- Requirements for a Homegroup
- Preparing to Set Up a Homegroup
- Creating a Homegroup
- Adding Computers to a Homegroup
- Accessing Homegroup-Shared Libraries
- Changing Homegroup Sharing Settings
- Using Homegroup-Shared Printers
- Changing Homegroup Settings
- Leaving the Homegroup
- Diagnosing Homegroup Problems
- Conclusion
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Changing Homegroup Settings
To change homegroup settings at any time on any PC, open the Control Panel and click Choose Homegroup and Sharing Options (refer to Figure 3). From this dialog (Figure 19), you can change sharing settings, specify whether to stream media to other devices (digital picture frames, media extenders, and so on) on your home network, view the homegroup password, change the homegroup password, leave a homegroup, troubleshoot HomeGroup settings, or change advanced sharing settings.
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Figure 19 The Change Homegroup Settings dialog.
Changing the Homegroup Password
You can change the homegroup password periodically to prevent a compromised password from being used to sneak onto your network. For example, if friends come over and want to share some files from your homegroup with their Windows 7-based netbook or laptop, you could change the password for your homegroup after they leave.
To change the homegroup password:
- Open the Change the Password link.
- Click Change the Password (Figure 20).
- You can use the Windows-generated password or enter your own (Figure 21). Click the refresh button (arrow) to generate another password.
- Click Next.
- Write down or print the password (Figure 22).
- Click Finish.
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Figure 20 Selecting the option to change the homegroup password.
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Figure 21 Generating or creating a new homegroup password.
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Figure 22 Completing the new homegroup password option.
Leave this computer running and connected to the network.
To complete the process for each additional computer in the homegroup:
- Open the Control Panel (Figure 23).
- Click Choose Homegroup and Sharing Options in the Network and Internet category.
- Click Type New Password (Figure 24).
- Enter the new password (Figure 25).
- Click Next.
- Click Finish.
- Click Cancel to close the Change Homegroup Settings dialog (refer to Figure 19).
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Figure 23 Opening the Homegroup and Sharing Options menu on another computer in the homegroup.
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Figure 24 Preparing to enter the new homegroup password.
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Figure 25 Entering the new homegroup password.
Go to other computers in the homegroup and repeat these steps until all computers have been updated with the new password.