Disable Homegroup Run : gpedit.msc Local Computer Policy\Computer Configuration\Administrative Templates\Windows Components\Homegroup double click: Prevent the computer from joining a homegroup , select Enabled and then click OK.
Doesn't work in "Windows 8 Core" because of "group police editor" not available. My alternative: Right mouse click on "Homegroup" in Windows Explorer "Change HomeGroup settings" -> "leave HomeGroup" Open "Local services" Stop service "HomeGroup Listener" and "HomeGroup Provider" Disable service "HomeGroup Listener" and "HomeGroup Provider"
There are many methods out there on the web for removing the annoying Home Group icon which is not desired if you don't use the Home Group feature. Here is a method that actually works: 1) Open Computer and right-click on "Homegroup" icon present in Navigation pane and select “Change Home Group Settings” Now click on "Leave the homegroup..." link given at bottom. (it will ask, and you need to confirm it) 2) Press CTRL + R then type services.msc 3) Double Click on Home Group Listener then set its status to Disabled 4) Double Click on Home Group Provider then set its status to Disabled 5) Press CTRL + R then type regedit 6) Navigate to: Computer\HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFWARE\Microsoft\Wind ows\CurrentVersion\E xplorer\Desktop\NameSpace\ 7) Find a folder (key) with the name {B4FB3F98-C1EA-428d-A78A-D1F5659CBA93} , this is the registry entry Home Group icon. 8) Delete the folder from the registry. 9) Restart your computer
Just disabling (and stopping) the two HomeGroup services is enough. There is absolutely no reason whatsoever to go delete the namespace entry in the registry. Doing so would make undoing this more difficult and could have other unforeseen consequences. Reboot is also unnecessary.