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Windows Sidebar - Gadget Not Displayed Correctly

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Windows Sidebar - Gadget Not Displayed Correctly
How to Fix the Windows Sidebar Gadget not Displaying Correctly in Vista
Published by Brink
06-13-2008

How to Fix the Windows Sidebar Gadget Not Displaying Correctly in Vista
Information
  This will show you how to fix the Windows Sidebar when the clock gadget is displayed as a black square and all other gadgets show up as white rectangles with one of those information (i) icons and a plus sign.
NOTE
  This usually happens if the XML registration is missing in the system. The steps below will show you how to fix this.
RELATED LINKS:

EXAMPLE: Windows Sidebar not displaying correctly
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Here's How:
1. If open, close Windows Sidebar.
NOTE: Right click on the Windows Sidebar notification area icon and click Exit. For more on this, see: How to Turn Windows Sidebar On or Off in Vista

2. Open the Start menu and click All Programs, then click Accessories. (See screenshot below)
3. Right click on Command Prompt and click Run as administrator.
NOTE: If you do not have the Command Prompt shortcut, then you can type cmd in the Start menu's white (Start Search) line and right click cmd (at top) and click Run as administrator instead.

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4. In the command prompt, type regsvr32 msxml3.dll and press Enter. (See screenshot below)

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5. Click OK. (See screenshot below)

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6. In the command prompt, type regsvr32 scrrun.dll and press Enter. (See screenshot below)

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7. Click OK. (See screenshot below)

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8. In the command prompt, type regsvr32 jscript.dll and press Enter. (See screenshot below)

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9. Click OK. (See screenshot below)

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10. Turn Windows Sidebar back on.
NOTE: For how, see Option Two here: How to Turn Windows Sidebar On or Off in Vista

11. Check to see if Windows Sidebar is displaying correctly now. If not, then do a System Restore using a restore point dated before the problem.
NOTE: For how, see: How to Do a System Restore in Vista
That's it,
Shawn

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Applies to
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Old 06-14-2008  
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Re: Windows Sidebar - Gadget Not Displayed Correctly

Hi Shawn,

Just a quick note to say thanks - worked a treat!

Regards

Paul

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Old 06-14-2008  
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Re: Windows Sidebar - Gadget Not Displayed Correctly

Your welcome Paul. I'm glad to hear that your Sidebar is displaying properly now.

Shawn
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Old 06-26-2008  
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Question Re: Windows Sidebar - Gadget Not Displayed Correctly

I followed the procedure on this thread and the Sidebar is now working - but not completely... The Calendar gadget is showing only as an orange colored box with no content and the Stocks gadget not loading/showing at all. The Clock and Headlines work fine - what can we do to fix the Calendar and Headlines?
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Old 06-26-2008  
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Re: Windows Sidebar - Gadget Not Displayed Correctly

Hi Sams,

Welcome to Vista Forums.

See if uninstalling them, then click Restore gadgets installed with Windows in Windows Sidebar Properties. Next, add them back to the sidebar.

Hope this helps,
Shawn
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Old 06-27-2008  
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Re: Windows Sidebar - Gadget Not Displayed Correctly

Thank you Shawn for your welcoming message and trying to help.

I followed your instruction (plus booting after the uninstall) but still same result - Calendar and Stocks gadget are not displaying properly... (this after doing the .dll procedure under DOS. Please let me know if there something else that you can think of to fix this. BTW, Is there a way to download them from somewhere and paste of the coruupted ones? - Thanks much
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Old 06-27-2008  
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Re: Windows Sidebar - Gadget Not Displayed Correctly

Sams,

Since these are gadget that came with Vista, see if running a sfc /scannow command can find and fix any bad system files it finds. This tutorial will show you how to.

System Files - SFC Command


If not, the only other thing I know that should help is doing a Repair (upgrade) install.

Repair Install For Vista

Hope this helps,
Shawn
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Old 06-29-2008  
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Re: Windows Sidebar - Gadget Not Displayed Correctly

My problem is exactly as Sams. The Restore gadgets option is ghosted by the way.
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Old 06-29-2008  
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Re: Windows Sidebar - Gadget Not Displayed Correctly

Hello MrGiggles,

See if trying the same suggestion will help you out.

Hope this helps,
Shawn
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Old 07-13-2008  
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Re: Windows Sidebar - Gadget Not Displayed Correctly

I am in the same boat, any and all gadgets are malfunctioning. Some will appear but not allow me to change/modify them, others appear as boxes and others simply will not load. I tried all of the "regsvr32 *.*" commands to no avail. The restore gadgets option is greyed out. I would prefer not to use a restore point, I may as well FFR (Fdisk, Format & Reinstall) since my last restore is too old. (Yes, I know, my fault. Guess I became complacent that Vista was working)
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programs & features, sidebar, windows

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