Windows Sidebar - Gadget Not Displayed Correctly

How to Fix the Windows Sidebar Gadget Not Displaying Correctly in Vista​

   Information

This will show you how to fix the Windows Sidebar when the clock gadget is displayed as a black square and all other gadgets show up as white rectangles with one of those information (i) icons and a plus sign.

   Note

This usually happens if the XML registration is missing in the system. The steps below will show you how to fix this.

EXAMPLE: Windows Sidebar not displaying correctly

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OPTION ONE

Automatically Using a BAT File Download

NOTE: This does the same thing as in OPTION TWO below, but automatically. If your Vista is not displayed as the C: drive in Computer, then do OPTION TWO below instead and substitute C: in the last command with your drive letter instead.

1. Click on the Download button below to download the file below.​

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Reset_Gadgets.bat​

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2. Click on Save (if prompted), and save the .bat file to your desktop.​

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3. Right click on the downloaded .bat file and click on Run as administrator.​

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4. You will see a command prompt flash open and close as the .bat file runs.​

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5. When finished, restart the computer to apply.​

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6. Check to see if Windows Sidebar is displaying correctly now. If not, then do a System Restore using a restore point dated before the problem.​

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OPTION TWO

Manually in a Elevated Command Prompt

NOTE: This does the same thing as in OPTION ONE above, but manually.

1. Open a elevated command prompt (right click - Run as administrator​

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2. In the elevated command prompt, type in each command below and press Enter one at a time. After each time your press Enter, you will need to click on OK before doing the next command. (see screenshot below)​

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[/INDENT][/INDENT]
[INDENT][INDENT][LIST][/INDENT][/INDENT]
[INDENT][INDENT][*]taskkill /im sidebar.exe /f[/INDENT][/INDENT]
[INDENT][INDENT][*]regsvr32 msxml3.dll[/INDENT][/INDENT]
[INDENT][INDENT][*]regsvr32 scrrun.dll[/INDENT][/INDENT]
[INDENT][INDENT][*]regsvr32 jscript.dll[/INDENT][/INDENT]
[INDENT][INDENT][*]regsvr32 atl.dll[/INDENT][/INDENT]
[INDENT][INDENT][*]Regsvr32 "%ProgramFiles%\Windows Sidebar\sbdrop.dll"[/INDENT][/INDENT]
[INDENT][INDENT][*]Regsvr32 "%ProgramFiles%\Windows Sidebar\wlsrvc.dll"[/INDENT][/INDENT]
[INDENT][INDENT][*]reg delete "HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Internet Settings\Zones" /f[/INDENT][/INDENT]
[INDENT][INDENT][/LIST][INDENT][B][COLOR=red]NOTE:[/COLOR][/B] [I]This command will reset the security zones in Internet Explorer back to the default settings[/I].[/INDENT][/INDENT]
[INDENT][INDENT][/INDENT][/INDENT][/INDENT]
[INDENT][INDENT][LIST][/INDENT][/INDENT]
[INDENT][INDENT][*][B]"[COLOR=red]C:[/COLOR][/B]\Program Files\Windows Sidebar\sidebar.exe"[/INDENT][/INDENT]
[INDENT][INDENT][/LIST][INDENT][B][COLOR=red]NOTE:[/COLOR][/B] [I]If your Vista is not displayed as the [B]C:[/B] drive in Computer, then substitute [B][COLOR=red]C:[/COLOR][/B] in the command above with your drive letter instead.[/I][/INDENT][/INDENT]
[INDENT][INDENT][/INDENT]

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3. Restart the computer to apply.​

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4. Check to see if Windows Sidebar is displaying correctly now. If not, then do a System Restore using a restore point dated before the problem.​

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That's it,
Shawn

Related Tutorials

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• How to Change the Windows Sidebar Theme in Vista
• How to Enable or Disable Windows Sidebar in Vista
• How to Turn Windows Sidebar On or Off in Vista
• How to Fix Windows Sidebar not Starting in Vista

 

[Brink]

You're most welcome Mander, and welcome to Vista Forums.

 

[Dome14]

WoW!

It helped me... I was looking for a soluiton for this for weeks, and I have been thinking about reinstalling my OS...

Thanks a lot...

 

[Brink]

You're most welcome Dome, and welcome to Vista Forums.

 

[Arvinwebb]

Hello Shawn,

Thanks for your this tutorial. Sometimes I was having this problem. but couldn't fix it.

Now your tutorial fixed everything. works like a charm.

Thanks again.

Arvin

 

[Brink]

Thank you Arvin. You're most welcome.

 

[Keithuk]

Cheers Shawn.

Well for the past 16 months the sidebar has shown perfectly on every startup. I rebuilt my laptop last month and its working perfectly since up until tonight. I had the same sidebar showing in your first post picture with the black clock and none visible items. I tried removing and adding the components again but that did nothing. I thought it was working ok yesterday I'll do a system restore but it wouldn't let me it came back with an error the restore point was corrupt I had to run a chkdsk on startup.

I Googled this problem before I came here and

Windows Sidebar clock won't work - Microsoft Answers

Said change the desktop/personalize/change DPI and chose the standard 120 DPI that cured his but it didn't cure mine. I should have come here in the first place.

Its strange the sidebar has been working perfectly all this time then it doesn't show anything?

I downloaded the Reset_Gadgets.bat worked for me.

Cheers your the best.

 

[Brink]

Thank you Keith. I'm happy to hear that it was able to help fix it for you.