Networking headaches!

[Draco1962]

Are you able to statically assign IP addresses within the DHCP range? My router allow for this and it has saved me quite a few headaches other than having to identify MAC addresses for each PC on a wired connection.

[Adultery]

I always static out my home IPs that are wired in the NIC settings. But the home group shouldn't care what your IP is, which is why I still feel that's the best way all around. We have two printers and a slew of computers, and the home group has yet to fail me.

I had to do something special to get my XP computer to see the W7/8 shares, but I can't remember what exactly.

[Draco1962]

I misspoke as I actually have my printer's wireless NIC statically assigned in addtion to a Tivo in our master.

[RIP-Felix]

Could it be because the computer that created the homegroup on the network is connected wirelessly to the xfinity modem/router? The HTPC is behind the switch, which by the way is how the network map sees the computer when directly connected to the TP-Link ETP.

I disconnected from the homegroup, hoping to rejoin. tried to simplify things and go back to having the computer plugged into the TP-Link directly and it will not join. I tried to connect with my wireless adapter I had used before and it keeps giving me preshared key mismatch warnings even though that is not the issue. Troubleshooter can't fix it and only a reset of the network will. However it will recur on the next boot up

I want to clear all network settings back to a default setting. Is there any way to completly obliterate any hidden saved network related settings, so I can start from the begining? The only thing I can think of now is a fresh install of windows, a logistic nightmare considering all the applications I've aquired and will never remember to re-load.

EDIT:

Solved, though I don't know what the issue was. I performed a factory reset to before I left the Homegroup and it worked. I can print, view files on the network and etc. The switch works fine now, as it should, without the headaches above. I don't have any answers, and I just hope it keeps working.