"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
    2012-06-04T04:59:26+00:00

    I found that to fix this problem on my PC I had to delete the file:

    C:\Windows\ServiceProfiles\LocalService\AppData\Roaming\PeerNetworking\idstore.sst and the new version of that file too.

    Then I followed the steps from this post:

    Hi Mark,

    First lets disable the services “HomeGroup Listener” and “HomeGroup Provider” and then try to leave the homegroup from both the computers.

    To remove Homegroup (and stop Homegroup networking functionality):

    1.    Go toControl Panel -> Network and Sharing Center ->HomeGroup, and click onLeave the homegroup link to unjoin from any existing home group.

    Note: If the home group are shared and hosted from the PC, all HomeGroup connections will be disconnected.

    2.    Click on Leave the homegroup and confirm.  In the future, if you want to use Homegroup networking you can create a homegroup using this same dialog.

    3.    Go to Control Panel -> System and Security ->Administrative Tools, and double click on **Services.**Alternatively, type services.msc in Start Search.

    4.    For each of the following two services:

    HomeGroup ListenerHomeGroup Provider

    Do the following:

    Stop the service, and then double click on the service to open Properties dialog, and set its Startup type to Disabled. Click OK when done. 

    I then tried to leave the homegroup with no success, so I went back and set the Startup type back to Manual and re-started the two services.

    After that I tried to leave the homegroup and succeeded. No restarts or anything throughout the process.

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  2. Anonymous
    2012-05-14T01:55:16+00:00

    Unfortunately NONE of these have worked for me - tried just about everything including a system restore which failed so now I'm stumped.  Any other ideas?

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  3. Anonymous
    2012-05-07T03:47:50+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 :)

    This did it for me.  I was able to leave the home group.  THANK YOU.

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  4. Anonymous
    2012-05-06T19:43:39+00:00

    It wasn't just the idstore.sst file for me that fixed it.

    I had to delete ALL contents under: C:\Windows\ServiceProfiles\LocalService\AppData\Roaming\PeerNetworking\

    and then reboot.

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