How do I change my network location from Public to Home in Win7?

Question

On my server I am running Win 7 Pro 64-bit (SP1) with a wired Ethernet connection to my router.

I have several other networked devices in my network including wired and wireless devices,  Win 7 PCs, a Win XP PC, and some other devices such as network backup, and media center.  I am having problems with devices seeing each other (especially my server) and sharing resources (files and printing).

On my server I am able to connect to the internet through my wired connection.  However, in "Network and Sharing Center" under active networks I see "You are currently not connected to any networks."  The link to "Connect to a network" shows that I have no networks to connect to.   When I try to connect to my homegroup or to create a homegroup, I am told "To create or join a homegroup, your computer's network location must be set to Home."  Mine is set to public and I cannot change this as to make this change requires me to click on the Home/Work/Public icon/link in my active network and I do not have any active (or inactive) network.  Therefore there is no link to allow me to get to the "Change Network Location" dialog box.

I have tried trouble shooting the network (no problems found) and the Homegroup troubleshoot (no problems found).

I have considered doing a Win 7 Repair Install to fix whatever network configuation problems I am unable to access.  However, my original disk is an OEM Windows 7 Pro 64-bit without SP1.  Now that my machine has been on SP1 for about a year, it will not allow me to do a Repair Install and the version on my machine is newer (greater) than what is on the installation disk.  Also I considered un-installing SP1 but that also failed.  Some error message about missing files. I even tried the Command Line un-install of SP1 and that also failed.

What can I do to fix this short of a complete wipe of the disk drive and a clean install?

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UPDATE: Feb. 13, 2015  -  Finally Fixed!

The post on Jan 28, 2015 by BennyPootron led me to the solution.

In RegEdit, at "HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\NetworkList\Profiles"  I deleted all the profiles under this (I had three). 

Also, at "HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\NetworkList\Signatures\Unmanaged" were three corresponding items which I also deleted.  This cleaned the slate, so to speak, and when I rebooted, I was able to change my network location to Home and then join my Home Group.

Many thanks to BennyPootron for the insight that led to my solution.

Answer 1

I don't know if this applies to Windows 7, but it does work in Windows 8 and Windows 10.

1. Open "RegEdit"
2. Go to "HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\NetworkList\Profiles"
3. Locate the Network Location
4. Change the DWORD Value "Category" to 1

If this doesn't work, delete the key of the network, restart your computer, and repeat.  It should work after that.

Not exactly the answer, but this led to the solution.  FINALLY FIXED!!   Here's how:

In RegEdit, at "HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\NetworkList\Profiles"  I had three profiles with names such as {4A3BFF36-4EA6-4415-AA5F-46CE449C95AB}.  I tried several things including changing the DWORD value of the item "Category" to 1 in all three of these profiles.  That did NOT work.

However, I eventually deleted all three of the Profiles. 

Also, at "HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\NetworkList\Signatures\Unmanaged" were three corresponding items which I also deleted.  This cleaned the slate, so to speak.

THIS WORKED!

When I re-booted, I was able to change my network from Public to Private and it walked me through the process of joining an existing Home Group established by another computer in our household.

Finally nearly 3 years after my original post, I have the problem fixed.

Many thanks to BennyPootron for the insight to a solution.

Answer 2

Again, thank you both David and Nicolas for your efforts.

Earlier today I spend several hours working on the Sonata server in attempts to "fix" this problem.  Among the items I have tried were:

• Switching back and forth between the two NICs
• Turning off and on the Firewall, and eventually resetting firewall settings to their default.
• Leaving and rejoining the workgroup
• From the other Win7 PC, I left and rejoined a new HomeGroup.

I also confirmed that Network discovery and file sharing was On for all machines and confirmed that al shared the same workgroup name.  In addition, on the Sonata server, I confirmed that all the following services were running and set to automatically start:

• HomeGroup Listener
• HomeGroup Provider
• Network connections
• Network List Service
• Network Location Awareness
• Network Store Interface Service
• Peer Name Resolution Protocol
• Peer Networking Grouping
• Peer Networing Identity Manager

After reseting everything and rebooting all the PCs I let things settle out for a few hours.

It now appears that all Internet access, network access, and file & print sharing is functiong between the various PCs.

However, on the Sonata server, it still says:

1. I am not connected to any networks
2. I have no network connections available
3. My current network profile is STILL stuck on Public
4. I am unable to join the HomeGroup (due to network profile being Public)

I have created relevant screen shots from my three PCs.

Sonota (Win7 Pro) the PC with issues - http://db.tt/r9RRNzwF

This full, two display screen(s) shot includes the following windows:

• MSIE window showing my access to the Internet (this web page actually)
• Windows Explorer correctly showing all the devices on my network
• Systems Properties dialog box showing the Workgroup name of GUINN-ALEMAN
• Advanced Sharing setting indication that Public is still my current profile and that network discovery and file & print sharing are turned on.
• Network map showing NO CONNECTIVITY
• Networt and Sharing Center showing NO CONNECTION to any networks, no network map, and a pop-up stating that NO NETWORK CONNECTIONS ARE AVAILABLE. ?!?!?!?

HP Pavilion (Win7 Home Premium) - http://db.tt/nDYFdG4W

This full. two screen shot includes the following windows:

• MSIE window showing Internet access (this web page)
• Windows Explorer showing devices on my network
• System Properties dialog box showing Workgroup name of GUINN-ALEMAN
• Advanced Sharing settings showing the current profile on that PS is "Home or Work" with Netwrok discovery turned on.  (file & print sharing are also on)
• Network map with Unknown connection to the switch and Gateway (????)
• Network and Sharing Center with network map and Active Network including being joined to the HomeGroup.

Yolanda (XP PC) - http://db.tt/lBfquUcs

This shows that now this PC has regained (somehow) connectivity to the other devices on the network. 

• Windows Explorer now shows the devices in the GUINN-ALEMAN workgroup.
• Systems Properties shows the workgroup name.

BOTTOM LINE

The network functioning on HP Pavilion and Yolanda are now as expected. I do not understand the "unknown network connection" displayed on HP Pavilion's netowrk map.

All the network indications on Sonata apper to be INCORRECT. I do have network connectivity, I do have Internet access, I do have file and printer sharing, the web server (IIS) can be accessed. 

I just cannot get the display correct and I cannot join the HomeGroup.

I have a QUESTION - Did my enabling on Sonata of the IIS Web Server and the corresponding enabling of the Windows firewall advanced security inbound rule for World Wide Web HTTP in-bound traffic cause the Network Profile to be set to Public?  Is that the cause of all of this?

Again, thank you for your time and effort.

Answer 3

Hello cnguinn   

Why can't I see other computers on my network?

The most common reasons why you can't see other computers on your network are that your computer is not connected to the network or that network discovery is disabled. The sections below will help you try to fix these and other, less common problems.

I don't see any computers or devices in the Network folder

This can occur for two reasons:

• Your computer is not connected to the network. If your computer is not connected to the network, the Network folder appears empty, even if there are other computers and devices on the network. To solve the problem, connect to that network or set up a new network. If you're having problems connecting to a network, go to Network connection problems in Windows on the Windowswebsite. Open Connect to a Network by clicking the network icon ( or ) in the notification area.
• Network discovery is blocking you from seeing other computers and devices. If the network discovery setting on your computer is set to Off, you won't see other computers and devices on the network. To change your network discovery setting, follow these steps:

1. Open Advanced sharing settings by clicking the Start button , and then clicking Control Panel. In the search box, type network, click Network and Sharing Center, and then, in the left pane, click Change advanced sharing settings. 2. Click the chevron  to expand the current network profile. 3. Click Turn on network discovery, and then click Save changes.  If you're prompted for an administrator password or confirmation, type the password or provide confirmation.

I don't see a computer or device that I expect to see in the Network folder

This can occur for two reasons:

• The computer or device isn't on the network. To solve this problem, add the computer to the network by plugging it into the hub, switch, or router (if the network is Ethernet), or by connecting to the network using the Connect to a Network wizard (if the network is wireless). For more information, see Add a device or computer to a network. If you think the computer or device has been added to the network but there's a problem, you can run the Network troubleshooter on the computer to try to find the problem. To run the Network troubleshooter, in the notification area, right-click the network icon ( or ), and then clickTroubleshoot problems. For more information about solving network problems, see Why can’t I connect to a network?
• The computer's network discovery setting is set to Off, which prevents you from seeing it. To change the network discovery setting on another computer runningWindows 7, follow the procedure earlier in this topic. To change the network discovery setting on a computer running Windows Vista, log on to the computer, click the Start button , click Control Panel, click Network and Internet, and then click Network and Sharing Center. Click the chevron  to expand the Network Discovery section, click Turn on network discovery, and then click Apply. If you don't have access to the computer, ask a person who does to change the network discovery setting to On so you can see the computer in the Network folder.

Notes - It might take several minutes for computers running previous versions of Windows to be discovered and become visible in the Network folder, especially if your network contains more than one workgroup. - We recommend that all computers be in the same workgroup. If you must use multiple workgroups, make sure that each workgroup contains a computer that has file sharing enabled and network discovery turned on.

From a computer running Windows XP, I can't see any network computers running Windows Vista or Windows 7

Here are some things to try:

On the computer running Windows XP, check the workgroup name and then compare it to the workgroup name on the computers running Windows 7. If the workgroup names don't match, change the names so that all of the computers on the network have the same workgroup name.

To check or change the workgroup name on a computer runningWindows XP

1. Click Start, click Control Panel, click Performance and Maintenance, and then click System.
2. Click the Computer Name tab. The workgroup name is displayed. To change the workgroup name, click Change.

To check or change the workgroup name on a computer runningWindows Vista or Windows 7

1. Click the Start button , click Control Panel, type system in the search box, and then click System. The workgroup name is displayed under Computer name, domain, and workgroup settings. To change the workgroup name, click Change settings.  If you're prompted for an administrator password or confirmation, type the password or provide confirmation.
2. In the System Properties dialog box, click the Computer Name tab, and then click Change.
3. In the Computer Name/Domain Changes dialog box, type the new workgroup name in the Workgroup box, and then click OK.

The Computer Name/Domain Changes dialog box

For more information about networking computers running Windows XP or other versions of Windows, see Networking home computers running different versions of Windows.

Resource: http://windows.microsoft.com/en-IN/windows7/Why-can-t-I-see-other-computers-on-my-network

Answer 4

Thank you for your interest in my issue.  As I mentioned above:

"in "Network and Sharing Center" under active networks I see "You are currently not connected to any networks." The link to "Connect to a network" shows that I have no networks to connect to."

A screen shot of this is on Dropbox at:  http://db.tt/Qyy6eSAh

Therefore, in Step 2 of the "Choosing a network location" procedure you pointed me to follow, there are no links in the Networks and Sharing Center for me to accomplish the change.  If I attempt to create a network connection, it automatically selects WAN Miniport (PPPOE) as the network adaptor, which in essence does nothing and cannot connect to anything.  I cannot create or connect to a new network.

Per your second request, a screen shot of my ipconfig /all is at http://db.tt/H4ehKOrh

My network setup is as follows:

I have Linksys WRT54G2 wireless router connected to the Intenet via a Time Warner Cable Road Runner cable modem.  Three devices are connected via Ethernet cable to the WRT54G2:

1) Sonata - this is the computer with the issue.  It is a Windows 7 Pro 64-bit (SP1) machine.  I use it as a file and print server as well as a web server.  It has a static IP address so that the router can route HTTP traffic to this machine.  (More on this machine below.)

2) A Synology DiskStation device used for file backups

3. A Western Digital TV Live Plus media center

In addition I have several wireless devices on the network including:

4. A HP Pavilion laptop PC running Win 7 Home Premium (SP1)
5. An older Dell laptop running Windows XP (SP3)
6. An Android tablet
7. my Android cell phone

Up until a few days ago I had no problems with all the machines "seeing" each other in Windows Explorer and in the Networks and Sharing Center .  I was able to share files and print to the printer connected to Sonata from all other PCs.

Additional information about the Sonata server which may be helpful:

Sonata contains a Gigabyte motherboard with a built-in NIC - a Realtek RTL8168C(P)/8111C(P).  This has been the only NIC in the machine for two years.

I have done considerable Intenet research on this problem.  One place suggested that corrupted NIC drivers may be the problem.  Therefore I installed another NIC into this machine, a D-Link DGE-530T gigabit ethernet adaptor.  I disabled the Realtek adaptor and configured the D-Link DGE-530T with new drivers which I had just installed.  The new NIC still connects to the Internet just fine, but I still have the problems of (1) no networks in the Networks and Sharing Center, (2) the Sonata server still cannot connect to my Home Group because the network location is still stuck in Public, and (3) machines cannot see each other consistently over the network.  (I say consistently because on a few rare occasions one PC can see the others, and later they cannot)

Any help is appreciated.  Thanks.

Answer 5

Hi,

Is the computer connected to multiple networks?

Follow the steps provided in the following link to change the network location.

‘Choosing a network location’

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http://windows.microsoft.com/en-US/windows7/Choosing-a-network-location

If you’re unable to change the network location then, let us know what exactly happens when you try to change the network location.

If the location keeps changing to public then follow these steps and provide us the information.

a)    Click on start and type ‘cmd’ and press enter.

b)    Type ‘ipconfig’ and press enter and provide us the information.

Also describe your network setup.