Vista - Windows Sidebar - Enable or Disable

Information

This will allow you to enable or disable Windows Sidebar from running for all user accounts on the computer.

Note

If you just want to turn Windows Sidebar on or off, then see: How to Turn Windows Sidebar On or Off in Vista

• How to Turn Windows Sidebar On or Off in Vista
• How to Change the Windows Sidebar Theme in Vista
• How to Fix Windows Sidebar not Starting in Vista
• How to Turn Windows Features On or Off in Vista
• How to Fix the Windows Sidebar Gadget not Displaying Correctly in Vista

Note

This is only available for the Vista Business, Ultimate, and Enterprise editions. See Method Two below for the Vista Home Basic and Home Premium editions.

1. Open the Local Group Policy Editor.

2. In the left pane, click on User Configuration, Administrative Templates, Windows Components, Windows Sidebar. (See screenshot below)

3. In the right pane, right click on Turn off Windows Sidebar and click Properties. (See screenshot above)

4. To Enable Windows Sidebar -

A) Select (dot) Disabled or Not Configured and click on OK. (See screenshot below 5A)

B) Go to step 6.

5. To Disable Windows Sidebar -

A) Select (dot) Enabled and click on OK.

6. Close Local Group Policy Editor window. Your done.

Note

This will work for all Vista versions.

Through a Download:

1. To Enable Windows Sidebar -

A) Click on the download button below to download the Enable_Windows_Sidebar.reg file.

B) Go to step 3.

2. To Disable Windows Sidebar -

A) Click on the download button below to download the Disable_Windows_Sidebar.reg file.

3. Click on Save, and save the .reg file to the Desktop.

4. Right click the .reg (On Desktop) file and click on Merge.

5. Click on the Run button for Security Warning pop-up.

6. Click on Continue (UAC), Yes, and then OK when prompted.

7. When done, you can delete the .reg file (On Desktop).

8. Logoff and logon, or restart the computer to apply the changes.

The Manual Way:

1. Open the Start Menu.

2. In the white line (Start Search) area, type regedit and press Enter.

3. Click on the Continue button in the UAC prompt.

4. In regedit, go to: (See screenshot below)
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\Windows
NOTE: If Windows is not there, then right click on Policies in the left pane and click on New and Key and type Windows and press Enter.

5. To Disable Windows Sidebar - (See screenshot below)

A) In the left pane, right click on Windows and click on New and Key and type Sidebar, then press Enter.
NOTE: If you already have Sidebar, then proceed to step B below.

B) In the right pane of Sidebar, right click on a empty area and click on New and DWORD (32-bit) Value. (See screenshot below)

C) Type TurnOffSidebar and press Enter.

D) Right click on TurnOffSidebar and click on Modify.

E) Type 1 and click on OK. (See screenshot below)

6. To Enable Windows Sidebar -

A) In the right pane, right click on TurnOffSidebar and click on Delete. (See screenshot below step 5D)

B) Click on Yes to confirm delete.

C) In regedit, go to: (See screenshot below)
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\Windows

D) In the right pane, repeat steps 6A and 6B if TurnOffSidebar is there to. (See screenshot above)

7. Close regedit.

8. Log off and log on, or restart the computer to apply the changes.