Windows Server 2008: how to remove “favorite links” from Explorer?

Question

I just set up a fresh install of Windows Server 2008, and have a favorite links pane above folders in my Explorer. I know I can drag folders over it, but it comes back, and looks funky.

How can I really just disable that? Anyone know where it is in the registry?

Answer 1

Here is an article that describes disabling it in Vista. The steps should be the same in Windows 2008.

Answer 2

By default, Windows Server 2008 R2 does not provides Group Policy to disable or turn off Favorites and Libraries feature in Explorer. You can modify registry key to hide them.

Note: Please backup the key first.

1. For Favorites, the key is:

   [HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\CLSID\{323CA680-C24D-4099-B94D-446DD2D7249E}\ShellFolder]
   
   "Attributes"=dword:a0900100
   

   Changing a0900100 to a9400100 will hide Favorites from Navigation Pane.

2. For Libraries, the key is:

   [HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\CLSID\{031E4825-7B94-4dc3-B131-E946B44C8DD5}\ShellFolder]
   
   "Attributes"=dword:b080010d
   

   Changing b080010d to b090010d will hide Libraries from Navigation Pane.

Note: You need to take ownership the ShellFolder before changing the value of Attributes.