How to create a Windows 7 HomeGroup with an existing HomeGroup on network

Windows7 allows you to create a homegroup for easy file sharing, printer sharing across all the computers on your network. However, apparently you are limited to a single homegroup on the network. What if you wanted to create a new one. Here's a little undocumented trick that I found out today.

In order to create a homegroup, simply follow the official instructions. http://windows.microsoft.com/en-us/windows7/create-a-homegroup

First of all, I have absolutely no experience with homegroups so I do not consider myself an expert. However, I recently helped a family member set up their homegroup where we found the simple instructions didn't work as expected.

My parents downsized and live in my sister's basement. It works out perfect for everyone. My parents have a homegroup and my sister's family has a homegroup on their computers. They were on separate network connections (aka router/modem). Since they set up their homegroups, my sister decided to cut her internet costs and join my parent's internet connection. This is one way to have 2 homegroups on the same network.

This past week, my mom's computer was having issues so an IT friend came and cleaned it up a bit. In doing so, it wiped the homegroup setting. Since there was already a homegroup on the network, Windows7 would not let them create a new one. Here comes the fun stuff.

First try: disable the network adapter and try to create a homegroup. This failed because you have to be online to create a workgroup. But, everytime I went online, the button for 'Create a homegroup' would change to 'Join'. (See Step 2 to join to a homegroup - http://windows.microsoft.com/en-us/windows7/Join-a-homegroup)

When I re-enabled the network adapter, I realized that the gray/disabled button to create a homegroup, became enabled again. After about 2 seconds, it changed from "Create a homegroup" to "Join". Just then I had an idea. What if I click it in that 2 second window?

So I did. I disabled the network adapter. I re-enabled it and clicked the "Create a homegroup" before it could change. I filled out the information on the first page and clicked next. Just then, I got the same error message saying only one Homegroup could exist on the network. Bummer. So I disabled/re-enabled it again and clicked next. Success!

Here are the steps:

1. Open network adapter window from the control panel.
2. Open the 'Join' homegroup page in another window.
3. Disable the network adapter.
4. Enable the network adapter.
5. Right after the button becomes enabled, click "Create a homegroup" before it changes to Join.
6. Fill out first page.
7. Click next. Expect an error.
8. Disable the network adapter.
9. Enable the network adapter.
10. Click next.

Expected Results: You should get the password to give to the other computers to join the homegroup you just created!

Good luck!