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
    2013-05-23T21:56:44+00:00

    I had managed to remove it from desktop but the link was in file explorer on the left hand side and was bugging me, but I just did: Control Panel > Administrative Tools > Services and stopped HomeGroup Provider and it disappeared instantly, thanks

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  2. Anonymous
    2013-05-22T20:25:34+00:00

    Ok, I know this is over a year old, but it may help others with similar problems.

    You were all doing technical stuff with the registry and so on.

    I thought I'd try something and it worked.

    I dragged the icon to the Recycle bin, refreshed with F5 and it was gone.

    Simples!!

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  3. Anonymous
    2013-05-17T16:56:59+00:00

    Huge help! Led me right to what I needed to do to get rid of the unwanted icon, thankyou!

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  4. Anonymous
    2013-05-17T01:35:37+00:00

    Same on Windows 8, except search (drag mouse to upper right corner, click on magnifying lens) for folder options (it'll be under "settings").

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