Comments on: Workaround to Run Windows Vista Bar Style Sidebar in Windows 7

By: Adam

Adam — Tue, 22 Dec 2009 02:45:07 +0000

Great, it worked. Only problem is, how the hell can I autohide the sidebar now... this was the ultimate aim... to restore a hideable sidebar. There is an autohide plugin/gadget available from microsoft's live gallery, but I didn't expect it to work on the 'workaround,' and it doesn't. Sidebar AutoHide Any thoughts on how we can autohide the sidebar in windows 7?

By: alex

alex — Tue, 15 Dec 2009 01:57:19 +0000

THANK YOU SO MUCH!!!
What the Microsoft team have in their f***ing heads? I don’t understand why they leave with the SIDEBAR… the program name remain (sidebar.exe) but there’s no f***ing “SIDEBAR” anymore! And I love love it!!!

By: hamster

hamster — Thu, 10 Dec 2009 21:19:18 +0000

Hi,

Excellent! Seems to work. I have 7 64bits and just replaced the files in program files (and not in program files (x86)).

But to take ownership and grant full control, you have to go in properties-security-advanced-owner-edit, click on administrators and click apply.

Thanks anyway, that sidebar was the only thing I found useful in Vista. And they didn’t reimplant it in 7… not even as an option… don’t ask me why…

Seb

By: James

James — Tue, 01 Dec 2009 21:30:13 +0000

Awesome, thanks for the fix. Not sure why they removed such a useful docking feature..!

By: ramwire

ramwire — Sun, 29 Nov 2009 14:24:49 +0000

Hi guys,

Can someone Please let me know where to get the required files from Vista 64Bit as I don’t have it and don’t know anyone who does.

Thanks.

By: Rodrigo

Rodrigo — Thu, 26 Nov 2009 05:42:19 +0000

Man! Thank u so much!!!!

By: Deric

Deric — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 11:54:56 +0000

Thanks for this info.

It bugged me a little not having the actual bar where the gadgets could “rest in”.

I actually hope this gets corrected in a future update for Win 7.

Thanks again

Deric

By: Me

Me — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 22:41:35 +0000

How do you install gadgets after successfully running this?

By: quicky2g

quicky2g — Sat, 14 Nov 2009 00:52:09 +0000

Thank you so much! The Windows 7 sidebar style was my biggest complaint about the Microsoft OS. I consider this a bigger update than anything Microsoft could release on Patch Tuesday lol!

By: Jared

Jared — Fri, 13 Nov 2009 00:51:56 +0000

Thanks very much, this worked a treat. The Windows 7 crew sure had some strange ideas for “improvements” from Vista. Who wants to show their desktop to see their gadgets?!

By: Tino

Tino — Mon, 09 Nov 2009 23:57:15 +0000

@technobabbler4u
I can’t install new gadets either.
So this is how you will do it.

You will extract setup with WinRar
Than create new folder in Program Files/Windows Sidebar/Gadgets/SomeName.Gadget

and than paste content that you extracted from gadget setup in SomeName.Gadget folder.

Now you should be able to add gadgets.

If you have a question send me an e-mail

By: Marc

Marc — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 15:02:13 +0000

Thanks, worked great for me. I now have my nice sidebar on my W7 desktop.
Few notes:
1. Make sure the sidebar.exe is not running in the processes.
2. I used msconfig.exe to uncheck the Windows Operating System sidebar.exe from loading automatically.
3. rebooted the PC then I could change the ownership/permissions on those files.
4. The sidebar.ini was not in my folder. Only the other 3 files were present on my system.
5. then copying the 4 files as instructed and running the sidebar.exe from that folder worked.
Hope this will help some users with this access denied issue.
Thanks.

By: Beanz

Beanz — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 06:57:40 +0000

There are too many bugs doing this – big one is RSS feeds don’t work. A workaround is to use a program like SplitView (www.splitview.com). It is designed to split the screen into multiple parts for Remote Desktop, but it works well to protect a row of gadgets placed on the side of the screen much like the old sidebar did. Just check the “Split in two parts with” and fill the box with your horizontal resolution -150 pixels, then check the first two checkboxes in the Multi-monitor setting. This is not its intended purpose, but it works really well. Only bad thing is it’s not free. If someone knows a free program that does something similar, please comment.

By: Lancethedj

Lancethedj — Sun, 01 Nov 2009 21:49:31 +0000

I have followed the instructions but i get a denied message when trying to add or change permissions. any know why or how to change this?

many thanks

By: eNkoCZ

eNkoCZ — Sun, 11 Oct 2009 10:06:17 +0000

I lost my backup of sidebar files, could you send me those 4 changed files please? Anyone? (Win7_PRO_EN_32bit)

By: markm75

markm75 — Fri, 21 Aug 2009 16:39:12 +0000

I tried this, the sidebar works, but things like the RSS feed gadget only show the feeds, if you try to click on a headline it doesnt open up a page..

Anyone run into this?