Windows Sidebar - Gadget Not Displayed Correctly

**Brink**

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

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.

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

5. Click OK. (See screenshot below)

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

7. Click OK. (See screenshot below)

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

9. Click OK. (See screenshot below)

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

pkearney · 06-14-2008

Hi Shawn,

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

Regards

Paul

**Brink** · 06-14-2008

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

Shawn

sams · 06-26-2008

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?

**Brink** · 06-26-2008

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

sams · 06-27-2008

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

**Brink** · 06-27-2008

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

MrGiggles · 06-29-2008

My problem is exactly as Sams. The Restore gadgets option is ghosted by the way.

**Brink** · 06-29-2008

Hello MrGiggles,

See if trying the same suggestion will help you out.

Hope this helps,
Shawn

zenica · 07-13-2008

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)

06-14-2008
pkearney Newbie Join Date: Jun 2008 Vista Home Premium 32bit 3 posts Rep Power: 3	Re: Windows Sidebar - Gadget Not Displayed Correctly Hi Shawn, Just a quick note to say thanks - worked a treat! Regards Paul
My System Specs

06-14-2008
Brink Administrator Join Date: Apr 2007 Vista x64 Ultimate SP1 16,493 posts Texas, USA Rep Power: 150	Re: Windows Sidebar - Gadget Not Displayed Correctly Your welcome Paul. I'm glad to hear that your Sidebar is displaying properly now. Shawn
My System Specs

06-26-2008
sams Newbie Join Date: Jun 2008 Vista Business 32 2 posts Rep Power: 3	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?
My System Specs

06-26-2008
Brink Administrator Join Date: Apr 2007 Vista x64 Ultimate SP1 16,493 posts Texas, USA Rep Power: 150	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
My System Specs

06-27-2008
sams Newbie Join Date: Jun 2008 Vista Business 32 2 posts Rep Power: 3	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
My System Specs

06-29-2008
MrGiggles Newbie Join Date: Jun 2008 Vista Ultimate 32 Bit 1 posts Rep Power: 3	Re: Windows Sidebar - Gadget Not Displayed Correctly My problem is exactly as Sams. The Restore gadgets option is ghosted by the way.
My System Specs

07-13-2008
zenica Newbie Join Date: May 2008 Ultimate 64bit 1 posts Rep Power: 4	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)
My System Specs

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