Hiding Homegroup

[siouxdax]

Hello all:
I have a question regarding the possibility of hiding the Homegroup icons and links from Windows Explorer, or any other place it may show up other than the control panel.

I found this link giving instructions on how to disable and hide Homegroup from Win7, but I have a question that it doesn't seem to answer: Will this disable/delete/hide/otherwise destroy my wireless home network connection that I made by using the "set up a new connection or network" feature located in Control Panel>Network And Internet>Network And Sharing Center? I did not create this network with the Homegroup feature.

I simply don't want the Homegroup icon(s) to show up in any of Windows' navigation panes. It's distracting and annoying, and in my case, useless.

Any help, suggestions, etc are very much appreciated!

 

[Brink]

Hello Daniel,

Yes, using those instructions at that link will have your computer leave the homegroup and wipe it out.

The tutorial below will show you how to only remove Homegroup from the navigation pane without affecting the homegroup connection itself.

http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/39670-homegroup-add-remove-navigation-pane.html

Hope this helps,
Shawn

 

[aem]

What was the intentions of setting up that new network or connection? Was it for file and internet sharing only?

 

[siouxdax]

Hello Daniel,

Yes, using those instructions at that link will have your computer leave the homegroup and wipe it out.

The tutorial below will show you how to only remove Homegroup from the navigation pane without affecting the homegroup connection itself.

http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/39670-homegroup-add-remove-navigation-pane.html

Hope this helps,
Shawn

You misread my post. I indicated that I did not set up my network via Homegroup. Fortunately, through some more research, I did find a way to remove Homegroup without affecting anything that I said in my original post.

In case anyone wants to know how to remove Homegroups (and their functionality), simply run services.msc, then stop both Homegroup Listener and Homegroup Provider, then disable both. This will not affect any connections made via the Network and Sharing Center (located at: Control Panel>Network and Internet>Network and Sharing Center).

Thank you for you input. It is very much appreciated!

 

[siouxdax]

What was the intentions of setting up that new network or connection? Was it for file and internet sharing only?

Yes, setup for that connection was intended for file and internet sharing only.

 

[aem]

Good to hear u have solve your own question. I had a gut feeling that you wanted to share files only and therefore can do without homeGroup.

W7 HomeGroup is there for easy sharing of files, if you disabled or not use HomeGroup the way it is intended, you will not be able to share files in that particular way (or the way it was intended to be done). You can still share files via the old fashion ways. eg, map drivers, setup shares etc.

Also in the Network and sharing Center, there are many links (on left pane), These don't necessary tide up with what is on the right pane/window. Means what you do through the links on the left, might not effect what's on the right. In your case, creating a new network connection, has nothing to do with HomeGroup.