Can anyone please tell me why libraries and homegroup are useful in W7? I understand it is "easier" to setup, but is there anything else? I already have my files organized in folders (Audio, Documents, Programs, Pictures, Videos). Is there any difference if i set that folder as a library? Is Homegroup any different than normal file sharing (when everything is setup). The only difference i noticed is that there are no write permissions (at all, except public folder, but that is not even the same folder) when using homegroup.

Libraries can have multiple folders associated with a single library wherever those folders may be, on separate partitions or hard drives even.For one good use example, I can add a "Recorded TV" folder to the Recorded TV library, and do this from explorer rather than having to bring up Media Center and go through the menus to add that folder to the recorded tv folders to watch.

Can anyone please tell me why libraries and homegroup are useful in W7?I understand it is "easier" to setup, but is there anything else?I already have my files organized in folders (Audio, Documents, Programs, Pictures, Videos). Is there any difference if i set that folder as a library?Is Homegroup any different than normal file sharing (when everything is setup). The only difference i noticed is that there are no write permissions (at all, except public folder, but that is not even the same folder) when using homegroup. Tadej - What Proton2 said... And to elaborate a bit further... In the past, Windows allowed you to store data of different types all over the place, but there wasn't any ONE means to keep track of it all. For instance, you might have a folder called C:\MP3s and one called C:\AACs and yet another called C:\WAVs - all with different content. These can all now be incorporated in the Music Library which will list the contents of all of the files - WITHOUT moving all of those files any one folder. In short, a Library can be considered a collection of folders in various locations that have contents that can be linked together in some logical way. As far as homegroups are concerned... They're a means to create a shared network that's secure - emphasis on SECURE. It's sort of like a mini-domain - without needing to have a Windows Server- and without all the other administrative stuff that goes along with it.