Vista Tutorial - Windows Sidebar will not Start in Vista

**Brink** · **STEP ONE:**

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.

RELATED LINKS:

STEP ONE:
Double Checking

1. See if you have a sidebar.exe listed in Task Manager.
NOTE: See: How to Open and Close a Application and Process in Vista 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.

B) Try doing step 3 now.

2. Make sure Windows Sidebar is Enabled.
NOTE: See: How to Enable or Disable Windows Sidebar in Vista

3. Make sure Windows Sidebar is Turned On.
NOTE: See: How to Turn Windows Sidebar On or Off in Vista

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

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

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.
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"

B) Also Type for 64 bit Vista Only:
Regsvr32 -u "%ProgramFiles(x86)%\Windows Sidebar\sbdrop.dll"

C) Press Enter after A and/or B.

3. Click on OK. (See screenshot below)

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"

B) Also Type for 64 bit Vista Only:
Regsvr32 -u "%ProgramFiles(x86)%\Windows Sidebar\wlsrvc.dll"

C) Press Enter after A and/or B.

5. Click on OK. (See screenshot below)

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

7. Click on OK. (See screeshot below)

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"

C) Press Enter after A and/or B.

9. Click on OK. (See screenshot below)

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"

C) Press Enter after A and/or B.

11. Click on OK. (See screenshot below)

12. Close the elevated command prompt.
13. Restart the computer.
14. Now turn on Windows Sidebar to see if it will start up for you.
NOTE: For how, see: How to Turn Windows Sidebar On or Off in Vista

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.

That's it,
Shawn

valerie_ · 02-02-2008

Hi shawn

thanks for your post..

hope you can help me...

my problem is this:
when i try the "add gadget" the window that is supposed to pop up in the screen doesnt pop up, when i try clicking the ( + ) icon in the sidebar, to launch the screen it doesnt work either.
basically, evreything works. but the "add gadgets- window" doesnt pop up, thus i cant customize my installed gadgets. pretty much stuck with my current gadget that is in my sidebar.

Is there a way i can re-install windows sidebar in my laptop w/o installing windows vista again?

Im using WINDOWS vista home premuim 32 bit.
recently bought laptop VAIO 1/17/08

pls help

- valerie

**Brink** · 02-02-2008

Hi Valerie,

Welcome to Vista Forums.

Have you already tried STEP TWO above to see if it will reset Windows Sidebar for you?

If so, then you can try running a sfc /scannow command to see if it can find a problem with a system file and fix it.

System Files - SFC Command

If that still does not help, then you can run a Repair install. This will allow you to repair your Vista installation and keep your user account files, settings, and programs.

Repair Install For Vista

Shawn

valerie_ · 02-02-2008

hi

thanks for the post. i did the sfc /scannow
the command promted could be summariezed: 99% complete, done but with some errors could not fix

i dont want to do the repair install because as of the moment,
the drivers of the laptop arent with me and if something went wrong i dont have any computer to use and my work involves computer work as i am in web and graphic design field.

huhuh pls help..any more ideaS?

**Brink** · 02-02-2008

Velerie,

You could see if doing a System Restore using a restore point dated before this problem started can fix the problem for you.

System Restore - How to

Shawn

ajbuzzy · 03-07-2008

Went the cmd route and solved the prob. Thx Brink for the concise tut ;-) Searched MS for solution w/o success...googled and got u. Thanks again :-)

**Brink** · 03-07-2008

Your welcome ajbuzzy, and welcome to Vista x64 Forums.

Shawn

PonuryUser · 04-10-2008

Hi,
I've got problem with my sidebar. One day when i switch on my computer and the windows vista started i saw that something is wrong with my sidebar: in sidebar showed up about 50the same gadgets. When i try to delete one of this gadgets the computer stop and nothing gonna work

**Brink** · 04-10-2008

Hi PonuryUser,

Welcome to Vista Forums.

See if you can boot into Safe Mode and do Step Two to see if that will help you.

Shawn

PonuryUser · 04-11-2008

awww i do registration mistake ;/ my windows vista isn't x64 but home basic, what i should to do now?