Windows 10: I want to share files and printers without HOMEGROUPS.

I'm about ready to put this computer through a wall.

It keeps telling me that I've been invited to join a homegroup.
When I try that, I get a long wait, then it tells me that there isn't a home group but I can create one.


*MadI DONT WANT ANY HOMEGROUP.*Mad << Read this as Lewis Black

I simply want to make my files and printers accessible to the other pcs and tablets on the network and to access the resources they have made available.

How do I get away from this homegroup mess?

:)

 

sharing a usb printer without sharing files

Hey Ramesh,

Thanks for the reply and info. However the issue wasn't with the printer working it was a problem sharing it over the network. I did figure it out though, the fix actually ended up being to use Homegroup.

The problem started when I switched to Windows 10, I logged in with my Microsoft account instead of the local account I used on that computer with Windows 7. On windows 7 I was able to share the printer without using homegroup and without the network file
and print sharing turned on. After the upgrade to 10 and changing from a local login to my Microsoft account login, my Windows Credentials got mixed up which caused the usb printer to no longer be usable on the other computers in the office, only mine. If
I add the printer back into to the other computers manually using my pc name or ip and password then those computers have access to my files even with network file and print sharing turned off on my computer. Also, if network file and print sharing are off
or password protected sharing is on, then the homegroup share didn't work.
Turns out it was a combo of network share settings (turn on file and print sharing for the private network and turned off password protected sharing), then set the homegroup to only share printers and devices, that fixed it.
I like homegroup now I hadn't really used it before.

 

How do I set up a home group in Win 10?

Hello Paul,

A HomeGroup is a group of PCs on a home network that can share files and printers. Using a HomeGroup makes sharing easier. You can share pictures, music, videos, documents, and printers with other people in your HomeGroup.

After you create or join a HomeGroup, you select the libraries (for example, My Pictures or My Documents) that you want to share. You can prevent specific files or folders from being shared, and you can share additional libraries later.

For more reference: HomeGroup from start to finish -
applies to Windows 10 also.

Hope this information helps. Keep us posted to help you better.

 

My install isn't bugging me to join a Homegroup. I don't want one either. You may run into the problem I have and can't figure out what to do.

No Homegroup
File and printer sharing turned ON in all networks (Private, Public and Guest Public)
Passwords are OFF

While logged into my L: myname@outlook.com on the Win 10 machine I can not access any of the Win 8.1 machines and they are setup the same way! If I use a local login, it works.

EDIT:
I just figured it out - Simple - Use your outlook login and password same as you use to login to Windows! Duh!

You can also use Vault and create a login credential for each machine you want access to. Use Search>Vault. You'll see Manage Web Credentials. Open it and go for it!