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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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
    2015-02-16T04:01:43+00:00

    THIS IS ****!!!!!

    GET THIS OFF MY COMPUTER!!!!!!

    I DID NOT AGREE TO PUT IT THERE, WHY IS IT THERE????

    NOW I HAVE TO GO THROUGH A LONG PROCESS TO GET RID OF IT  

    ****!!!!

    WHY CANT I JUST DELETE IT LIKE EVERYTHING ELSE?

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  2. Anonymous
    2015-02-07T19:08:25+00:00

    Why so many people are scared by registry editing ?

    When correctly done, it's a fast and efficient solution.

    Do someone remember when XP Service Pack 3 came out and Internet Explorer desktop icon disappeared ?

    Well, the solution was a registry fix !

    You could follow the path to:

    HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\HideDesktopIcons\ClassicStartMenu

    and HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\HideDesktopIcons\NewStartPanel

    and modify the DWORD (32 bit) value {871C5380-42A0-1069-A2EA-08002B30309D} (ID string of IE desktop icon) from 1 to 0 to unhide the missing icon.

    I've tested a similar solution on Win 7 for homegroup icon, hope it works on Win 8 too.

    Go to:

    HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\HideDesktopIcons\ClassicStartMenu

    and HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\HideDesktopIcons\NewStartPanel

    In each folder verify if there's a DWORD (32 bit) value named with the following string (from Amrita's tip):

    {B4FB3F98-C1EA-428d-A78A-D1F5659CBA93}

    If not in there, well... create it !

    Then give this DWORD the 1 value, or change it from 0 to 1.

    Go to desktop, refresh, and it's done.

    Humbly I hope it helps.

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  3. Anonymous
    2015-01-28T13:33:08+00:00

    This worked fine until I rebooted. Now it's back again. Do I have to change the registry every time I turn the system on?

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  4. Anonymous
    2015-01-12T15:23:48+00:00

    Perfect solution, worked like a charm on 8.1.

    Thanks very much.

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