Computer - Add or Remove from Navigation Pane

    Computer - Add or Remove from Navigation Pane

    Computer - Add or Remove from Navigation Pane

    How to Add or Remove Computer from Navigation Pane in Windows 7
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    Designer Media Ltd


    How to Add or Remove Computer from Navigation Pane in Windows 7


       Information
    This will show you how to add or remove Computer in the Windows Explorer Navigation Pane in Windows 7.
       Warning

    • You can only do this while logged into an administrator account.
    • This will affect all user account's on the computer.
    • This will also add or remove the default Computer desktop icon as well.


    EXAMPLE: Computer in Navigation Pane
    NOTE: This is Computer added (default) (left screenshot below) and removed (right screenshot below) from the Navigation Pane.
    Computer - Add or Remove from Navigation Pane-default.jpg

    Computer - Add or Remove from Navigation Pane-removed.jpg


    Here's How:
    1. Open the Start Menu and type regedit.exe in the search line, then press enter.

    2. If prompted by UAC, then click on Yes.

    3. In Regedit, go to the location below: (See screenshot below step 4)
    HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\CLSID\{20D04FE0-3AEA-1069-A2D8-08002B30309D}\ShellFolder
    4. In the left pane of regedit, right click on the ShellFolder key and click on Permissions. (See screenshot below)
    Computer - Add or Remove from Navigation Pane-step-.jpg
    5. At the top, select the Administrators group. At the bottom, check the Allow box to the right of Full Control and click on OK. (See screenshot below)
    Computer - Add or Remove from Navigation Pane-step-b.jpg
    7. In the right pane of regedit, right click on a empty space and click on New and DWORD (32-bit) Value. Type Attributes and press enter. (See screenshots below)
    NOTE: If Attributes is already here, then you can skip this step and go to step 8 below instead.
    Computer - Add or Remove from Navigation Pane-step-c.jpg

    Computer - Add or Remove from Navigation Pane-step-c2.jpg
    8. In the right pane of regedit, right click on Attributes and click on Modify. (See screenshot below)
    Computer - Add or Remove from Navigation Pane-step-d.jpg
    9. To Add Computer to the Navigation Pane
    NOTE: You can also right click on Attributes and click on Delete and Yes to restore Computer to the Navigation Pane.
    A) Type in b084010c and click on OK. (see screenshot below)
    Computer - Add or Remove from Navigation Pane-step-e.jpg
    B) Go to step 9.
    10. To Remove Computer from the Navigation Pane
    A) Type in b094010c and click on OK. (see screenshot below)
    Computer - Add or Remove from Navigation Pane-step-f.jpg
    11. If you have 64-bit Windows 7 Installed
       Note

    To also add or remove Computer from the "Open" and "Save as" type windows as well in 64-bit Windows 7, you will also need to do this step.

    If you have a 32-bit Windows 7 installed, then skip this step since doing steps 1 to 7/8 will add or remove Computer from the "Open" and "Save as" type windows as well.
    A) In Regedit, go to the location below:
    Code:
    HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Wow6432Node\Classes\CLSID\{20D04FE0-3AEA-1069-A2D8-08002B30309D}\ShellFolder
    B) Repeat steps 4 to 9/10 above.
    11. Close regedit.

    12. Restart the computer to fully apply.
    That's it,
    Shawn







  1. Posts : 13,354
    Windows 7 Professional x64
       #1

    As usual, great tutorial.
    Edit: I found that if I quit the Explorer process and restarted it, I did not need to reboot.

    Edit 2: Shawn, I noticed that the registry value does more than just remove My Computer from the navigation pane. It also removes the icon from the desktop, even when the box is checked. I rebooted just to make sure the problem was not caused by quitting explorer and restarting it, with no success. I entered the enable value and My Computer magically reappeared.
      My Computer


  2. Posts : 72,043
    64-bit Windows 11 Pro for Workstations
    Thread Starter
       #2

    Thank you Jonathan. True, but if you had other user accounts on the computer, it would be easier to restart. :)

    EDIT:
    Thank you again Jonathan. I added a warning about the desktop icon.
    Last edited by Brink; 17 Nov 2009 at 17:20.
      My Computer


  3. Posts : 18
    windows 7 | Vista
       #3

    oh good, this means i can also remove the library from the nav pane, yes?
      My Computer


  4. Posts : 72,043
    64-bit Windows 11 Pro for Workstations
    Thread Starter
       #4
      My Computer


  5. Posts : 5
    Win7 Pro 64bit RTM
       #5

    I just tried the tutorial and it doesnt work for me. I am stuck at Step 5. It says "Unable to save permission change...." and I AM logged in as administrator. Windows 64bit pro.
    I used THIS method to remove ather shortcuts, now i only need to remove computer.
      My Computer


  6. Posts : 72,043
    64-bit Windows 11 Pro for Workstations
    Thread Starter
       #6

    Hello Kancaras,

    It sounds like you may need to use step 3 of Option Two in METHOD TWO of the tutorial below to take ownership of the ShellFolder registry key first, then try setting the permissions for it. :)

    Take Ownership of file - Vista Forums

    Hope this helps,
    Shawn
      My Computer


  7. Posts : 20
    Windows 7 Home Premium 64-bit SP1
       #7

    Is this the only method to also hide the Computer icon under the Desktop icon in file open/save dialogs? If so then I'd rather not go with it because then it'll also hide all the drive letters in the navigation pane, which I need .

    Edit: attached image
    Attached Thumbnails Attached Thumbnails Computer - Add or Remove from Navigation Pane-file-open-dialogue.png  
      My Computer


  8. Posts : 72,043
    64-bit Windows 11 Pro for Workstations
    Thread Starter
       #8

    Hello Soyabeaner,

    I'm afraid so.
      My Computer


  9. Posts : 1,002
    XP Pro (x86) | 7 HP (x86) & (x64) | 7 Pro (x64)
       #9

    Just discovered ...
    Remove "Computer" from Navigation Pane ... took immediate affect without rebooting
    Add "Computer" to Navigation Pane ... must be rebooted to take affect

    Win7 x32-bit
    As Administrator
      My Computer


 

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