Thank you all. Shax: I have googled and read a LOT of those, went to the windows7forum, and read extensively at microsoft.com's information on homegroups, networks, etc. Still can not get homegroups to work and both computers are running Windows 7 Home Premium edition. Mike: I have a home network set up using a Linksys router. Both computers and the printer are on that network. I can see it in the Network section of control panel on both computers. I know the network is there. Raven: the files on both computers have the same names. At least if I understand....the folder names are the same on both....files vs folders the same thing right? This is what is going on: Per the instructions from Microsoft, I set up a Homegroup on the desktop, I have a password for it. I go to the laptop to join that homegroup and when I open "network and internet" in the control panel and go to homegroup, there is not an option to join, it just indicates that it has joined a homegroup. It is like there are two separate homegroups setup and neither computer can join the other's homegroup. Each computer has a separate homegroup password and I don't know how to get them together. And as far as I can tell the files are not being shared I am missing something and don't know what it is. And I can't find the answer in the windows7forums or the extensive information at microsoft.com. Any ideas on how to fix this? Your patience is greatly appreciated. I seem to know just enough to get myself messed up! Murphy

One of the many new innovations included in Windows 7 is a much improved system of home networking called HomeGroup. As well as offering easier and more diverse allocation of permissions to shared content, access is protected by a password which, for small business networks, is a necessity. As soon as Windows 7 is installed, it creates a default HomeGroup. If it detects an existing HomeGroup, you will be given the opportunity to join, but you will need the password. For home and small business users, HomeGroup is an excellent tool, but there is a problem. HomeGroup only works when all other machines on the network have Windows 7 installed, which in the short term, may not be the case. There will be many situations where the network has XP or Vista machines as part of the network, in addition to Windows 7. So, how is it possible to get them all to work together? Please see this link too! Here is a link that might be useful: -existing-xp-vista-network.

File and printer sharing: frequently asked questions there are links there to printer sharing in windows 7 and also a video. Use the Homegroup Feature in Windows 7 to Share Printers and Files more info since both have windows 7 it should be fairly straight forward, when sharing between xp and 7 it gets a little more complicated. Be absolutely sure you use the exact name for your group names on each pc.

You're not going to mess anything up with a Roku box unless you start disconnecting cables you've already got in place. You just need to connect the color-coded Roku cables to one of the vacant sets of ports on the back of the tv and make a note of which port it is. Then turn on the tv, set the tv to the correct source (the one you plugged the Roku into), and you should see a setup screen. Just think of the Roku like you do a DVD player: it's just another source for video that's connected to the back of the tv, except, instead of getting a movie from a disc, you're getting it from the Internet. The link below shows the installation drawings... Here is a link that might be useful: Roku