Recently we told you how to disable "HomeGroup" feature in Windows 7. Today we are going to share a small trick to disable "Libraries" in Windows 7. If you are not aware of "Libraries", please visit this link. "Libraries" icon is always visible in Windows Explorer.
After following this tutorial, "Libraries" feature will be disabled in Windows 7 and its icon will also be removed from Explorer and Start menu.
You just need to run a small Registry script to disable it. Download following ZIP file, extract it and run the "Disable Libraries in Windows 7.REG" file:
After running the .REG file, log off or restart your system and you'll no longer see Libraries icon in Windows Explorer:
If you don't want to disable complete "Libraries" feature but only want to remove its icon from Explorer, then run "Only Remove Libraries Icon from Windows 7 Explorer.reg" file.
PS: There is also a restore script available in case you want to restore Libraries.
This article was posted by VG in following section: Troubleshooting, Windows 7.
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Conor Duffy
Is there any way to modify the Documents, Pictures, etc Links on the Start Menu to point to the corosponding folders (like on Vista), as they don't work when you disable Libraries (which I want to disable)
Perern
is it still possilbe to show Documents, pictures, videos and music in start menu?
VG
Please download the ZIP file again. I have included another registry script which only removes "Libraries" icon from Explorer and you can still access Documents, Picture, etc folders using Startmenu.
RsrMusic
I know you can change the path in explorer..
But its a lot of work
SCBright
Interesting trick!
But, just for curiosity, why to incapacitate Libraries? Would not this be a downgrade of one of the newest characteristics of Windows 7? It would be similar to Windows Vista...
Anyway, it is a great post VG anybody must understand how registry works.
MAGNUMHEART
offtopic:
hi vishal my friend is on windows xp
she have encountered an automatic reboot after 2-3 hours.
what could be the problem? i think it happened 3 times
but now it seems ok. thx for the help. ^^
Daniel
I love you ;)...thank you very much...no need for Libraries for me...no with no Libraries and Homegroups Explorer Windows is clean
Eki
good tips on homegroup and libraries. thanks
is there a way to hide the user name in the explorer also. i dont need any of the folders that username contains since i got my own custom folders, thanks.
Zane
Hi Vishal,
I'm interested in what "Conor Duffy" asked too.
I re-downloaded the archive, but I only see 3 files:
-Disable Libraries in Windows 7
-Only Remove Libraries Icon from Windows 7 Explorer
-Restore Default Settings
I tried "Only Remove Libraries Icon from Windows 7 Explorer" and, while it works good in what it's name promises, the Start Menu entries are still opening libraries.
Thanks.
VG
^^ That script only removes the icon, it doesnt disable Libraries. And if you use the other script to disable Libraries, all documents, pictures, etc folders will be removed from startmenu obviously.
@Eki
I don't see any username folder in Explorer. Can you provide more details?
@MAGNUMHEART
It might be a hardware problem, most probably overheating problem.
@SCBright
There are many people who don't use these new features so its always good to have options to disable them. :)