10
3
Last night a Windows update on my Windows 7 machine added a new "Homegroup" icon to my desktop.
I don't want the icon on my desktop but can't see any way to get rid of it.
It's not listed in the desktop icons under personalisation settings and it's not a regular shortcut so can't be deleted in the usual manner. The context (right click) menu also provides no suitable option.
Any ideas?
Matt Lacey
Posted 2010-08-03T08:09:44.343
Reputation: 297
3
You need to modify some registry keys. Here are the instructions on Microsoft's Windows 7 forums:
To remove the Home desktop Group icon, you need to manually modify some registry key:(answer by Thomas_77)
Open notepad and then copy the following text (without ===) into it.
================================ Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00 [HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\HideDesktopIcons\NewStartPanel] "{B4FB3F98-C1EA-428d-A78A-D1F5659CBA93}"=dword:00000001 [HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\HideDesktopIcons\ClassicStartMenu] "{B4FB3F98-C1EA-428d-A78A-D1F5659CBA93}"=dword:00000001 [HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\HideDesktopIcons\NewStartPanel] "{B4FB3F98-C1EA-428d-A78A-D1F5659CBA93}"=dword:00000001 [HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\HideDesktopIcons\ClassicStartMenu] "{B4FB3F98-C1EA-428d-A78A-D1F5659CBA93}"=dword:00000001 ===========================================- Save the txt file and rename to xxx.reg. Then double click xxx.reg to import the registry key.
Alex
Posted 2010-08-03T08:09:44.343
Reputation: 1 563
12
Glenn
Posted 2010-08-03T08:09:44.343
Reputation: 121
3
Or, if you don't fancy modifying your registry, just stop and disable the follwing services:
HomeGroup Listener
HomeGroup Provider
Ben
vassie
Posted 2010-08-03T08:09:44.343
Reputation: 386
For those who don't use HomeGroup at all, this is a much cleaner solution. – mindless.panda – 2011-08-09T00:57:20.400
2
Following the link provided by Alex, I found an easy way to get rid of Homegroup icon from desktop.
Quote from zzark's answer:
right-click on the Homegroup icon, select homegroup settings, then select leave homegroup.
elgrillo
Posted 2010-08-03T08:09:44.343
Reputation: 121
I'm not sure that's what the poster meant, because he didn't say he wants to leave the homegroup - he might be using it, he just wants to remove it's icon from the desktop. – Michael – 2012-10-17T08:48:14.683
0
Try right clicking on the desktop and clicking refresh. Simples
BigBoz
Posted 2010-08-03T08:09:44.343
Reputation: 11
2Welcome to Superuser. Please edit your answer so that it fully explains why it solves the issue. – Bort – 2016-03-14T19:58:26.920
2Welcome to Super User! While this may answer the question, it would be a better answer if you could provide some explanation why it does so. – DavidPostill – 2016-03-14T21:36:23.993
This worked for me (Windows 8) even though it's not a permanent solution. (I expect the icon will still randomly reappear someday.) If you have issues with the Homegroup icon randomly reappearing (and fully disabling the Homegroup features is not an option you want to take), this may be worth a shot. – sonny – 2019-04-17T13:52:16.467
0
I had to revisit this as that icon reappeared on my desktop, and the answer in the form wasn't working. I was getting lots of import errors. so did a little more searching, and Found another answer as to how to get rid of the icon, that doesn't make you copy paste and import. nor does it have you leave the home group or disable related services
Kit Ramos
Posted 2010-08-03T08:09:44.343
Reputation: 246
Much better and easier than the accepted, link-only answer. – Amos M. Carpenter – 2018-04-10T14:42:46.940
This worked for me on Windows 8 Enterprise. (However, the icon keeps reappearing occasionally, about once a month. I also don't know why the Homegroup icon suddenly appears.) – sonny – 2018-12-17T19:53:28.357
Perfect, this works on Windows 8 too. I have no idea why the Homegroup icon suddenly appeared. Maybe it was because I updated my network drivers. – Wyatt O'Day – 2013-03-25T06:52:04.093