gadgets has stopped working (tough one)

[mysticalice]

Hi
I'm having the same issue as this guy:
http://www.sevenforums.com/software/22676-windows-desktop-gadgets-has-stopped-working.html

however, i'm stumped on how to fix it. this problem occured after i downloaded a webcam gadget from microsoft's gadget site, and i don't know how to fix it

tried resetting to defaults, but like the guy in the thread, i get the same error.

i went to device manager, and uninstalled the webcam. anyone have any ideas what i can do to get my gadgets back?

 

[Airbot]

After you uninstalled the webcam, did you reboot?

What exactly is happening with the gadgets, are none/or some of them showing at all?

Have you made sure that Show Desktop Gadgets under View on the right click context menu is checked?

If it is, have you looked with the task manager to see if sidebar.exe is running under the Processes tab?

You can also go to Programs and Features - Turn Windows features on and off -Windows gadget Platform. Un check that, reboot, let it configure for a bit, after it does, go back to it and re enable it. Try the gadgets.

 

[SquonkSC]

Hi
I'm having the same issue as this guy:
http://www.sevenforums.com/software/22676-windows-desktop-gadgets-has-stopped-working.html

however, i'm stumped on how to fix it. this problem occured after i downloaded a webcam gadget from microsoft's gadget site, and i don't know how to fix it

tried resetting to defaults, but like the guy in the thread, i get the same error.

i went to device manager, and uninstalled the webcam. anyone have any ideas what i can do to get my gadgets back?

What Windows 7 Build? RC1? RTM?

 

[mysticalice]

windows 7 professional

After you uninstalled the webcam, did you reboot?
yes

What exactly is happening with the gadgets, are none/or some of them showing at all?
see the link i made in my first post

Have you made sure that Show Desktop Gadgets under View on the right click context menu is checked?
irrelevant since they weren't working at all

If it is, have you looked with the task manager to see if sidebar.exe is running under the Processes tab?
sidebar.exe doesn't run - see link in first post

You can also go to Programs and Features - Turn Windows features on and off -Windows gadget Platform. Un check that, reboot, let it configure for a bit, after it does, go back to it and re enable it. Try the gadgets
yeah i tried that before, but no-go

Here was the solution, in case someone searches for it:

Go to the the userdata, appdata\local\microsoft\windows sidebar\gadgets\ and removed the camera application.
restarted gadgets and they worked just fine

 

[Airbot]

Glad you found the solution.

But the sidebar.exe process does run in Windows 7. No sidebar itself, but the process still exists, and if you uncheck the Show Desktop Gadgets it will terminate the process, thus closing any gadgets.

 

[mysticalice]

sidebar.exe wasn't running for me though; and every time i tried running it, it would error out

 

[viper4266]

sorry to ressurect this. But I am having problerms with my gadgets (see:http://www.sevenforums.com/general-discussion/64525-desktop-gadgets-disappeared.html#post575321)

And I have no sidebar.exe anywhere on the computer as far as I can tell. It is not running in the processes at all either.

Also, how does one get to: userdata, appdata\local\microsoft\windows sidebar\gadgets\?

 

[Deanos]

Just thought I would add my 2c worth here!!!

I had the same problem now now...

4 of the 5 gadgets were showing and right clicking and trying to open the gadget window did nothing!

I also have UAC disabled!

I got it working again, here is how:

Right click on the desktop
Select VIEW, then uncheck VIEW DESKTOP GADGETS
They will or should disappear

Then simply just recheck it and VOILA! Everything worked fine again!!!

Good luck!

 

[matman1990]

Hi,

I tried that deanos and i stilll says that gadgets have stopped working....

i dont know what to do, i havent installed anything before the new gadgets and i havent installed anything since then...

can anyone including deanos help me please?

i have literally tried all the given solutions on here

Matt

 

[Deanos]

Try removing all current gadgets, then add them 1 by 1 until you get the crash again...

You will probably find that one of them is corrupt...

 

[matman1990]

well when i try to access it on the control panel it still comes up with 'windows desktop gadgets has stpopped working' just like it normally does when i start up my laptop

Matt

 

[Deanos]

Download a small program called CCleaner (CCleaner - Optimization and Cleaning - Free Download).
Install it and run it.

While in there, do the normal clean up (Make sure you select everything, except for the last item, "wipe free space" I think...) and then do the registry clean up...

Then go to Tools, then Startup.
Disable the entry for the gadget startup.

"Sidebar C:\Program Files\Windows Sidebar\sidebar.exe /autoRun"
Right click on it and select disable...

Reboot your PC and then try and add them one by one again...

Let me know what happens...

 

[matman1990]

Thanks Deanos.
Will do

 

[CarlTR6]

Download a small program called CCleaner (CCleaner - Optimization and Cleaning - Free Download).
Install it and run it.

While in there, do the normal clean up (Make sure you select everything, except for the last item, "wipe free space" I think...) and then do the registry clean up...

Then go to Tools, then Startup.
Disable the entry for the gadget startup.

"Sidebar C:\Program Files\Windows Sidebar\sidebar.exe /autoRun"
Right click on it and select disable...

Reboot your PC and then try and add them one by one again...

Let me know what happens...

I do not recommend using the reg cleaner unless you are very familiar with the registry and know what you are doing. Win 7 manages the registry much more efficiently and differently than does XP. The old XP wisdom does not apply to Win 7.

Cleaning keys that obviously refer to uninstalled programs is safe; but it will have no impact on the speed of the registry.

 

[johngalt]

He didn't offer the reg clean as a way to speed anything up - he offered it as a method to help get rid of the startup entry for the sidebar.exe program that runs to show the desktop gadgets.

However, I do agree with you that they have little effect in speeding up Windows 7 based computers.

@matman - In general, I have found that registry cleaners can easily do more harm than good if you do not know what you are doing.

Since this is not your thread originally, please go back and start from the beginning and tell us some more info.

Also, did you *specifically* do the part mentioned in this post?

Here was the solution, in case someone searches for it:

Go to the the userdata, appdata\local\microsoft\windows sidebar\gadgets\ and removed the camera application.
restarted gadgets and they worked just fine

That should allow you to remove any gadgets that you installed that sound like may be the cause of your problems....

 

[64met]

Just thought I would add my 2c worth here!!!

I had the same problem now now...

4 of the 5 gadgets were showing and right clicking and trying to open the gadget window did nothing!

I also have UAC disabled!

I got it working again, here is how:

Right click on the desktop
Select VIEW, then uncheck VIEW DESKTOP GADGETS
They will or should disappear

Then simply just recheck it and VOILA! Everything worked fine again!!!

Good luck!

Thank you- this solution worked!