How To Create a Windows 7 Homegroup

Registering the Laptop Computer on the Homegroup

To successfully connect to a Homegroup, the other computer(s) must be running Windows 7. You will need a copy of the Password information sheet containing the password.

1. Click the Start button.
2. When the Start Menu opens, Homegroup.



3. The Change Homegroup settings window opens indicating that another computer is on the Homegroup network. It also shows that there are shared Libraries and Printers.



4. Click the Join now button.

+Note: If you don’t see the Join now button, there might not be a Homegroup available. Make sure that someone has created a Homegroup first or you can choose to create a Homegroup yourself.

5. The Join a Homegroup window opens. You need the Homegroup Password to join.



6. Type in the Homegroup Password.
7. Click the Next button
8. Windows 7 informs you that you have joined the Homegroup.
9. Click the Finish button

You are now ready to utilize Homegroup across two computers, the Desktop computer and the Laptop computer.

Accessing your HomeGroup

With both computers switched on, you can now access each other’s HomeGroup libraries.

10. Click the Start menu.
11. Select Homegroup.



12. The Homegroup window opens.



13. Click Homegroup.



14. Homegroup expands telling you the laptop is registered.



15. To see what libraries within the Homegroup network, click on the arrow button on the left.
16. Homegroup displays the registered Libraries.



17. To see what’s in a Library, such as Documents, click Documents. Its contents appear in the right window.
    
18. On the other computer’s Homegroup you can now access the Libraries.
19. 10. To view the contents, click on the arrow on the left of each Library folder to expand it and display the folders within it.
20. In the screen picture below the extent of the Document folder is revealed. This was achieved by clicking on its icon.

By now you should have a good idea of the potential of Windows 7 Homegroup and how useful it is in a networking situation providing of course the other computers in your home or workplace are running Windows 7.