look at the printer on the machine it is hooked into. Go into the sharing properties, and can’t turn on sharing. I check homegorup settings and its supposed to be shared and usable. Now this is why I prefer to play with things at my house. I feel the frustration, and decide to put it aside.
Tonight I use the 2 Windows 7 bibles I have. I’ll start with using Ed Bott’s Windows 7 Inside Out. So far that book has bee amazing (Disclaimer – I paid for my copy of the books, I get no kickback from anyone). The other I use is the Windows 7 Administrator’s Pocket Consultant. It tends to be written a bit more with a network administrator in mind, but still has a great deal of information in it.
Once figured out, I’ll post about the solution here, but remember, you are only able to know so much. The best techs know how to ask questions, and find answers.