Windows 10: Can I use "Homegroup"?

Thats weird. Windows won't let me create a Homegroup now and i'm on v1709 latest build. It says "Windows can't create a Homegroup on this PC"

 

I have a laptop with Windows 10, and I just got a Roku TV, which is my very first flat screen. I was hoping to be able to connect my laptop to the TV. I don't have an HDMI cable yet, but plan on getting one tomorrow.

But I was trying out other ways of doing it first. One thing I tried was creating a "Homegroup" in the Network section of Win10. When I was done, it showed that there was an active connection between my laptop and my TV. The network or homegroup name even included the word "Roku" in the title, and showed information being sent and received. But that's all the activity I could find. On the TV, I saw no menus or options telling me to do anything, even though there was an instruction on my laptop saying to follow the direction on the TV.

So, how does this work?
BTW, I don't have internet at home, and I don't have a router. Also, the TV doesn't have Bluetooth, but it does have Wi-fi.

:)

 

Recover key from image?

I downloaded a copy of Windows 10 Home. Bad thing is, there's no product key nor did I receive one from Microsoft upon download. How can I recover the key from an image that I have not installed?

Moved from: Windows / Windows 10 / Windows update, recovery, & backup

 

Can i use Window 10 Home for office use?

Hi Winisgood, the official word from Microsoft is that you choose the version of Windows that suits your needs.

There is no legal requirement to run Windows 10 Pro when running a business

If Windows 10 Home suits your needs then you should run Windows 10 Home

You are not breaking any lays or copyright.

The information the store gave you is incorrect !!

 

The first thing is forget home group as the next update removes it from Windows so you won't be able to use it

 

You can right-click on a media file, video (eg. mp4, wmv. etc.) or audio (mp3, wav, etc.) and 'Cast to' a device like a TV.

Add or Remove Cast to Device context menu in Windows 10

If both the PC and TV support Miracast, you can project your PC's screen to the TV.

Check Miracast Support on Windows 10 PC
Connect to Wireless Display with Miracast in Windows 10

 

I forgot to mention that I did try to "Cast to" with different files, and it gave me a few options which included my TV, but it didn't do anything but start playing the file on my computer. Is there something I should have done with the TV?

I haven't been doing updates for the last couple months, so I'm safe for now.

 

Works for me (and that's without having a Homegroup (just the default Workgroup networking) but then I do have a router and therefore a home network. That I think is where your problem lies - no router to connect your devices as a network.

 

I'm getting the impression that I'd need a router, and perhaps internet. I was hoping that my laptop's Wi-fi would simply connect to my TV's Wi-fi and just work directly between one another. From what I saw of my homegroup connection, there was information going back and forth, so it looked like they were connected. I just don't know how to actually make anything happen, such as Casting something from the computer to the TV. Is there a certain menu I have to have on screen? I did have the Network scan on the screen, and it showed a number of my neighbors' secured Wi-fi signals, but not my TV--even when I searched multiple times.

 

You're not at all safe by not doing the updates. You're behind on security updates.

 

Well, as the OP doesn't have an internet connection they are technically 'safe' *Biggrin

 

Direct connection works for things like some printers, and I understand the Miracast uses a direct connection, but both your PC and TV have to support Miracast. For 'Cast to' you need a network.

 

I guess what confuses me is how my computer could detect my TV, and it even showed up on the list when I clicked on Cast To, and the homegroup showed a connection between my laptop and TV, but yet I still need a "network". Isn't the connection between the laptop and TV considered to be a network? Or is "network" meant to be an internet connection?

 

The names may have you confused you, did me at first.

Only recent Laptops and TVs are going to be Miracast compatible. Neither my laptop or TV are, they are about 4 years old.

What Cast to.... with a Media file means is a Media server is being used, probably Windows Media Player.
The Cast to...function is as a Media Server and display device i.e. the TV. Elsewhere on your network.
You have to go to your TV Menu to Networks and browse to the Folders on your Laptop which contain those Media files.

WiFi Direct is 'network' of sorts, has less options, on mine you cannot browse the Laptop media files from the TV you have play a Media file selected on the Laptop for a Cast to...and that is what it does, again clearly using WMP as a Media server.

On my TV in networks "Standby for WiFi Direct" > On. Then on the Laptop select and Cast to...TV.

The TV has to be registered to the Laptop, on mine I used the PIN method the PIN number generated by the TV has to be entered on the Laptop in the Cast to.. Process when it asks.
A lot of fiddling about for such a limited use.

 

When I created a Homegroup, it gave me a password. I tried entering that in the TV, but it never got accepted. On my laptop, I wasn't given an opportunity to do any registering on it of my TV. When I clicked "Cast to" on a file in my laptop and then selected my TV when it came up on the list, the file simply started playing on my laptop as if I had simply clicked on it, although it took about 10 seconds to get started.