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Windows Server 2008 R2 and Desktop Gadgets

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Running Windows Server 2008 R2 as a desktop OS does have it’s advantages. As a tester, Hyper V is key to my daily work. I love desktop gadgets though and have written some custom ones that really help me throughout the day. Gadgets aren’t available by default though, but they seem to work with a little effort. I should point out that I’m not on the Windows team, so I’m just an average user. Don’t take this as an official recommendation. I also didn’t invent this process. It’s cobbled together from posts here, here and here.

  1. Find a Windows 7 machine that matches your 2008 architecture. For me, that was 64 bit.

  2. Copy from Windows 7 C:\Program Files\Windows Sidebar to the same location on your 2008 machine. The rest of the steps all happen from your 2008 machine.

  3. From an elevated command prompt in the “C:\Program Files\Windows Sidebar” folder, run the following:

    regsvr32 atl.dll
    regsvr32 sbdrop.dll
    regsvr32 wlsrvc.dll
    sidebar.exe /RegServer

  4. Paste the following text into Notepad and save it as a .reg file. This will add necessary registry keys for sidebar.exe and also add a “Gadgets” entry to the context menu on your desktop.

    Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00
    [HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Sidebar]
    [HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Sidebar\Compatibility]
    [HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Sidebar\Settings]
    "SidebarDockedPartsOrder"="0x1,0x2,0x3,0x4
    [HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\DesktopBackground\Shell\Gadgets]
    "Position"="Bottom"
    "Icon"="C:\\Program Files\\Windows Sidebar\\sidebar.exe,-100"
    [HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\DesktopBackground\Shell\Gadgets\command]
    @="C:\\Program Files\\Windows Sidebar\\sidebar.exe /showGadgets"

  5. You should now be able to right click on your desktop and choose Gadgets to start adding gadgets. Installation happens the same way as your Windows 7 machine. You download a .gadget file and then double click it to install it. Note that the Windows Live Gallery is gone now so you’ll have to find your gadgets elsewhere. There are some good ones at addagadget.com or you can find one of my personal gadgets at https://cascadeskier.com/ under the Windows 7 section.

Comments

  • Anonymous
    August 17, 2012
    nice info! thank you

  • Anonymous
    October 17, 2012
    HiGreat ! Great ! Great ! yes you are !

  • Anonymous
    October 19, 2012
    Awesome work! This is great.

  • Anonymous
    October 29, 2012
    worked for me in windows 8 also !!!

  • Anonymous
    January 19, 2013
    thanksworked on 2008 r2

  • Anonymous
    September 24, 2013
    Very, very, very good! Thank you very much! =)

  • Anonymous
    November 06, 2013
    my folder does not have the followingregsvr32 atl.dllregsvr32 sbdrop.dllregsvr32 wlsrvc.dllsidebar.exe /RegServerwhat do I do now?

  • Anonymous
    February 03, 2014
    works like a charm on 2012 R2!

  • Anonymous
    February 13, 2014
    Works on Windows Home Server 2011 too!

  • Anonymous
    March 17, 2014
    this works - thank's bro

  • Anonymous
    April 11, 2014
    Excelente! Funciona perfectamente! Muchas Gracias! Saludos!!Excellent! It works perfectly! Thank you Very Much! Greetings!!

  • Anonymous
    August 19, 2015
    Worked fine for me as well. Thanks! :)

  • Anonymous
    May 16, 2016
    my folder does not have the followingregsvr32 atl.dllregsvr32 sbdrop.dllregsvr32 wlsrvc.dllsidebar.exe /RegServerwhat do I do now?