Gadgets : which files to grant access in firewall ?

Hello,

My firewall is the Windows 7 built-in one. After reading some advice on several Internet sites, I use it the advanced way (everything forbidden except when I create a rule to allow Internet access to the software).

The problem I encounter with gadgets is that I don't know which application I should grant access in my firewall. I spent 2 hours searching the web, and the only thing I found was I should allow msfeessync.exe so that the RSS gadget works... and it does ! I am looking for the same information regarding the weather forecast gadget for instance.

I also tried to install an alternative weather gadget : Weather Show. It works when my firewall is off, but not when it's on because I don't know which file is needing firewall allowance !

Thanks for your help,

MALESCOT

Jonathan_King said:

Thanks for posting. I am sure someone will be helped sometime down the road.

Hi, I'm someone that was helped sometime down the road.

The reason this is helpful is because Microsoft has made such a point in the past about how Sidebar is, for all intent and purposes, no longer part of Windows (starting with Windows 7) and that instead gadgets are just part of the operating system, part of windows.

Surprise! Sidebar.exe still needs access, and some firewalls (such as Norton's 2011 solution) behave inconsistently toward Sidebar.exe when on an Auto rule is used, which is a default for running on Windows 7.

So, thanks everyone.

I created 8 new rules. 4 For both inbound and outbound, Program Files (x86) and regular Program Files, system32\winsxs\wow64... and system32\winsxs\amd64...

No luck. Gadgets weather feature still not working for me. Is there another application besides the sidebar.exe files that I am neglecting?