The Windows 7 Feature Focus will be a short series that highlights the new and special features that Microsoft's new operating system, Windows 7, has built in. This article focuses on the HomeGroup feature that Microsoft claims will remove the headache normally associated with setting up a Windows home network. Read this Feature Focus and decide for yourself if the HomeGroup will become an integral part of your Windows 7 environment. You can also check out the original article on TBCS here!

For most basic users there are many ways to network Windows XP and Windows Vista machines with each other. You can map a network drive to a shared folder, type in the 'server' name for a computer into Windows Explorer and log in, you could connect them all to a router and hope they show up in the Network Places, and so on. Each had their own purpose, their own practicalites, and each definitely had their own problems. The purpose of the HomeGroup feature is to reconcile all those past problems, and allow for immediate and easy network all of your Windows 7 computers.

First and foremost, however, is that this feature is only Windows 7 compatible. Unless Microsoft decides to patch in functionality to XP and Vista, something they should definitely consider, only Windows 7 machines will be able to use the HomeGroup.

Overview

The best way to understand the HomeGroup system is to see it visually. If the HomeGroup options do not make themselves available immediately after a Windows 7 install, you can access it by going to the Control Panel and selecting 'Choose homegroup and sharing options' in the 'Network and Internet' category.

Windows 7 Control Panel

Initial Windows 7 HomeGroup Settings

The first window for the HomeGroup will tell you to either create or join a HomeGroup, in addition to providing you the option to learn more about homegroups, change your advanced sharing settings, and start the homegroup troubleshooter. Unless you want to ensure that your advanced sharing settings are perfect go ahead and click 'Join now'. This button will either create a new homegroup with that computer as the owner, or let you enter a password to join an existing homegroup. Once you have joined a HomeGroup the settings page will change.

New Windows 7 HomeGroup Settings

You now have three new sections: 'Share libraries and printers', 'Share media with devices', and 'Other homegroup actions'. The links within each section are extremely helpful, including options such as 'How do I exclude files and folders?', 'Change the [homegroup] password...', and 'Choose media streaming options...'. Each of these will let you configure the HomeGroup to your liking, and will enable sharing of such things as pictures, printers, and music with ease.

Usage

So is it worth it? Definitely. For anyone looking for an easy way to connect up all of their shiny new Windows 7 computers, it works flawlessly. After all, that is the sole purpose of the HomeGroup, connecting all of a network's Windows 7 computers together to share pictures, music, printers, devices, and files. How simple is it to access another computer's files? Simply open up Windows Explorer and all the HomeGroup PCs will be listed in the quick links pane on the left. Simply choose the PC you want and begin browsing the shared files.

Connect to both of Akrylik's PC's

If a printer or usable device is connected to one of the PCs, Windows 7 will automatically prompt you on using that printer or device. Once you agree to use the device, Windows will go ahead and configure it like it is attached to your PC, driver and all.

The Windows 7 feature HomeGroup is a super quick, super easy, and super effective method of networking multiple computers. All of my Windows 7 computers can easily transfer files back and forth, and it was a cinch to set up. This Windows 7 feature deserves a big thumbs up!