Remove Computers From Under Network (Windows Explorer)

[+longgonebn Subscriber²]

Hi,

I am looking to remove entries from under the Network listing in Windows Explorer.

 

I am using Windows 8.1. Now these aren't devices/computers I want to remove from the Network, I just don't want to see them.

 

 

That is what I am referring to. Is this possible?

[+BudMan MVC]

Those are machines on your network - why would you not want to see them?  This is normal network browsing working as it should.

 

Do you not want to see the whole list, or do you just want some not to participate in network browsing?

 

I don't think I have ever heard anyone want to not see boxes on the browse list - there are always hundreds that can not get it to work and can not figure out to get their machines to show up, etc.. Never heard of anyone wanting to remove them...

 

WTF does it matter?  I mean really??  Why would you want to hide them??  Which ones do you want to remove?

 

Lets see your discovery methods - example

 

 

See how mine are all netbios.

[+longgonebn Subscriber²]

One of them is a random device (I believe my network printer)

One of them is my Router

One of them is me

One of them is my Dads system which I never access.

 

That is why I want them gone :) I'm just picky with how my systems are displayed.

 

They are all NetBIOS discovery. So your basically saying, there is no way to do this?

[+LogicalApex MVC]

What you're asking for defeats the whole purpose of the Network Browser. It is designed to show you the devices on the network...

 

If it bothers you just disable network discovery entirely.

[+longgonebn Subscriber²]

Yea,

 

But I need access to one of them.

[+BudMan MVC]

Network discovery has nothing to do with ACCESS, its just the listing of the devices.  You can turn it off on your machine if you don't want to see a list, or for that matter here you go - click the little arrow
 

 
Now you don't see anything ;)  Map a drive letter or create a shortcut to the shares you access, and don't use the browsing feature if you don't want to see these extra devices on your network you don't access..
 
For the life of me I don't get it -- who cares??  if a computer is listed there that is ON YOUR NETWORK!!  Just because you don't access them what does it matter? 
 
Now I could understand if there was something there you were not sure what it was - and shouldn't be there and wanted to track it down.  But those are all devices on your network, so the system is doing what it was designed to do - show you whats on your network..
 
Here
http://blogs.technet.com/b/networking/archive/2010/12/06/disabling-network-discovery-network-resources.aspx
Disabling Network Discovery/Network Resources

 

 

[riahc3]

Hello,

Im guess its a organization thing. A lot of people are picky about this and having icons that they dont need or want.

Map a drive letter or create a shortcut to the shares you access, and don't use the browsing feature if you don't want to see these extra devices on your network you don't access..

This is the best solution basically. Unless you want to touch the registry (and even then Im not sure...)

[+BudMan MVC]

"A lot of people are picky"

 

In other words anal or they have a bad case of the ocds ;)

 

So show me everything on the network so I can "browse" it -- but not that guy, I don't use that guy -- he should not be on the list ;)

[Max Norris]

Last time I messed with this was like around 2003 or so, but it's probably still there. Open up a console and run "net config server /hidden:yes" and then restart the "Server" service. (You'll probably want to restart "Workstation" on the other machines too.. it may take a while to disappear from the browser lists.) It should be hidden in the network view, "net view", etc after that.. if the functionality is still there, like I said it's been over a decade. But like above, kind of fail to see the point, collapse the thing and make a shortcut to the one you do want in the favorites and call it a day instead of intentionally crippling functionality.

[cork1958]

"A lot of people are picky"

 

In other words anal or they have a bad case of the ocds ;)

 

So show me everything on the network so I can "browse" it -- but not that guy, I don't use that guy -- he should not be on the list ;)

 

Man,

I'm usually one of the pickiest people on the planet for things showing up where I may not want them, but this goes WAY beyond a bad case of the ocd's!

 

As stated though, just close the arrow/drop down and make a short cut to the one you want and quit looking at it!! ;)

[+BudMan MVC]

That would work for the machines he doesn't want on to see on the list - he needs to do that on the machine he wants to remove from the list. But kind of hard to run that command on his router, or his printer ;)

 

If he runs it on his own machine he will just remove his own machine from the list.  So which device on your network is your browse master?  This little tool will work.. Don't worry you don't have to "install" anything.. I remember your other thread where you don't like stuff installed on your machine ;) 

 

http://scottiestech.info/2009/02/14/how-to-determine-the-master-browser-in-a-windows-workgroup/

 

If his router is coming up in the list via netbios - I would have to assume it is sharing something, I do believe the n56u's can share like a usb stick.. I would suggest he turns that off on his router if he doesn't want to use that feature.

 

I can tell you want is going to happen - he is going to break browsing all together dicking with it trying remove a couple of entries.  And then he will complain that machine X is not listed under his network tab ;)

 

If you don't want printer and router in the list - then on the printer and router turn off the features that allow them to be on the list.

[riahc3]

Hello,

In other words anal or they have a bad case of the ocds ;)

I was trying to put it mildly but yes, exactly.

Lets just try to help him out. We aren't doctors so we cant cure his bad case of ocds nor his anal...........wait, that last part.......nm.

Anyways,

Last time I messed with this was like around 2003 or so, but it's probably still there. Open up a console and run "net config server /hidden:yes" and then restart the "Server" service. (You'll probably want to restart "Workstation" on the other machines too.. it may take a while to disappear from the browser lists.) It should be hidden in the network view, "net view", etc after that.. if the functionality is still there, like I said it's been over a decade. But like above, kind of fail to see the point, collapse the thing and make a shortcut to the one you do want in the favorites and call it a day instead of intentionally crippling functionality.

Wouldn't this make everything in the list disappear?

[Max Norris]

Wouldn't this make everything in the list disappear?

Budman clarified what I tried to say above, you do that command on the system you don't want to be seen in a network list... after it drops off the network browsing list it should stay hidden. But yea, it has the drawback that it only works on PC's and not devices. (Assuming it still works, like I said it's been like a decade since I actually tried that.)

[+BudMan MVC]

The command is still valid

 

 

And would for sure work on windows machines he has control over that he doesn't want on the list.

 

I want nothing more than to help the guy - but the whole point of the list is to show you what is on the network..  I would think he would be more anal about not seeing stuff that is on the network ;)

 

He has been given multiple solutions to his problem already.. Collapse the listing and use direct shares is clearly the best solution to his problem of seeing stuff he doesn't want to see ;)

 

the net config server /hidden works for windows machine he wants to remove from the list.  As to other non windows based like his router and printer he should contact the makers and turn that stuff off.  For example my printer

 

 

could prob turn of llmnr, cifs and mdns if I didn't want it to be found/listed via these services..  I don't see it in my list because its on another segment than my machine.  I would assume it shows up on my wireless laptops since that is the segment it is on to allow for easy airprint discovery, etc.

 

The browse list is dynamic - it is maintained by the browse master for each segment.  There is an election - there is also other discovery methods that could come into play..  I know of no way of manipulation of this list other than telling the devices to not to report themselves, etc.

 

 

[+longgonebn Subscriber²]

Thanks guys.

 

Yes I am as you put it "anal" about things. Look at it this way, I am seeing 4 things that I do not ever need to see, and one that I do. To me it's logical to remove those items.

 

I will remove the Network section completely and add a shortcut to the one system.

 

Though to confirm, if I turn off Network Discovery, I can still add a mapped drive/shortcut to that system? If you read the description for that link you gave, it makes it sound like that would not be possible. I know we kinda went through this on my Previous issue.

 

*nevermind, removed Network, added the share, looks good :)

Thanks everyone for the help, and suggestion.

[Max Norris]

Though to confirm, if I turn off Network Discovery, I can still add a mapped drive/shortcut to that system? If you read the description for that link you gave, it makes it sound like that would not be possible. I know we kinda went through this on my Previous issue.

It's just as it sounds, it's a combination of services that lets you easily find everything on your network. Regardless if those services are running or not, there's nothing from stopping you from connecting to another system directly. I forget if you can still use a UNC path or if you have to specifically use an IP address.. not something I've ever personally had a desire to disable.

[HawkMan]

just drag the one you access a lot to the favorites. the network "folder" isn't for things you regularly access, its there for all the things you can access.