"Windows couldn't remove your computer from the homegroup."

Anonymous
2010-01-26T03:36:40+00:00

I have a laptop and a desktop which were both participaing in a Homegroup.  It stopped working, so I tried to "leave the Homegroup" from both machines, intending to recreate it.  By the way, standard networking and file sharing is still working.  The desktop allowed me to leave the Homegroup, but I receive the "Windows couldn't remove your computer from the homegroup" message on the laptop.  I have run the network and homegroup troubleshooters numerous times on both machines.  I have also researched and tried everything I could find on the web, with no sucess.  Please tell me how I can reset the Homegroup settings on my laptop.

Mark S. Freeman

Windows for home | Previous Windows versions | Internet and connectivity

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.

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Anonymous
2010-08-21T18:43:40+00:00

Here is a solution that might work.  It worked for me. 

"Researched the problem and found the solution. A file was corrupted and deleting it got the PNRP service running. The file was recreated correctly when the PNRP service started up. Here's the file for future reference:

C:\Windows\ServiceProfiles\LocalService\AppData\Roaming\PeerNetworking\idstore.sst"

Solution given by Streetwolf on Windows 7 Forums

Link is below:

http://www.sevenforums.com/network-sharing/29060-cant-start-peer-name-resolution-protocol.html

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  1. Anonymous
    2011-01-26T20:03:25+00:00

    Before doing the below kindly do this Go to "C:\Windows\ServiceProfiles\LocalService\AppData\Roaming\PeerNetworking\idstore.sst" and delete idstore.sst Now follow the below steps. 1. Press the Windows key or the "Start" key. 2. In the "search program and files" type services or services.msc 3. You will see a new window opened. Now out here scroll for the following services names:- 3.1 Peer Name Resolution Protocol 3.2 Peer Networking Grouping 3.3 Peer Networking Identity Manager 3.4 PNRP Machine Name Publication Service 4. You have to start each of them. Now you cannot start them unless you enable them. You need to enable each of them. 4.1 To enable right click on the service and go to properties. You'll find it disabled there so just click on the drop down menu and make it automatic. Once you have done this for all the services mentioned, simply start them. 5. Restart your PC and bravo you are done :). After doing the above mentioned you shall be able to Leave a homegroup or Change the password, etc. Any problem in the above let me know will be glad to help ya :)

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  2. Anonymous
    2011-01-12T02:04:29+00:00

    SnowKnight,  I am still fighting with this problem as well and your solution is unique.  I am not as savvy as you however, so I could not repeat your steps.  Would you mind elaborating a bit on how to "export... delete... re-add..."?  I did take a look at that key and saw that it was calling actxprxy.dll, but not sure what to do with that information.  No one else has been able to fix my issue, I would be very greatful for your help.

    Thanks.

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  3. Anonymous
    2011-01-05T00:00:42+00:00

    Man I wish I knew what the ____ you are talking about...

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  4. Anonymous
    2010-12-17T06:54:30+00:00

    I had a similar issue just recently and none of the fixes mentioned anywhere worked.

    First thing was to figure out exactly what clicking "Leave the homegroup" does. I opened Process Monitor, added a filter to include results from explorer.exe (as that's the process that spawns the control panel window) then started capturing. Clicking on that link caused explorer.exe to create a new thread then destroy the thread with nothing in between, so I disabled the filters and saw that it was calling svchost.exe. svchost.exe then traversed the registry until it hit a snag. One registry key was giving an access denied error.

    HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\CLSID{C90250F3-4D7D-4991-9B69-A5C5BC1C2AE6}

    Instead of fiddling with permissions, I exported that key, deleted it, then re-added it, and lo and behold, no more access denied error. After this, I did the usual routine of stopping the three Peer* services, deleting the C:\Windows\ServiceProfiles\LocalService\AppData\Roaming\PeerNetworking folder, then restarting said processes. This time, clicking on Leave the homegroup worked as intended. With a few more tweaks (disabling and stopping the two HomeGroup services), any mention of HomeGroup in the navigation pane in Explorer was gone.

    Ironically, starting the HomeGroup Listener service still gave me some about %%-2147023143. But nevertheless, I'd fixed my issue so all was well.

    When in doubt, bust out Process Monitor.

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