No gadgets in "Add Gadgets" menu

[spartanhoplite]

Hi,

Everytime I try to add a gadget, I find the gadgets menu empty. I tried to restore gadgets but did not help. The Windows Gadgets is enabled in Windows Features. How could I fix this?

Thanks in advance.

 

[Brink]

Hello Spartanhoplite, and welcome to Seven Forums.

You might see if turning off Windows Gadgets completely in Windows Features, then when finished, turn on Windows Gadgets again to see if it may restore them.

Hope this helps,
Shawn

 

[spartanhoplite]

I tried to turn off Windows Gadgets in Windows Features but still did not help.

Thanks in advance.

 

[Brink]

You could try doing a system restore using a restore point (if available) dated before you had this issue to hopefully fix it.

If that doesn't help or is an option, then you could see if running a sfc /scannow command may.

If still no help, then you could do a repair install without losing anything.

 

[A Guy]

Welcome to Seven Forums spartanhoplite. Is the process sidebar.exe running in task manager (Ctrl+Shift+Esc , Processes tab)? Do the gadgets still appear in C:\User\Name\AppData\Local\Microsoft\WindowsSidebar\Gadgets (or Start> Search box> shell:gadgets> Enter

A Guy

 

[Layback Bear]

This might be of some interest.

Microsoft Security Advisory (2719662): Vulnerabilities in Gadgets Could Allow Remote Code Execution

 

[spartanhoplite]

Hey A Guy, I checked the shell:gadgets directory and I found it empty. I think that was the problem.

But the question is, how to restore all gadgets?

Restoring gadgets from the Control Panel did not help, is there any other solution?

spartanhoplite out.

 

[Brink]

Have you already tried what I posted above to see if it may be able to fix this for you?

 

[A Guy]

I'd follow Brink's advice. If the folder is empty, as some point you somehow deleted the files. They may be backed up and the SFC will restore them, but otherwise his other choices may be necessary. I know at one point I found a d/l of the default gadgets on a blog, but don't remember where. A Guy

 

[spartanhoplite]

Brink, I have tried your method, but the restore points are AFTER the problem happened. I haven't got any restore points before the problem happened.


spartanhoplite out.

 

[Brink]

Brink, I have tried your method, but the restore points are AFTER the problem happened. I haven't got any restore points before the problem happened.


spartanhoplite out.

spartanhoplite,

In that case, here's a copy of the default Gadgets from my system in the attached ZIP file below.

Extract them the folders in the downloaded ZIP, and copy them into your folder below to add them back.

C:\Program Files\Windows Sidebar\Gadgets

 

[A Guy]

Great help Shawn, as always. I'd have done it, but I have none of the default gadgets, lol

A Guy

 

[spartanhoplite]

Brink, I found the gadgets folders are in
C:\Program Files\Windows Sidebar\Gadgets
It seems that the gadgets are there but 'hidden'.

So how can I 'unhide' the gadgets in the "Add Gadgets" menu?
Please any fix would be appreciated.

Thanks

 

[A Guy]

Try this

Open task manager (Ctrl+Shift+Esc)> Processes tab> Right click on sidebar.exe> End process> Right click an empty area of desktop> Gadgets

See if the menu is repopulated.

Do you have hidden files set to show?

http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/394-hidden-files-folders-show-hide.html

The gadgets should not be hidden. What do you mean by

It seems that the gadgets are there but 'hidden'.

? A Guy

Did you copy the gadgets to C:\Users\(User name)\AppData\Local\Microsoft\Windows Sidebar\Gadgets ?

 

[spartanhoplite]

A Guy,
I copied the files attached by Brink to the directory you wrote, but that did not solve my problem.

By hidden, I mean that if the gadgets are already installed and haven't been deleted, then they could be hidden or disabled, for instance. I enabled "Show hidden files" but it did not make a difference

Thanks.

 

[A Guy]

And ending sidebar.exe and then opening the gadget menu had no effect? A Guy

 

[spartanhoplite]

No it didn't

 

[Brink]

Have you already tried what I posted above to see if it may be able to fix this for you?

Brink, I have tried your method, but the restore points are AFTER the problem happened. I haven't got any restore points before the problem happened.


spartanhoplite out.

No it didn't

In that case, did you also try these from what I posted earlier?

If that doesn't help or is an option, then you could see if running a sfc /scannow command may.

If still no help, then you could do a repair install without losing anything.

 

[spartanhoplite]

Hey Brink,

None of your methods seem to work

But, I have found an article that says Microsoft has released an update to disable ALL gadgets.
I am now going to find the update code (e.g KB98203) and uninstall it.

Thanks

 

[Layback Bear]

spartanhoplite Could you check and make sure your posted (KB) is correct. I can't seem to find it. Missing one number.