Windows 10: Private Network Number/Name, Homegroup etc

1) NETWORK NAMES- See below, My 'automated' private network number/names are showing up different on all my machines. Is there a way to make them all the same? Or rename them? Is this the same or different than the old Workgroup name? I can currently see all my other machines, so this appears to be only a naming situation.

2) HOMEGROUP - I currently have HomeGroup OFF everywhere. Never used it in the past, and I see a few posts about problems. Am I missing something by keeping HomeGroup off?? I have most machines on Windows 10, but still two oldies on XP. I keep a common user account on all machines.

Many thanks





(PS The reference to "Public" in the screen shot is only because PIA VPN is running)

:)

 

4 computers, 2 active networks?

I have 3 computers on a private ethernet LAN using a Frontier/Netgear 7550 router. All three computers are running Win10 64 Pro.

The network and sharing center status is as follows:

Computer 1 - View active network = "Network 2 private network"

Computer 2 - View active network = "Network Frontier4673 private network"

Computer 3 - View active network = "Network private network"

How did Windows determine these names, what significance do they have, and why can't they be changed?

All three computers show "ready to create" homegroup status. I can create a homegroup on any or all of these computers. When I do, the computer I create the homegroup on shows "Joined" status. None of the other computers see or can join any of these homegroups
on the other computers though.

The homegroup troubleshooter finds no problem and refers me to the network troubleshooter, which also finds no problem.

I have to assume that the goal of a homegroup is to create a homegroup on one of these computers, and it would then be visible and available to join from any of the others for the purpose of sharing data between the networked computers. Right?

This appears to be a common problem with no definitive solutions. I have found numerous similar problems described on numerous forums all over the web.

 

Homegroup isn't working properly

Look for clues with Get-NetConnectionProfile (in PowerShell). In fact, to avoid some gyrations with the the Homegroup troubleshooter I use secpol.msc to allow Private instead of Public as a default location. Otherwise, notice that you may have to avoid
the offer from the Homegroup troubleshooter of doing Network troubleshooting to be offered the help of making it Private. Etc.



HTH

Robert Aldwinckle

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On no 2)
Homegroup makes it easier for you to share data between your PC's. Also it makes printer sharing or printing over the network a breeze.

You can select what data you want to share over the network and what you want to keep private. Let me give you an example:

I use my Desktop PC as a backup/server all my important data is stored on it, because of that I minimize the use of it on the internet (for security and privacy reasons) and use my Laptop to do the browsing and downloads etc. Further I allow the other PC's on the homegroup to have access to the video and Pic's on the Desktop, thus I can watch my backed-up series on my Laptop while it is stored on my Desktop. Also because my Desktop is stationary I use my desktop printer as a network printer thru my Desktop PC. as long as my Desktop PC is on I can print from any ware in the house or from any PC and just pick it up when I need it.

You can get your XP machines to connect to the network, just not so sure if it will have the same versatility and functionality thu... here is a link on how to do it...
http://answers.microsoft.com/en-us/w...0-802fb585673b

 

PS: This to link it to windows 7... so I hope it works for windows 10... Still a bit of a noob on Windows 10... LOL

 

Re (1), changing the Network 11 name to something else, I suppose a careful regedit search and edit might do it ; just thought there would be a more elegant solution ( like click or right click or edit).