Unable to access Homegroup

I've got a problem and I have no idea how to solve it. Maybe someone here knows the answer...

I have connected my previous laptop to my new laptop via LAN. Almost instantly the 2 appear in Explorer under Network. I have setup a Homegroup and the 2 can see each other but Windows gives me only a Homegroup password whereas I am being asked for a user name also. My problem is I have no idea what the user name is supposed to be! I tried the computer name, in this case PBC, but that gets refused and an account appears showing PBC/PBC because Windows considers PBC to be the domain name.

Ideally I would like to have no need for user name nor password and just let the 2 talk to each other without any restrictions because it seems to be the simplest method of sharing and synchronizing files between them.

Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

 

Did you allow your PC to be shared or discovered in Network Settings?

 

Yes.

 

Have you tried troubleshooting packs included in Win 10 namely Network connection and incoming connection?

 

I tried the Network Troubleshooter but that couldn't find anything wrong.
Where else should I be looking for those 2?

Like I said at the beginning. The main issue is that I am asked for a user name and password. Once sharing has been setup you get supplied with a password but there's nothing telling you what the user name should be. Basically, I can't see how a troubleshooter can help because there is no trouble. It's just that to login I need those credentials.

Another thing is that this is a wired network so I shouldn't even need passwords. It would be simplest just to deactivate that functionality but I have no idea how to achieve that.

 

Are HomeGroup services running?
You may have to re-create the network again.

 

Yes they are. That's why I am being asked to login to it.
If I understand this article correctly (I probably don't), only account holders on the same PC can access the Homegroup which would mean the user name is whatever they use to login with but, if that is the case, then surely my account name should work but it doesn't.

On the other hand, access for other account holders (users) is only given to shared content on the same PC, not external drives, nor other PC's on the wired network.

As my goal is to connect 2 laptops together via LAN maybe it has to be achieved without a Homegroup? I noted that they are both showing in Explorer as "WORKGROUP" so tried that as a user name. Still no luck!

I even disabled the password requirement as explained in this article: https://www.geeksquad.co.uk/articles/how-to-set-up-file-sharing-on-windows-10

Now I am no longer asked for a user name and password but I still get a message saying "You do not have permission to access this computer."

 

If it is asking for a password, try using the username for the computer you are connecting to along with the password on that computer.

 

Have you tried Microsoft account's full username if your W10 account is synced to Outlook or Hotmail?

 

@murixbob
Would that I could but how do I know what the user name is? As I stated previously, when creating a Homegroup you are given a password to share with all users connecting to shared content on your computer but you are not provided with a user name.

Logically speaking, I would have thought the Windows name you gave to your PC should be this user name but it isn't because it gets refused on the basis that this name is your domain name.

@Vasudev
No, I haven't however my Win 10 account is not synced to either of them. Don't forget I have since removed the requirement for passwords theoretically allowing full access to Everybody on the local network and yet I'm getting the message "You do not have permission to access this computer."

 

@7leagueboot: Does your network config look exactly like these screenshots?

 

Yes to the first but I have no idea where you access the second? It looks remarkably like the Android settings on my tablet.

 

Open Settings app then Click on Network. Under status page click on Change connection settings. Alternatively, you click on Network icon in notification tray. Click on your AP, you will see properties and click on it to get you into Network settings page as in screenshot.

 

No I don't get the same page as you, perhaps because my PC is loaded with Win 10 Professional?
Anyway, this is what I get when I do as you suggested:

 

You're using Classic Shell, correct? Well, one option is to use Windows Key + X, then select Network Connections.