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

Locked Question. This question was migrated from the Microsoft Support Community. You can vote on whether it's helpful, but you can't add comments or replies or follow the question.

0 comments No comments
Answer accepted by question author
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.

Was this answer helpful?

100+ people found this answer helpful.
0 comments No comments

209 additional answers

Sort by: Newest
  1. Anonymous
    2014-12-17T01:41:57+00:00

    Just had to do this, can confirm it works in windows 8.1 as well

    Was this answer helpful?

    0 comments No comments
  2. Anonymous
    2014-12-10T14:48:27+00:00

    Worked like a charm.  Thanx

    Was this answer helpful?

    0 comments No comments
  3. Anonymous
    2014-12-10T10:31:26+00:00

    This fix works perfectly - well done and thanks, this has been bugging me for ages.

    Very clear instructions for a computer non-geek.

    Keep up the good work.

    Was this answer helpful?

    0 comments No comments
  4. Anonymous
    2014-12-04T00:06:58+00:00

    Well, the only reason I posted to it was that it had just happened to me and I decided to share both what it IS (not a bug, a "Fix-It" tool for joining a "Home Group" if you want to. I didn't want to so I told how I got rid of the icon. By running the tool and choosing not to join a "home group."

    The icon then went away and never came back.

    Other "Fix It" tools are available at http://support2.microsoft.com/fixit/?wa=wsignin1.0

    Was this answer helpful?

    0 comments No comments