If you enable "Navigation Pane" in Windows 7 Explorer, it shows following 5 items in the pane:
- Favorites
- Libraries
- Homegroup
- Computer
- Network
This tutorial will help you in removing "Favorites" item from the Navigation pane as shown in following screenshot:

Simply follow these simple steps:
1. Type regedit in RUN or startmenu search box and press Enter. It'll open Registry Editor.
2. Now go to following key:
HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\CLSID\{323CA680-C24D-4099-B94D-446DD2D7249E}\ShellFolder
3. Now you'll need to change value of "Attributes" DWORD value present in the right-side section. But Windows will not allow you to change its value as you won't have proper permissions.
To get permissions, first right-click on "ShellFolder" key and select "Permissions".

It'll open a new window. Select "Administrators" in user list and check "Allow" box given for "Full Control" permission.

Click on OK button to apply the changes.
4. Now double-click on "Attributes" DWORD value given in right-side section and change its value to a9400100
5. That's it. Log off or restart your system and "Favorites" will no longer present in Explorer window.
NOTE: If you want to restore "Favorites" in Navigation pane, simply change value of "Attributes" DWORD to a0900100 using step 4.
This article was posted by VG in following section: Windows 7.
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Frank80
I for one use the favorites pretty often, so removing it would be a step backwards for me.
But... there is always a big and juicy butt...
If it could be moved towards the bottom of the nav pane.. so that the Libraries and drives is topmost
it would be perfect. i often find myself looking downwards to look for the drive icons.
and... Vishal. Love your blog! :)
Levar
Can't you just do a simple right click -> and hit Remove? I'm pretty sure you can.
Frank80
Just checked, and No. The closest you get is Collapse... makes me wonder why they haven't incorporated a Ctrl-[leftclick] and drag feature on it sidebar. Microsoft, consider this a appeal to do so ;) Joke aside... There probably is a way to get around it. that being me changing my route to the Hd's.
TheAslan
Is there an chance to rename this "Favorites" to "Locations"??
LE
Vishal, these tweaks make me very happy, and I appreciate your clear instructions!
A request -- I would like to rename "Favorites" in the Windows 7 Navigation Pane to something else; perhaps "PC Favorites," or "Favorite Locations," or just "Locations," as TheAslan suggested. Could you please guide me?
It is too easy to confuse the Navigation Pane "Favorites" with Internet Explorer Favorites.
Thank you for your consideration!
archie
The string is there
everything else is NOT
Decided too dodgy to bugger about with, best not too.
Win 7 Premium
Mike
Favourites - Gone!
Libraries - Gone!
HomeGroup - Totally Gone!
Less crap, clutter, bells and whistles!
You beauty... YESSSS!
Mike
Weird... "Favorites" has come back but, when I check the registry, the value is still the correct value given in this article. Any ideas?
VG
^^ Try to disable UAC and then login as administrator and repeat the above mentioned steps.
Mike
Disabled UAC as soon as I got the box built(!) and I am an admin. on it (but no, I don't use that account for general usage). Any other ideas?