Windows 7: Missing Windows 7 Sidebar/Gadgets

I am running windows 7 build 7600,

My friend gave me this build, he also ran a bunch of random registry's without telling me that were "suppost" to speed up my PC but I haven't noticed much of a difference except I am missing my gadgets now. I was running a much older build before that had the gadgets working fine! Now there gone.. Theres no folder in my program files stating "Windows SideBar"

I right click and all I see at the bottom is:

- Screen Resolution
- Personalize

Is there anyway to retrieve my gadgets back?... its nice having the weather report right on my desktop -.-




Thank you,

You could try a repair install. Run windows 7 setup from your disc or where ever you have it and that should get your gadgets back

Hello Rhino275 and welcome to Seven Forums!

It sounds like your friend has given you a copy that has been modified heavily. Since you dont say/know where this copy came from, you really dont know what else was removed, or what may have been added.

Your best bet, IMHO, is to download the 90 day evaluation of Windows 7 Enterprise Edition -=> here, format your drive and do a clean install ... I aint sayin ... Im just sayin....

He should try a repair first tho. If that works it'll save him having to download a new copy

I was approaching the OP's problem from that of system integrity, not inconvenience. If the integrity of his OS has been compromised, then re-installation of an official release of Windows 7 will resolve his current and future problems that his current install will not...
Of course, the decision ultimately rests with him...

sfc /scannow should restore the folder and it's contents as well and it's a bit quicker then doing a repair install or needing to download a different version.

Just want to say thank you for all the help!

I tried sfc /scannow
- It said it fixed something and needed to reboot, in-which I did. But Gadgets is still not showing up. I am running it a second time as we speak just to double check

I will try to see if I can get the 7600 CD and run a fix, I'm not sure where he got it from. I will ask him or do a bit of searching myself. Can it work with any build of a windows 7 cd or does it have to be 7600?

If all else fails I will go with the 60 day trial - Downloading as we speak.


A quick note here:
- Every time I boot up windows since the registry was fooled around with. Desktop.ini pops up when I enter into windows desktop with this:

"[.ShellClassInfo]
LocalizedResourceName=@%SystemRoot%\system32\shell32.dll,-21787"