Techie Diaries: Home network for Windows 7
One of the most surprising cases I’ve worked on was setting up a home network. Quite frankly I’m surprised not because its a one in a million case, but I’m surprised that there are computer users that use it. In my home, for example, we have 5 computers systems at home but never even thought of it. Most computer users (myself included) have overlook the convenience of being in a home network. File and printer sharing, for one. Like I can view pictures on my brother’s laptop without me going over to his room or print documents without physically going over the printer at the family room or wherever the printer is installed.
I must say for this particular case that it’s simple and complex at the same time. What makes it more special is that I have to set it up on a Windows 7 machine (the simple part) and a Windows XP machine (the complex part). Why simple? Windows 7 has a feature of “Homegroup” where setting up a home network was made so easy that you just have to type in an access code to join the network. A “homegroup” link is found in Network and Sharing center, and a wizard that guides you in the process. (ref.http://blogs.msdn.com/e7/archive/2008/12/30/at-home-with-homegroup-in-windows-7.aspx)
And as I’ve mentioned, the complex part is when you would want to add an earlier version of Windows in the network. For this case, my task was to add a Windows XP machine to a Windows 7 homegroup. This is not as simple as the above because “homegroup” only works with Windows 7 computers. In this case, the group’s name on both machines must be the same. (i.e. change the workgroup name to “homegroup” since that cannot be renamed in windows 7) In addition to that, whoever wants access must have a user account on the Windows 7 machine that matches the user name and password on the XP machine.
End result, we had a working home network between 3 computers, 2 on Windows 7 and one in Windows XP. Another happy customer with a working home network.
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