Remove Shared Documents Icon

Removing the "Shared Documents" Icon in Windows XP

Do you find the "Shared Documents" icon unnecessary in your Windows XP My Computer window? If you don't utilize this functionality, it can appear to be an inefficient use of screen real estate, particularly when you simply want access to your hard drive or a flash drive.

The icon can be disabled through a registry hack or by utilizing TweakUI. However, it’s important to note that these methods also remove the standard user documents folder from view.

Once the modification is implemented, neither the shared nor the regular document folder will be visible.

If this outcome is acceptable, proceed with the instructions below.

Manual Registry Hack

Access the Registry Editor (regedit.exe) via the Run box in the Start Menu. Navigate to the following path, creating any missing keys as needed:

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\Explorer

On the right pane, create a new DWORD value with these specifications:

Name: NoSharedDocuments
Value: 1

A system logoff and subsequent logon are required for the changes to take effect.

The Easier Alternative

Instead of directly editing the registry, consider using Microsoft’s Tweak UI utility. Select "My Computer" in the left-hand pane.

Then, uncheck the "Files Stored on This Computer" option on the right side and click "Apply".

This completes the process.

Note: For users of Windows XP Professional, the Group Policy editor provides another avenue for this adjustment. The setting is located under User Configuration \ Administrative Templates \ Windows Components \ Windows Explorer, and is labeled "Remove Shared Documents from My Computer".