Sorry...

[coda46]

Sorry I am a newbie at these forums and at win 7 because this would not have happened.
I did as most folks probably do when they get Win 7....play around with the gadgets. Some great one there, then this happened a few days ago a big white panel has appeared. Will I have to re-install Win 7 ? I hope not!!!

 

[oreo27]

Click the [x] button on that gadget and it'll be removed mate

 

[severedsolo]

That looks to me like a "can't load the picture" red x than a "close the picture" red x. What is it meant to be? a gadget?

 

[coda46]

Click the [x] button on that gadget and it'll be removed mate

I think I said I was a newbie to these forums not Windows !!! Been using it since Win 95, so yes I did click on the x I think it's more likely to be the second solution.
I tried a few gadgets and can't remember which !
So looks like a re-install then ? Or any other suggestions ?

 

[severedsolo]

Apologie's coda, we have to assume that everyone who post's know's nothing about computer's, sure you understand.

Probably the easiest thing to do is uninstall all your gadgets, then reintroduce them one by one until you find the issue.

There should be no need to reinstall just for a dodgy gadget.

First try and close the gadget (if that's what it is) by right clicking it. Im fairly sure you won't be able to uninstall it while it's running. (you'll get the "in use by another process" message)

To uninstall gadget:
1. Open Windows Explorer.
2. Press Alt then click Tools>Folder Options
3. Click View>Show Hidden Files, folders and drives.
4. Navigate to C:\Users\<Username>\AppData\Local\Microsoft\Windows Sidebar
5. Delete all folders, they should all be named <something>.gadget
6. You may need to restart (not sure)

 

[coda46]

Apologie's coda, we have to assume that everyone who post's know's nothing about computer's, sure you understand.

Probably the easiest thing to do is uninstall all your gadgets, then reintroduce them one by one until you find the issue.

There should be no need to reinstall just for a dodgy gadget.

First try and close the gadget (if that's what it is) by right clicking it. Im fairly sure you won't be able to uninstall it while it's running. (you'll get the "in use by another process" message)

To uninstall gadget:
1. Open Windows Explorer.
2. Press Alt then click Tools>Folder Options
3. Click View>Show Hidden Files, folders and drives.
4. Navigate to C:\Users\<Username>\AppData\Local\Microsoft\Windows Sidebar
5. Delete all folders, they should all be named <something>.gadget
6. You may need to restart (not sure)

Thanks Martin nice to get help from a "Narfolk" man I lived in Peterbourgh for many years before moving here to NL. Anyhoo back to my problem. I read this but when I saw the 'uninstall' word I thought Win 7 must be a simpler way...hey presto there is !
I went to the actual box which pops up from the desktop gadget option and there is an uninstall (I did install a lot, toys for the boys eh?) Job done!
Thanks for the help.

 

[severedsolo]

Great stuff, glad to hear it's fixed. The reason I recommended manual uninstallation is because some gadget's don't have that option, I wanted to provide a foolproof solution. I'll go ahead and mark the thread solved for you.