Vista Windows Sidebar - Reinstate on Windows 7

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    Sidebar - Vista Sidebar on Windows 7

    Sidebar - Vista Sidebar on Windows 7

    How to Reinstate the Vista Sidebar on Windows 7
    Published by
    Designer Media Ltd


    How to Reinstate the Vista Sidebar on Windows 7

       Information
    This will show you how to reinstate the Vista Windows Sidebar on Windows 7.





    METHOD ONE

    Reinstate Vista Windows Sidebar on Windows 7

    1. First Close all running Gadgets and Check Task Manager to Make sure it is not running and then go to C:\Program Files\Windows Sidebar.
    Vista Windows Sidebar - Reinstate on Windows 7-2008-11-18_202259.jpg
    2. Download the Take Ownership shortcut to add it to the right click context menu by going here Take Ownership Shortcut

    3. Right click on the Sidebar folder and select Take Ownership

    4. Rename the Original Folder to Windows Sidebar (2)

    5. Go to the Windows Sidebar Programs folder in Vista and copy it.

    6. Now just paste the Vista folder in the Programs folder on your Windows 7 partition.

    7. Right Click on the screen and select Gadgets and now you should have the Vista sidebar.
    Vista Windows Sidebar - Reinstate on Windows 7-vista-sidebar-.jpg
    8. To close the sidebar just go to the icon in the system tray, right click and select exit.
    Vista Windows Sidebar - Reinstate on Windows 7-close-sidebar.jpg



    METHOD TWO

    Reinstate Vista Windows Sidebar on Windows 7

    1. First Close all running Gadgets and Check Task Manager to Make sure it is not running and then go to C:\Program Files\Windows Sidebar.
    Vista Windows Sidebar - Reinstate on Windows 7-2008-11-18_202259.jpg
    2. Right click on a file and select Properties.
    Vista Windows Sidebar - Reinstate on Windows 7-2008-11-18_202335.jpg
    3. Go to the Security Tab and click on Advanced.
    Vista Windows Sidebar - Reinstate on Windows 7-2008-11-18_202357.jpg
    4. Go to the Owner Tab and select Edit.
    Vista Windows Sidebar - Reinstate on Windows 7-2008-11-18_202425.jpg
    5. Select your user name and hit OK.
    Vista Windows Sidebar - Reinstate on Windows 7-2008-11-18_202458.jpg
    6. Go back to step 3 now and instead of Advanced select Edit.

    7. Select your user name and tick the box with Full control and hit OK.
    Vista Windows Sidebar - Reinstate on Windows 7-2008-11-18_204230.jpg
    • OK now you have done that for every file in the Windows sidebar folder except the Gadgets Folder, you can now delete or replace the files.

    8. Copy the Windows Sidebar Folder and Paste it somewhere for a backup if you want to Revert your changes.

    9. Go to the Sidebar Folder in Vista and copy all the files except the Gadgets Folder and Paste it in the Windows 7 Sidebar folder and overwrite the existing files and folders.

    10. Right Click on the screen and select Gadgets and now you should have the Vista sidebar.




    STEP TWO

    Add Vista Sidebar Gadgets to Windows 7



       Note
    This is an optional extra for getting all of your Gadgets from Vista to use in Windows 7
    1. First close your sidebar and check Task Manager to make sure it is not running.

    2. Go to folder options and select Show Hidden Files.

    3. Now go to your Vista Drive and go to folder Users\your user name\AppData\Local\Microsoft\Windows Sidebar\Gadgets and copy all of the folders in that folder.
    Vista Windows Sidebar - Reinstate on Windows 7-2008-11-18_213546.jpg
    4. Now go to the same folder on your Windows 7 drive and Paste the files in that folder.

    5. Start your sidebar again by Right Clicking on the Desktop and selecting Gadgets and now you should have all the gadgets you were using on Vista, Enjoy!
    Vista Windows Sidebar - Reinstate on Windows 7-2008-11-18_214623.jpg




    STEP THREE

    Add NEW Gadgets to the Vista Sidebar




    There is a problem installing new gadgets when using the Vista sidebar and you will need to follow this workaround to be able.

    1. Download new Gadget

    2. Download 7-Zip and install

    3. Right click on the Gadget.exe and go to the 7-Zip tab and Extract Files.
    Vista Windows Sidebar - Reinstate on Windows 7-2009-05-29_041521.jpg
    4. Now you have the folder on your desktop you will need to add .Gadget to the folder name and move it to the Gadgets folder as mentioned in Step Two.


    TO UNDO CHANGES FOLLOW THESE INSTRUCTIONS

    1. Opening the Start Menu and then type: cmd and Open as Administrator

    2. Type: sfc /scannow

    3. Let it complete and restart and all changes will undone.

    For more information on scf /scannow look here.



  1. Posts : 22,814
    W 7 64-bit Ultimate
       #1

    Hello Mr Grim....:)

    I didn't know you had done a proper tutorial on this subject; Good Work!















    Later Ted
      My Computer


  2. Posts : 2,588
    SEVEN x64
       #2

    nice work Mr Grim......

    :)SK
      My Computer


  3. Posts : 4,282
    Windows 7 Ultimate Vista Ultimate x64
    Thread Starter
       #3

    Thanks Guys.

    Tanks to Brink as well for touching it up a little here and there.
      My Computer


  4. Joe
    Posts : 236
    Windows 7 RC
       #4

    Indeed. Great job Mr. Grim.

    This was one thing that I like about Vista and will carry over to Windows 7
      My Computer


  5. Posts : 71,975
    64-bit Windows 11 Pro for Workstations
       #5

    Mr GRiM said:
    Thanks Guys.

    Tanks to Brink as well for touching it up a little here and there.
    You're welcome Mr GRiM.

    I tend to fancy the new Gadgets on the desktop only though. It's a lot more customizable IMO.
      My Computer


  6. Posts : 5
    Windows 7 Ultimate (x64)
       #6

    Hey there, any idea how to uninstall? I decided that I'd rather have the gadgets in Explorer not the sidebar, but Ive got no idea how to reverse this... any ideas? :)
      My Computer


  7. Posts : 4,282
    Windows 7 Ultimate Vista Ultimate x64
    Thread Starter
       #7

    Go to command promt,

    1. Opening the Start Menu and then type: cmd and Enter

    2. Type sfc /scannow

    3. Let it complete and restart and you will have your old sidebar back or lack of should I say.
      My Computer


  8. Posts : 5
    Windows 7 Ultimate (x64)
       #8

    Thanks alot, Im giving it a go now
      My Computer


  9. Posts : 4,282
    Windows 7 Ultimate Vista Ultimate x64
    Thread Starter
       #9

    New registry fix for enabling the Sidebar with UAC off, download reg file and right click and select merge, restart and enjoy.


    Downloading this file type (.reg) can potentially harm your computer.

    Sidebar NO UAC Reg Fix
      My Computer


 
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