Windows Sidebar will not Start in Vista

How to Fix Windows Sidebar not Starting in Vista​

   Information

This will show you how to get Windows Sidebar to start again if it will not start for you.

STEP ONE

Double Checking

1. See if you have a sidebar.exe listed in Task Manager.​

A) If you do, then End Process it.​

NOTE: This will close the Windows Sidebar exe so hopefully you will be able to open another one if it was just not responding before.​

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B) Try doing step 3 now.​

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2. Make sure Windows Sidebar is Enabled.​

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3. Make sure Windows Sidebar is Turned On.​

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4. Check your Firewall or other Security programs to make sure that Windows Sidebar or sidebar.exe is not being blocked.​

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5. If Windows Sidebar will not start after this, then proceed to STEP TWO.​

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STEP TWO

Fix it Through a Elevated Command Prompt

   Tip

I would recommend to use Copy and Paste to make doing this easier.

   Note

Special thanks to meche94.

1. Open a elevated command prompt.​

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2. In the elevated command prompt, type: (See screenshot below)​

A) For 32 bit and 64 bit Vista:​

Regsvr32 -u "%ProgramFiles%\Windows Sidebar\sbdrop.dll"​

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B) Also Type for 64 bit Vista Only:​

Regsvr32 -u "%ProgramFiles(x86)%\Windows Sidebar\sbdrop.dll"​

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C) Press Enter after A and/or B.​

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3. Click on OK. (See screenshot below)​

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4. In the elevated command prompt, type: (See screenshot below)​

A) For 32 bit and 64 bit Vista:​

Regsvr32 -u "%ProgramFiles%\Windows Sidebar\wlsrvc.dll"​

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B) Also Type for 64 bit Vista Only:​

Regsvr32 -u "%ProgramFiles(x86)%\Windows Sidebar\wlsrvc.dll"​

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C) Press Enter after A and/or B.​

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5. Click on OK. (See screenshot below)​

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6. In the elevated command prompt, type Regsvr32 atl.dll and press Enter. (See screenshot below)​

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7. Click on OK. (See screeshot below)​

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8. In the elevated command prompt, type: (See screenshot below)​

A) For 32 bit and 64 bit Vista:​

Regsvr32 "%ProgramFiles%\Windows Sidebar\sbdrop.dll"​

​

B) Also Type for 64 bit Vista Only:​

Regsvr32 "%ProgramFiles(x86)%\Windows Sidebar\sbdrop.dll"​

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C) Press Enter after A and/or B.​

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9. Click on OK. (See screenshot below)​

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10. In the elevated command prompt, type: (See screenshot below)​

A) For 32 bit and 64 bit Vista:​

Regsvr32 "%ProgramFiles%\Windows Sidebar\wlsrvc.dll"​

​

B) Also type for 64 bit Vista Only:​

Regsvr32 "%ProgramFiles(x86)%\Windows Sidebar\wlsrvc.dll"​

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C) Press Enter after A and/or B.​

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11. Click on OK. (See screenshot below)​

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12. Close the elevated command prompt.​

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13. Restart the computer.​

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14. Now turn on Windows Sidebar to see if it will start up for you.​

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15. Your done. Windows Sidebar should start now.​

NOTE: If Windows Sidebar still does not start, then run a sfc/ scannow command to see if it can find and fix any bad system files that may be the cause. ​

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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 the Windows Sidebar Gadget not Displaying Correctly in Vista

 

[Brink]

Your welcome Andrew, and welcome to Vista Forums.

Shawn

 

[carlssj]

After so many hours seeking after a resolution for my sidebar problem I can at last say that this thread helped me out. THANKS!!!

 

[Brink]

Your welcome Carlssj, and welcome to Vista Forums.

Shawn

 

[pkearney]

Hi Guys,

I've come across an identical problem to Ark7 easlier in this thread (black clock set at 12 and no other gadgets showing up properly). I't not my machine so I don't know the exact symptoms to it's arrival, but it was post upgrading to SP1 (on Vista 32bit Home Premium) and un-installing Mcafee.

I've gone through solution 2 but no joy.

Any further ideas?

Thanks

Paul Kearney

 

[Brink]

Hi Pkearney,

Welcome to Vista Forums.

Has any gadgets been installed recently before this problem started. If so, uninstall them as a test to see if that is the cause. If not, then try a System Restore using a restore point dated before the problem.

Hope this helps,
Shawn

 

[pkearney]

Hi,

No new gadgets (actually doesn't let you install any new ones).

If I go the system restore point route, I'm gonna have to take a point before the SP1 upgrade (not sure what else has happened since then). Is this likely to cause me any problems?

Just concerned as it isn't my machine :-)

Thanks

Paul

 

[Brink]

Ok Paul,

This tutorial may help you out. It's fresh out of the oven.

http://www.vistax64.com/tutorials/161046-windows-sidebar-gadget-not-displayed-correctly.html

Shawn

 

[DeltaTango]

Hi,
Found this forum after i Googled "windows sidebar not opening" My sidebar had for some unknown reason stopped working and after reading this thread, my problem is now fixed. Many thanks to Shawn for the easy to follow instructions.

DT

 

[Brink]

Your welcome DT, and welcome to Vista Forums.

Shawn

 

[Firas]

It worked for me like charm, thanks a lot.

 

[Brink]

Your welcome Firas, and welcome to Vista Forums.

Shawn

 

[bigtom]

still not worky for me followed all steps twice still no joy keep getting windows has stopped working check online/close program been on this now for days

 

[Brink]

Hi Big Tom,

You might try a System Restore using a restore point dated before this problem to see if it can fix it for you. This tutorial will show you how to if needed.

http://www.vistax64.com/tutorials/76905-system-restore-how.html

Hope this helps,
Shawn

 

[bigtom]

done that bro no joy pal

 

[Brink]

Big Tom,

That leaves us with the Repair (upgrade) install to fix it.

http://www.vistax64.com/tutorials/88236-repair-install-vista.html

Hope this helps,
Shawn

 

[akitotenkawa1]

It worked wonderfully! Thank you!

 

[Brink]

Your welcome Akitotenkawa, and welcome to Vista Forums.

Shawn

 

[mallian]

Thanks Shawn, You're a genius, I have been without my sidebar for about 9 months now and I got fed up trying lots of different suggestions but it's now A OK.

Malcsy

 

[Brink]

Your welcome Malcsy, and welcome to Vista Fourms.

Shawn

 

[plokijey]

Hi,
I have tried everything i can find on this topic, but i can only get to step 7, when i enter the text into the command prompt i get an error...any help??
Thanks