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
    2014-09-05T20:25:19+00:00

    It keeps coming back, I've tried everything here to no avail.  I can't leave the homegroup. When I click show password nothing happens. I don't ever remember setting up a homegroup.  Home group thinks I am sharing printers, when I uncheck Share printers and save changes, I am back to sharing printers on the next re boot.  I don't mind editing the registry if someone can tell me what to do to get rid if Homegroup.

    I believe that anything that I cannot remove is SPAM AND ABUSE I have been trying to remove homegroup too and can't. This is an abuse of MY computer  and should be blocked.

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  2. Anonymous
    2014-09-05T16:39:16+00:00

    Thankyou, easy to follow, a great help,  Regards R Stanners.

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  3. Anonymous
    2014-08-29T02:37:59+00:00

    Worked perfect!!!   Thanks!!!

    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

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  4. Anonymous
    2014-08-21T15:36:31+00:00

    Awesome! Your regedit fix worked perfect to correct this problem. Not sure what caused this to happen in the first place, but it apparently had something to do with the updates installed recently. At least that's when the icon first appeared on my win 7 machine.

    Thank you Amrita M

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