Windows Server 2008 R2 and Desktop Gadgets
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.
Find a Windows 7 machine that matches your 2008 architecture. For me, that was 64 bit.
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.
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 /RegServerPaste 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"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 youAnonymous
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 r2Anonymous
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 broAnonymous
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?