What is the difference between a domain, a workgroup, and a homegroup? What is a homegroup?

A homegroup makes it easier to share files and printers on a home network. You can share pictures, music, videos, documents, and printers with other people in your homegroup. Other people can't change the files that you share, unless you give them permission to do so. When you set up a computer with this version of Windows, a homegroup is created automatically if one doesn't already exist on your home network. If a homegroup already exists, you can join it. After you create or join a homegroup, you can select the libraries that you want to share. You can prevent specific files or folders from being shared, and you can share additional libraries later. You can help protect your homegroup with a password, which you can change at any time. Using a homegroup is one of the easiest ways to share files and printers on a home network, but there are other ways to do this. For more information, see File sharing essentials.

Notes
Computers must be running Windows 7 to participate in a homegroup. HomeGroup is available in all editions of Windows 7. In Windows 7 Starter and Windows 7 Home Basic, you can join a homegroup, but you cant create one. HomeGroup is only available on home networks. HomeGroup doesn't send any data to Microsoft. For more information, read the privacy statement online. To watch a video about HomeGroup, go to Windows 7 features: HomeGroup. For more information about HomeGroup, see HomeGroup: recommended links. A homegroup makes it easier to share files and printers on a home network. You can share pictures, music, videos, documents, and printers with other people in your homegroup. Other people can't change the files that you share, unless you give them permission to do so. When you set up a computer with Windows 7, a homegroup is created automatically if one doesn't already exist on your home network. If a homegroup already exists, you can join it. After you create or join a homegroup, you can select the libraries that you want to share. You can prevent specific files or folders from being shared, and you can share additional libraries later. You can help protect your homegroup with a password, which you can change at any time.

Using a homegroup is one of the easiest ways to share files and printers on a home network, but there are other ways to do this. For more information, see File sharing essentials (http://windows.microsoft.com/en-US/Windows7/file-sharing-essentials) . Notes: Computers must be running Windows 7 to participate in a homegroup. HomeGroup is available in all editions of Windows 7. In Windows 7 Starter and Windows 7 Home Basic, you can join a homegroup, but you cant create one.

Domains, workgroups, and homegroups represent different methods for organizing computers in networks. The main difference among them is how the computers and other resources on the networks are managed. Computers running Windows on a network must be part of a workgroup or a domain. Computers running Windows on home networks can also be part of a homegroup, but it's not required. Computers on home networks are usually part of a workgroup and possibly a homegroup, and computers on workplace networks are usually part of a domain.

Note
Homegroups aren't available in Windows Server 2008 R2.
To find out if your computer is on a workgroup or domain

1. Open System by clicking the Start button , right-clicking Computer, and then clicking Properties. 2. Under Computer name, domain, and workgroup settings, you will see either the word Workgroup or Domain, followed by the name.

The Computer name, domain, and workgroup settings

To find out if your computer belongs to a homegroup

1. Open Network and Sharing Center by clicking the Start button , and then clicking Control Panel. In the search box, type network, and then click Network and Sharing Center. 2. If you see the word Joined next to HomeGroup, your computer belongs to a homegroup.

The HomeGroup status area in Network and Sharing Center

In a workgroup:
All computers are peers; no computer has control over another computer. Each computer has a set of user accounts. To log on to any computer in the workgroup, you must have an account on that computer. There are typically no more than twenty computers. A workgroup is not protected by a password. All computers must be on the same local network or subnet.

In a homegroup:
Computers on a home network must belong to a workgroup, but they can also belong to a homegroup. A homegroup makes it easy to share pictures, music, videos, documents, and printers with other people on a home network. A homegroup is protected with a password, but you only need to type the password once, when adding your computer to the homegroup.

In a domain:
One or more computers are servers. Network administrators use servers to control the security and permissions for all computers on the domain. This makes it easy to make changes because the changes are automatically made to all computers. Domain users must provide a password or other credentials each time they access the domain. If you have a user account on the domain, you can log on to any computer on the domain without needing an account on that computer. You probably can make only limited changes to a computer's settings because network administrators often want to ensure consistency among computers.
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There can be thousands of computers in a domain. The computers can be on different local networks.

Join or create a workgroup

When you set up a network, Windows automatically creates a workgroup and gives it a name. You can join an existing workgroup on a network or create a new one.

Note
Workgroups provide a basis for file and printer sharing, but do not actually set up sharing for you. In contrast, in this version of Windows you can create or join a homegroup, which automatically turns on file and printer sharing on home networks. If you have a home network, we recommend creating or joining a homegroup. For more information, search for "homegroup" in Help and Support. 1. Open System by clicking the Start button , right-clicking Computer, and then clicking Properties. 2. Under Computer name, domain, and workgroup settings, click Change settings. If you're prompted for an administrator password or confirmation, type the password or provide confirmation. 3. In the System Properties dialog box, click the Computer Name tab, and then click Change. 4. In the Computer Name/Domain Changes dialog box, under Member of, click Workgroup, and then do one of the following: o To join an existing workgroup, type the name of the workgroup that you want to join, and then click OK. o To create a new workgroup, type the name of the workgroup that you want to create, and then click OK.

The Computer Name/Domain Changes dialog box If your computer was a member of a domain before you joined the workgroup, it will be removed from the domain and your computer account on that domain will be disabled.

Notes
If your network includes computers running Windows XP, you might need to change the workgroup name on those computers to match the workgroup name on the computers running this version of Windows or Windows Vista so that you can see and connect to all computers on your network.

How-To Rename or Change Your Computer Name in Windows 7 or Vista

MrGroove, I changed the name in the ownership. How do I change the computer name using Windows Vista? The process has actually not changed since the Windows XP Days so this How-To covers both Windows XP, Windows Vista and Windows 7. Dont forget you need to be logged in with an account that has Administrator rights. These Steps also assume your computer is a member of a Workgroup, not a Windows Domain/Active Director (Corporate Network).
Step 1

Click Start Button, Right Click Computer and Click Properties

Note: Like all things Windows, there are several ways to do the same thing. With Vista, you can also just type System and Click System as shown below.
Step 2

Click Change Settings

Step 3

Click Change button under Computer Name Tab

Step 4
Type New Name for Computer under Computer Name Field

Once you complete Step 4 just click OK a few times. You will be prompted to reboot the computer and once your reboot is complete, your new computer name will be in effect.

How to Change a NetBIOS Domain Name

By Dave Wilson, eHow Contributor , updated November 27, 2010 Microsoft Windows operating systems organize and manage network resources by grouping resources into either Domains or Workgroups. A computer must belong to a Domain to connect to resources belonging to that Domain. Change the Domain name or Workgroup name of a Windows 7 computer in order to be able to access resources on a Windows network

Instructions
1. 2. Select the "Globe" start button on the Windows 7 PC desktop, right-click "Computer," then click "Properties." The "System Properties" window will appear. Select "Change Settings," and then type in an Administrator account password if requested and press the "Enter" key. Select the "Computer Name" tab, and then click the "Change" button. The "Computer Name/Domain Changes" window will appear.

3. 4.

Select the "Domain" radio button if your computer is a member of a Windows Domain, or select the "Workgroup" button if your computer is a member of a Windows Workgroup. Type the new name in the "Workgroup" field or the "Domain" field, and then type the username and password for the Domain if the computer is part of a Windows Domain. Click the "OK" button. Reboot the computer. Select the "Globe" start button, type "cmd" in the "Search" box and press the "Enter" key. Type "nbtstat --n" and press the "Enter" key to view the new NetBIOS domain name displayed in the command line output.

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ERROS MESSAGE WHEN TRYING TO ACCESS AN ADMINISTRATTIVE SHARES ON WINDOWS VISTA OR NEWER

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