Win7 Libraries FolderOn my new corporate computer installed with Windows 7 OS, these two things bugged me from the very beginning: how can I remove this unnecessary “Libraries” folder from the desktop (still didn’t figure out what it is for) and how I can disable these window preview hovers (because I know in which window I have what information).

Windows 7 Taskbar Preview

It turned out that I am definitely not alone with both requests – at least that’s what Google told me when querying these topics. But more suprised I was about the fact, that both settings need to digg into the RegEdit and are not standard OS features.

Anyway, here’s what to do:

How-to hide the “Libraries” icon from the Windows 7 desktop?

  1. Start RegEdit.exe as Administrator
    Win7 Regedit start

  2. Navigate to the following structure inside RegEdit
    HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE
    > SOFTWARE
      > Microsoft
        > Windows
          > CurrentVersion
            > Explorer
              > Desktop
                > NameSpace

  3. Right-click the sub-folder with name {031E4825-7B94-4dc3-B131-E946B44C8DD5}
  4. Choose “Delete” from the dropdown-menu
    Win7 Hide Libraries Folder Delete Registry Key

  5. Close RegEdit, Logoff and Logon to your Windows Account

 

How-to hide the window preview hovers in Windows 7?

FYI: it’s not possible to “hide” them completely, but you c an set a long delay until they show up.

  1. Start RegEdit.exe as Administrator
    Win7 Regedit start

  2. Navigate to the following folder:
    HKEY_CURRENT_USER
    > Software
      > Microsoft
        > Windows
          > CurrentVersion
            > Explorer
              > Advanced

  3. Add a new DWORD key with the name “ExtendedUIHoverTime
    Win7 Preview Delay New Regedit DWORD Menu

  4. Double-click it and change the number to “Decimal” base and set the delay for hovers in Miliseconds
    (default is 400 milliseconds. Use something much higher like 30’000 = 30 seconds)
    Win7 Preview Delay New Regedit DWORD Key

  5. Close RegEdit, Logoff and Logon to your Windows Account

 

References used

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