Gadgets on Win 7 have disappeared and unable to recover

[Marhall]

Hello,

Today I turned on my PC and found my gadgets to be missing. I then tried to resolve the issue with opening Control panel> Programs> Desktop Gadgets. I am unable to click on on any of the options on that section, I can click on all other feature on this page. I also tried right clicking the desktop and i still am unable to click on that section either. I haven't installed any new anti virus or had any updates from Microsoft either. Im not sure if there are any quick fixes, or if this is a bug, or if there is something I can do to resolve this. Screen shot below. All help and advice greatly appreciated.

Thanks

 

[JDobbsy1987]

Hi and Welcome to SevenForums,

Microsoft have an article here that may help - Windows 7 gadgets may not work or be displayed correctly

They recommend doing a scannow, here is a guide to help with that - http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/1538-sfc-scannow-command-system-file-checker.html

Regards,
Jamie

 

[mopar3]

Microsoft recommends not using the Gadgets. They are prone to viruses. I'm not sure if there is an update for this that stops the Gadgets from working. Mine no longer work. When I first bought my computer they were fine.
This covers Vista and Win 7.

 

[Tookeri]

Yes there's a Fix it, see this thread http://www.sevenforums.com/performance-maintenance/344945-not-recognized-administrator.html

 

[mopar3]

See this - Gadgets have been discontinued - Microsoft Windows

 

[JDobbsy1987]

See this - Gadgets have been discontinued - Microsoft Windows

That articles kind of comes across a little "Upgrade to Window 8"

I may be a little sceptical and would never advise people to do the opposite of what Microsoft advise but desktops gadgets have been round for ages and nothing major had been announced about these vulnerabilities however less than a month before Windows 8 comes out (with all the apps) they say the gadgets/side bar in Windows 7/Vista are insecure.

 

[Callender]

Restore Default Gadgets

Tutorial: Restore Default Gadgets

Personally I keep sidebar and gadgets disabled as per the advice from Microsoft.

 

[A Guy]

Welcome to Seven Forums Marhall. Try this, easy fix if works.

Start> In search box type Turn Windows features on or off> Enter> Scroll down to Windows Gadget Platform> Uncheck it and restart your PC> Go back and check it again

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

See if gadgets return. A Guy

 

[csn2020]

Here's my solution: ctrl-alt-del > start task mgr > end process "sidebar.exe", then right-click on desktop > select "Gadgets".