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Unable to remove Homegroup Icon

Anonymous
2010-04-11T18:26:47+00:00

original title: Homegroup Icon

The HOMEGROUP Icon suddenly appeared on my desktop. I can't move it. I don't want it there. Can I get rid of the icon without disturbing the HOMEGROUP file?

Windows for home | Previous Windows versions | Accessibility

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  1. Anonymous
    2010-04-12T10:31:57+00:00

    Hi Halnormank,

    You may follow the link given below and follow the suggestion by ‘Dale’ to remove the folder from the registry.

    http://social.technet.microsoft.com/Forums/en-US/w7itproui/thread/366b1b5d-e177-46be-84d1-9a7864a2725b

    Below are the steps from the same link for your convenience.

    Important: This section, method, or task contains steps that tell you how to modify the registry. However, serious problems might occur if you modify the registry incorrectly. Therefore, make sure that you follow these steps carefully. For added protection, back up the registry before you modify it. Then, you can restore the registry if a problem occurs. For more information about how to back up and restore the registry, click the following link. http://windows.microsoft.com/en-US/windows7/Back-up-the-registry

    1. Press Win + R to open a run box.
    2. Type: regedit and hint Enter.
    3. Navigate to:

    Computer\HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\Desktop\NameSpace\

    1. Find a folder (key) with the name {B4FB3F98-C1EA-428d-A78A-D1F5659CBA93} , this is the registry entry Homegroup icon. Delete the folder from the registry.
    2. Press F5 to refresh the desktop and see if the icon disappears.

    Hope this information is helpful.

    Amrita M

    Microsoft Answers Support Engineer

    Visit our Microsoft Answers Feedback Forum and let us know what you think.

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  1. Anonymous
    2011-02-01T14:23:07+00:00

    Amrita,

    The question was how to remove the ICON, not how to delete the folder containing all the homegroup information. I too have this problem of the homegroup icon and I would like to remove the icon (not the folder) or at least move it to another location on my desktop. When i try to move it, it just jumps back tothe lower left corner of my desktop.

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  2. Anonymous
    2011-06-30T15:41:01+00:00

    Had the same problem after an update of 20 not important components.

    Can't tell witch one caused the problem.

    This worked for me win 7 - 64 bit home premium

    1. Drive to "Folder Options"
    2. Click "View"
    3. Scroll down to "Use Sharing Wizard (Recommended)" it must be checked
    4. Un-Check  the Check -box
    5. Click "Apply"......the Icon will be removed from your desktop
    6. Re-Check the Check-box .....the icon will not be back

    Have fun and try not to mess around with registry :) if you do not know exactly what are you doing

    88 people found this answer helpful.
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  3. Anonymous
    2011-07-07T23:43:14+00:00

    Worked perfectly. Thanks Amrita!

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  4. Anonymous
    2011-07-08T16:47:45+00:00

    Hi Reminore and Amrita,

    The Sharing Wizard is already off in my Folder Options, so that tip doesn't work. I have however noticed that the homegroup icon disappears by itself after a random # of days. It then re-appears after doing some updates. It would not be such a pain if it was movable,but it locks itself to the screen. I do have a homegroup and filesharing is turned on for ONE of my folders, but NOT by using the wizard.

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