Is it possible to hide or remove the icons for Homegroup and Libraries from the desktop? I have no use for them and would like to remove them from my desktop. Any help would be appreciated. Thanks. -- RHC

Yes its possible, see the link to see how http://szeiger.de/blog/2009/08/11/removing-libraries-and-homegroup-icons-from-the-windows-7-desktop/ Or, just do this you do have to go into the registry to fix this. First things first, back up your registry before you make any changes: Back up the registry Modifying REGISTRY settings incorrectly can cause serious problems that may prevent your computer from booting properly. Microsoft cannot guarantee that any problems resulting from the configuring of REGISTRY settings can be solved. Modifications of these settings are at your own risk. After you have that done: · Click the Start Orb · Type regedit into the search field · Press Enter on your keyboard · Click Yes on the User Account Control · Navigate to: HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\HideDesktopIcons\NewStartPanel · Right click {B4FB3F98-C1EA-428d-A78A-D1F5659CBA93} · Click Modify · Change the Value data: to 1 · Click OK · Right click {031E4825-7B94-4dc3-B131-E946B44C8DD5} · Click Modify · Change the Value data: to 1 · Click OK · Restart your computer Once you restart, you’ll still have the functionality of both HomeGroup and Libraries, but won’t have to have a desktop icon permanently present.Hope that helps! MCSE, MCSA, MCDST [If this post helps to resolve your issue, please click the "Mark as Answer" or "Helpful" button at the top of this message. By marking a post as Answered, or Helpful you help others find the answer faster.]

I went to the German site and went through his steps and even did yours. I have Windows 7 64 so I looked in three places. The two alphanumeric sequences you show are either missing from one location or already have "1" as a value. Since they already had a value of one there was nothing to change. My desktop still shows both "Libraries' and "Homegroup". Thanks for the info. and help. -- RHC

Do you mean on your desktop computer you want to remove the Library and HomeGroup features, or on the Desktop there are shortcuts for Library and HomeGroup you want to delete? If you want to remove the features, please note that Library cannot be removed. If you do not want to use HomeGroup, just change the network location from Home to Work or Public. Arthur Xie - MSFT

I want to remove the Desktop icons. I use Explorer and it always sends me to the libraries first so I use it for any of the libraries, I have no need for either of these icons. They are just taking up Desktop space. I turned Homegroup off in Services to rid me of that but would rather just remove both icons instead. Again, I just want to remove the Desktop icons from Windows 7 Desktop. Thank you for your help. -- RHC

Do you mean you want to remove the shortcut from Taskbar? If so, just right-click on it and choose “Unpin this program from Taskbar”.Arthur Xie - MSFT

When Windows 7 boots, the Library icon sits on the top left of the screen. On a delayed start, the Homegroup appears on the screen after all the other icons on the Desktop. I never said anything about the Taskbar. It is fine. I want to remove the Library and Homegroup icons from the DESKTOP. The solutions giving by blog and your answer did NOT remove them. I have turned Homegroup off for now but do not want to leave it this way. I went to "services' and disabled Homegroup. This is drastic and I do not want to leave it this way. Thanks for the help. -- RHC

Just to be sure: Did you try the most simple way of all - right-click on desktop, "Personalize" -> "Change desktop icons", and uncheck all icons you don't want to have displayed? Or don't they even appear there? (I don't know if that's the same as the "desktop icons settings dialog" the German blog is speaking of.)Mobile AMD64 3000+, VIA Apollo K8T800 chipset, 1 G RAM, ATIRadeonMobility 9700, 20x DVDRW, C:XPSP3 (50G),D:WIN7 (30G),F:DATA (250G)

They are not listed under "Change desktop icons". I looked again to make sure and only 5 items are listed but not these 2. Thanks. -- RHC

Why not right-clicking on them and choose Delete? What happened if you do this? Additionally, please capture a screenshot of your Desktop and upload your SkyDrive so we can aware detail information. Use SkyDrive to upload collected files and post screen shot/picture Arthur Xie - MSFT

I have posted sceenshots of my desktop on Skydrive. I used OneNote to take the screenshots. The 3 screenshots are listed under Ricky - Skydrive - Public. They are named Screen 1, 2 & 3. Right clicking menu does NOT offer a choice of delete nor does pressing delete do anything. If you are wondering about my empty Desktop, I removed most of my icons before the screenshot. I hope this helps. Thanks -- RHC

Please give us the link to your SkyDrive so we can access it.Arthur Xie - MSFT

http://cid-0c3e4c4c9b2d9d8e.skydrive.live.com/self.aspx/.Public/Screen1.oneThis is a link to my Skydrive public area. This lists screen #1. I have screens # 2 & 3. Do you need links to them also or will this allow you to see all 3. I have all 3 in public viewing. I have never used Skydrive before and do not know what you can get to or have access to. If you need the other links, I will add them. Thanks -- RHC

It seems that your system is installed in a virtual machine. If so, you need to change the settings in the virtual machine program to resolve this issue. Please contact the support of the software publisher.Arthur Xie - MSFT

The only virtual software on my computer is Microsoft. I am running Windows 7 64 Pro. No other software is installed to create a virtual machine. Thank you. -- RHC

i did the above and it worked great thank you very much but am not having much luck finding out how to remove the network icon and the computer icon and am really hoping you could help me please,could you email me at ahancock@iprimus.com.au and let me know what I have to do to remove them. Thank You

Another option is to use the Freeware program Fences from Stardock that will hide all your desktop shortcuts. You can reveal them when you need them by double clicking on the "empty" desktop. See: http://www.stardock.com/products/fences/downloads.asp Jerry