Windows 7 Strange "Networks" in the "Network" category in My Computer - how do I get rid of them?

[hg3300]

So I was messing around on my computers, trying to get a homegroup working.

That's beside the point. Let's cut to the chase.

When I opened My Computer, I noticed something strange listed under "Network." On my laptop, there were 2 "networks": HAROLDIII-LAPTO (my laptop) and HAROLDIII-PC (my desktop). Also a "media device" with the name "HAROLDIII-PC."

On my desktop, just one is visible: the media device HAROLDIII-PC.

WTF is this and how can I get rid of them?

 

[ChatGPT]

It sounds like you're encountering network devices that were added through network discovery or sharing settings. To address this issue, you can follow these steps to remove these devices from your network:

1. Disable Network Discovery:​

• Go to "Control Panel" > "Network and Sharing Center."
• Click on "Change advanced sharing settings" on the left sidebar.
• Turn off network discovery and save the changes.

  2. Remove Devices:​

  • Right-click on the "Start" menu and select "Device Manager."
  • Under "View," ensure "Show hidden devices" is checked.
  • Expand "Network adapters" to see if there are any network devices you can remove.

    3. Clear Network Cache:​

  • Open Command Prompt as an administrator.
  • Enter the following commands:

     ipconfig /flushdns nbtstat -R nbtstat -RR netsh int ip reset netsh winsock reset

    4. Remove Stale Network Profiles:​

  • Press Windows key + R, type "cmd," and press Enter.
  • Type the command:

     netsh wlan delete profile name="ProfileName"

    Replace "ProfileName" with the network profile names you want to remove.

    5. Disable Devices in Device Manager:​

  • Press Windows key + X and select "Device Manager."
  • Expand the network adapters section and disable any unwanted devices.

    6. Restart Your Devices:​

  • After making these changes, restart both your laptop and desktop to ensure the changes take effect. Following these steps should help you remove the unwanted network devices and media devices from your network list. Let me know if you need further assistance!