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 "Network" item from the Navigation pane as shown in following screenshot:
Simply follow these simple steps:
1. Type regedit in RUN or Start Menu search box and press Enter. It'll open Registry Editor.
2. Now go to following key:
HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\CLSID\{F02C1A0D-BE21-4350-88B0-7367FC96EF3C}\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 b0940064
5. That's it. Log off or restart your system and "Network" will no longer present in Explorer window.
NOTE: If you want to restore "Network" in Navigation pane, simply change value of "Attributes" DWORD to b0040064 using step 4.
Posted by: Vishal Gupta | Categories: Windows 7
Eugene
I have CLS but not CLSID (Win7) so now what do I do please?
VG
^^ Thats not possible. CLSID is a system key and without this key, Windows cant boot. So please check again.
Anderson
Can you please provide a .reg file? thx
VG
^^ You'll need to take ownership of the key manually.
Hartismere
I've done all these, and sure enough they no longer appear in the left pane of Explorer. But when I open Explorer, and despite the highlight being across Computer in the left-pane, the address bar says "Libraries", the Quick Launch bar says "Libraries", and the right-pane shows icons for Music, Pictures, and Video libraries. ?
VG
^^ Did you try this:
http://www.askvg.com/how-to-disable-libraries-feature-in-windows-7/
David Jones
Hi Vishal,
Thanks for the article. I have a few questions for you:
1. This method doesn't stop the user from running Network, which can still be found using "Search". Also the user can still use netview in the command prompt to see the network. Is there any way of blocking these.
2. The registry changes you have outlined will remove Network from the Start menu and Explorer windows for the system, regardless of who is logged in. However, is it possible to remove Network for specific users of a system?
3. In addition to question 2, would there be a way of doing this through a Group Policy Object?
Thanks,
David.
VG
^^ 2 and 3 cant be done. Network access cant be restricted using Registry. You'll need to manually restrict computers from accessing the network. You can set a password or deauthorize computers.
raj
SCBright: because we map our network folders to explorer, dont need anything else eating up real estate
raj
is there a way to make the back button always go to the parent folder ? (up one level)
VG
^^ No but you can manually add Up button:
http://www.askvg.com/get-good-old-up-button-back-in-windows-vista-and-7-explorer/
ludicrous
Thank you for the regedit posting on removing network. It works great, however I would like to push this out using domain GPO. I configured a GPO computer config\pref\win settings\registry and the policy makes it to the desktop but does not change the registry value. Is it because I will need to change permission on the key? I need to push this setting out to over 500 pc's so I obviously can not touch all of them so would you know how I can accomplish this?
Thank you for our time.
VG
^^ Since it requires taking ownership of the Registry key manually, I dont think its possible to apply it via GPO.
Carol
Vishal you are a very wonderful person. I so appreciate your guides, and I hope you continue to provide them. I'm about to take the chance and remove Libraries now.
Thank you again ! ! !
Jules
Great registry hack, just what I was looking for. Awesome.