Solved No Sidebar or Gadgets on Windows 7 Pro

[Dayn]

I don't have the Sidebar or Gadgets on on my desktop. When I enter 'sidebar or gadget' in the start window. both come up. (This was step 1 from several Google searches on restoring Sidebar and Gadgets) When I click either sidebar or gadgets in the search. A popup tells me these changes can only be made by a sys admin. I'm the only user of my computer, and the account has admin privileges. The only other things plugged into the router are Xbox360 and a Playstation 3.
HELP!......

 

[derekimo]

See if this helps, they might be turned off in features,

http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/5023-windows-features-turn-off.html

 

[Dayn]

Thanks, but Windows Gadget Platform is enabled/checked.

 

[Petey7]

When I click the first thing that pops up while typing "gadget" it works fine for me. Have you tired doing it in control panel first?

 

[DocBrown]

Thanks, but Windows Gadget Platform is enabled/checked.

Try turning if OFF. Power down computer. Then Power on computer.

Then enable Gadget Platform.

 

[Dayn]

OK, When I go to the control panel and select Desktop Gadgets I get the same error message.
"DESKTOP GADGETS ARE MANAGED BY YOUR SYSTEM ADMINISTRATOR"
I did go to Windows features and unchecked the Gadgets box, rebooted, turned Gadgets back on, rebooted and this had no effect. (Still no sidebar or gadgets)

 

[derekimo]

Do you have UAC turned off?

 

[Dayn]

Nope, it's set to 'notify me when programs try to make changes' I think that may be the factory default.

 

[derekimo]

See if this fixes it,

http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/3675-gadgets-allow-prevent-user-installed-gadgets.html

 

[Dayn]

See if this fixes it,

Gadgets - Allow or Prevent User Installed Gadgets

Tried both the registry hack and also the UAC settings (which already had gadgets turned on). Rebooted for each change, with no luck.

 

[Dayn]

I have my Windows 7 Pro Upgrade disk here. Wondering if there's a 'repair' option when I put it the drive? Or if it would even fix something like this?

 

[Petey7]

I doubt it would fix this particular problem, but here is how to do a http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/3413-repair-install.html?ltr=R

 

[derekimo]

I have my Windows 7 Pro Upgrade disk here. Wondering if there's a 'repair' option when I put it the drive? Or if it would even fix something like this?

It's worth a try, it might fix it,

http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/3413-repair-install.html

 

[DocBrown]

I wonder if doing SFC /scannow from the CMD prompt might fix a corrupted gadget file ?

 

[derekimo]

I wonder if doing SFC /scannow from the CMD prompt might fix a corrupted gadget file ?

You should try that first before a repair install, good idea Doc.

http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/1538-sfc-scannow-command-system-file-checker.html

 

[Dayn]

MY sincere thanks to all that offered their help, time and thoughts. I did a repair install per the instruction you supplied. After the last reboot, the Gadgets returned.
Thanks again.
73 de Dayn

 

[Petey7]

Glad to hear you got them working

 

[A Guy]

How about this one?

http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/3674-gadgets-enable-disable.html

A Guy

Edit: Ooops too late for you

 

[derekimo]

How about this one?

http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/3674-gadgets-enable-disable.html

A Guy

They fixed it with a repair install.