The homegroup icon on desktop appears and disappears randomly after each boot


Recommended Posts

There is this odd behavior regarding the homegroup icon on desktop.

 

It is usually hidden and doesn't show up, which is how I want it to be, but sometimes after booting it shows up out of nowhere and looks like this:

 

XC3k2dP.jpg

 

As soon as I mouse over it, it looks like this:

 

h4FEd5V.jpg

 

If I refresh the desktop it completely disappears.

 

Has anyone else encountered this? Any possible solutions?

 

It's a very small thing but annoying nonetheless.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Are you using homegroups? if not make sure your not a member of one, then just disable the service this should prevent from that homegroup icons from showing up in the explorer or your desktop.

  • Like 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

Is this Windows 8.1?

I've got the same problem on Windows 8.1... sometimes. Don't know how to solve it though. Following this thread hoping for a solution.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Have you tried rebuilding your icon cache?

 

To do so, just delete C:\Users\Username\AppData\Local folder and delete the hidden IconCache.db file and reboot. You'll need to unhide system files in order to find and delete it.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I've noticed this popping up lately as well, odd.  All on new, recently updated machines. (8.1 Pro, non-members)  Has to be a bug so I bet we are waiting.  Workarounds for stuff like this is simply unacceptable.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

It happens to me too. I don't know what triggers it.

 

The fix:

Right click desktop

Personalize

Change desktop icons

Check network box

Click apply

Uncheck network box

Click OK

Link to comment
Share on other sites

It happens to me too. I don't know what triggers it.

 

The fix:

Right click desktop

Personalize

Change desktop icons

Check network box

Click apply

Uncheck network box

Click OK

That's not a fix. Mine is always unchecked. Besides, the icon disappears as soon as I refresh the desktop, as I mentioned in the first comment, so the problem lies somewhere else.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Same problem here. Homegroup has never worked worth a damn for me on 7 or 8. Constant connection problems between the 2 PCs on the house. I think its related to the POS 2wire gateway I'm forced to use for UVerse. From what I understand, Homegroup requires IPv6 to function, so my Gateway may be not fully compliant in that area.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I used to experience a similar issue with HomeGroup. My problem was slightly different from yours, however. The icon would not disappear and reappear, but instead took permanent residence on the Windows desktop. The context menu for the icon didn't have the usual options, such as Delete, Rename, et cetera. Since I never had a use for HomeGroup, I disabled the HomeGroup Listener and HomeGroup Provider Services, which removed the icons from the desktop and from the Navigation Pane in Windows Explorer.

You can disable the HomeGroup Listener and HomeGroup Provider Services by opening the Services Microsoft Management Console snap-in located in the Administrative Tools option of the Control Panel, or by typing services.msc within an elevated command prompt. From the Services snap-in window, locate and double-click the two services and select the Disable option listed within the Startup type dropdown menu.

ePoPFd6.png

DfIgS25.png

If you do have a use for HomeGroup and just want to remove the icon from your desktop, you can remove the HomeGroup icon from your desktop in Windows 7 and Windows 8 by making changes to the Windows Registry. Remember to backup the registry if you decide to edit the registry manually. It should be noted that while this method has been successful in permanently removing the HomeGroup icon for some users, others have reported that the icon will occasionally reappear.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Thanks, that's helpful, but I do use it sometimes.

 

If you do have a use for HomeGroup and just want to remove the icon from your desktop, you can remove the HomeGroup icon from your desktop in Windows 7 and Windows 8 by making changes to the Windows Registry. Remember to backup the registry if you decide to edit the registry manually. It should be noted that while this method has been successful in permanently removing the HomeGroup icon for some users, others have reported that the icon will occasionally reappear.

 

I know about the registry hack, but it causes other problems; for example, one can no longer change the lock screen and/or account picture(?) in the PC settings (metro).

Link to comment
Share on other sites

"Thanks, that's helpful, but I do use it sometimes."

Like how - I have found no use for homegroup.. Its completely USELESS in current form.. How do you use it - and I will show you way to accomplish exact same thing I would think ;)

Sharing a folder is as easy as right click, same with printer - you sure and the hell do not need ipv6 to share stuff.. Nor does homegroups even xfer the files over ipv6.. It is just one of MS many complete and utter fails when it comes to "making it easier for user" ;)

Link to comment
Share on other sites

This topic is now closed to further replies.
  • Recently Browsing   0 members

    • No registered users viewing this page.