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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Rita
I used your Disable Libraries in Windows 7.REG file. It disabled all libraries except Recorded TV in the Windows Media Player libraries. How do I disable it? Thanks for anything helpful.
SR
28/10/2010
Think I messed up, I made a restore point before running the file, file didn't work think assume now because I'm running 64 bit windows, now noticed windows media player/centre (12) doesn’t work (I assume because its library based as opposed to folder based), tried to use the restore reg file but with no luck, windows 7 has now overwritten my restore point with a more recent corrupt one!
On the plus site I don't use windows media player/centre because its messes with album art, wrongly changes tags without notice, has poor management features, slow and hogs resources etc
However anyone have any ideas how I can get libraries to work again if I want to use them in the future?
VG
^^ The undo reg file should work. Also did you try to restore the system to earlier Restore point?
SR
Undo script doesn’t do it for me, read on other forums this most likely due to the 64 bit version, for some reason the next restore point is in December 2009, so a bit reluctant to go that far back, I assume because I'm running low on disc space the more recent restore points have been overwritten. Tried doing a system checker command (sfc /scannow) but with no errors found.
Think I’ll just live without windows media library, don’t think I’ll miss it as I prefer media monkey and VLC player anyway.
VG
^^ You can try to repair Windows using setup disc. It should work.
GD
When I disable librairies or remove librairies in explorer with the links provided, this disables the Start Button for the right click to use explore
Ben
Aaron posted the following at some point in the past:
Disabling Libraries seems to mess up WMP. I had to re-enable them (yuck!) before WMP would allow me to rip a CD. Is there any way to work around this?
----------------------------
I confirm the above to be a problem too, WMP refuses to rip CD's if the Library folder for 'Music' has been removed or hidden, once in WMP if you navigate to: Tools - Options - Rip Music the 'rip music to this location' file path is blank until you re-enable libraries ... any ideas for a work around?
We need to hide libraries as Microsoft seem to have forgotten to make it work correctly when used on a domain with DFS paths for users roaming profiles & home drives ... a limitation of Desktop Search I believe!
drifter
Hi
I tried this in Windows 7 Ultimate and it did nothing. Even after a restart the dreaded Libraries folder still shows in Explorer.
drifter
Kelsey Thornton
In a home environment I can see all these new "facilities" as a boon.
In a professional environment Windows 7 is a giant leap *backwards* from XP.
Changes to locations of folders, these "wonderful" new Libraries, No "Windows Steady State" any more, because "now you have 'Parental Controls' you don't need it".
GRRRR!
JerryK
I never took the time to learn the actual file structure in WE so I used the script to remove Libraries. I decided to restore it and see how it worked. However, after restore, I have an entry for Desktop. It looks like this:
Favorites
...
Desktop
Libraries
...
The Desktop contains, as you might expect, entries for my desktop. I does not seem to cause a problem but it is distracting. How do I get rid of this entry from Windows Explorer?