How to install gadgets. How to install gadgets on Windows XP How to install gadgets on xp

The installation of the gadget on the desktop in Windows XP is practically no different. Just first you need to install sidebar since Windows XP does not support gadgets.

Download from our website and install WinSidebar(sidebar).

DOWNLOAD WinSidebar from turbobit.net

DOWNLOAD WinSidebar from letitbit.net

Install WinSidebar, following the instructions. (If you have another sidebar, close the application completely before installing WinSidebar). After complete installation WinSidebar, restart your computer, remove unnecessary gadgets from your desktop.

Download the archive from our website . The archive must be unzipped, it will look like the folder " _Allbuhsoft.Gadget" Then copy the gadget folder to the folder located: C:\Program Files\Windows Sidebar\Gadgets\ . If the \Gadgets\ folder does not exist, you need to create it and place the unzipped gadget in it.

When the gadget is already in the desired folder on the disk, all that remains is to launch it. To launch the gadget, you need to click on the button in the form of a plus sign on the sidebar of your desktop and open the Mini-applications item...

The desktop gadget collection application “sidebar.exe” opened. Here we find the installed gadget. You can select it by right-clicking - add or simply by dragging it to the desktop.

A small program that runs in the sidebar Windows Vista or Windows 7. Stores several web-based files in the format Zip archive. May include .HTML, .CSS, .JS, and other web files. Applicable for small programs, such as new fields, search tools, system utilities and small games.

Other types of gadgets include Web and SideShow gadgets. Web gadgets can be placed on web pages because SideShow gadgets run on mobile phones, digital photo frames and other devices.

If you installed a Windows user-level gadget, the installation files are located in the following directory:

\AppData\Local\Microsoft\Windows Sidebar\Gadgets\

default Windows gadgets are installed in the following directories:

C:\Program Files\Windows Sidebar\Shared Gadgets\

C:\Program Files\Windows Sidebar\Gadgets\

Gadgets can be downloaded for free from the Windows Live Gallery.

Note: Since GADGET files are stored in .ZIP format, you can rename their extension to ".zip" and open it with any Zip-compatible decompression utility.

The .gadget file extension represents a Windows gadget. This file was developed by Microsoft.

Gadgets for Windows are absolutely the same regardless of version operating system, this is the same set of files, they are absolutely the same for both Windows XP so and for Windows 7/8 so does gadgets for Windows 10, the only difference is in the installation, which means that you can install any gadgets without any problems.
The only difference between installing gadgets for Windows XP and installing gadgets on Windows 7/8/10 is that gadgets for Windows XP are installed ONLY ON THE Windows Sidebar, with the exception of special mini applications - gadgets that are created as independent programs and usually have format.exe

How to install gadgets for Windows XP
1. Download any archive with a gadget on our website, for example this Mouse_Monitor.rar to any temporary folder or directly to your desktop.
2. Go to the Gadgets folder, located in C:Program Files\Windows\SidebarGadgets, all gadgets are stored here. In this folder we create a folder with the name of our gadget, Mouse Monitor.Gadget IMPORTANT! The folder name must end like this.Gadget

3. Unpack the archive with the gadget into the created folder, Mouse Monitor.Gadget and get a file that looks something like this MouseMonitor rus.gadget is also an archive, only zip, we also unpack it into the same folder.

4. Now you can delete the archive files and leave only those files that were unpacked. In the end everything should look like this.

If everything is done correctly, then we go to the desktop - click the plus sign at the top of the sidebar - we find the shortcut only for the installed gadget. you may need to restart the side Windows panel Sidebar.

How to install gadgets for Windows 7
1. Download any archive with a gadget on our website, for example this Yandex_Weather.rar to any temporary folder or directly to your desktop.
2. Unpack the archive with the gadget into the same folder, after unpacking it we get the Yandex_Weather.gadget file with a special extension .gadget, this is how gadget files for Windows 7 are designated.
3. Now all that remains is to install the gadget; to do this, quickly double-click on the Yandex_Weather.gadget file, after which the window will appear:

If you agree, click the “Install” button.

The gadget is installed, after a few seconds it will appear on your desktop:

In order to add new gadgets to the desktop, you need to go to a special menu, to do this, right-click in the desktop area, select “Gadgets” from the drop-down menu.

For newer versions of Windows, small programs have become available that can display any information directly on the computer desktop. Such a program is called a “gadget”, sometimes the word “widget” is used. They originated in Windows Vista, but were so loved by users that they eventually migrated to XP. With their help, you can significantly simplify the use of your PC. For example, place a convenient clock or display the latest news anywhere on the desktop.

However, in the official system build without additional programs It is impossible to use gadgets. Therefore, special applications have been invented that allow them to be installed from newer systems.

How to launch them

For gadgets to work on Windows XP, you will need to download special programs. They are necessary to install the so-called sidebar into the system. There are various applications, but only two are worth considering.

WinSidebar

The Windows Sidebar application is a gadget panel ported from Windows 7. To use this program, you must download and install it, following the instructions of the installer. After launch, you may need to install additional software in the form of Net.Framework 2.0 or higher.

The application may not create a shortcut on the Desktop, so you need to find where it was installed (usually you can find the folder with it in Program Files) and run the sidebar.exe file. And after that, a panel will immediately appear on the side of the Desktop, on which the gadgets available in the program will be located. They can be taken out of the side panel and positioned as desired.

The basic program has its own set of widgets ported from Windows 7. To install new gadgets, you will have to do several manipulations:

• Download any widget you like for Windows 7 (almost all of them are compatible with WinSidebar). As a rule, an archive is downloaded, which will contain several files - auxiliary files and the gadget itself (has the *.gadget extension).
• The file with the *.gadget extension must be archived in *.zip. To do this, right-click on the file and select “Compressed ZIP folder” from the “Send” drop-down menu.

• The resulting “GadgetName” folder needs to be renamed to “GadgetName.Gadget”.
• After this, you need to go to the Windows Sidebar location, find the Gadgets folder there and copy the resulting ZIP file there.
• After this, the widget is available for use in WinSidebar.

Unfortunately, this application also has its downsides. Gadgets installed in Windows XP using it cannot be scaled. They will have a strictly fixed size. Another drawback is that not all new widgets can be installed this way. They simply won't work.

xWidget

A more modern alternative to Windows Sidebar, free of its shortcomings. Actively developed to this day, capable of supporting everything Windows versions starting with XP.

It is downloaded and installed similarly to its predecessor. The only thing is to be careful and not miss the offer to install a third-party software. You need to abandon this - it does not bring any benefit, but it can slow down the computer.

As soon as the program is installed, three random gadgets available in it by default will be displayed on the Desktop. The differences with Windows Sidebar are immediately noticeable:

• Availability of settings. You can change the exact positioning on the screen by coordinates, transparency and clickability of gadgets.
• Scaling. Strictly graduated, but it is there. A total of ten variations are available - from 10 to 100% of the original size.
• Widget editor. A nice bonus that will allow you to customize gadgets for yourself or even create completely new ones.

You need to download gadgets for use with this program from the website xwidget.com. They are installed as follows:

• Unpack the downloaded archive. From it you need to extract and run the file of the gadget itself.
• Then in the tray (the place where application icons are located on the Taskbar, next to the clock), you need to find the xWidget icon and right-click on it.
• Click on “Manage Widgets”, then on the “All” tab.

Find the downloaded gadget and double-click on it. After this, the widget is installed in Windows XP and you can safely use it.

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If the .GADGET file is known to your system, then you can open it double click mouse or ENTER key. This operation will launch applications associated with the .GADGET file installed on the system. If the system encounters a file for the first time and there are no corresponding associations, the action will end with the system prompting you to find the corresponding software on your computer or on the Internet.

Sometimes it happens that the wrong program is assigned to serve the .GADGET file type. This happens due to the action of hostile programs such as viruses or malware, but most often this is the result of an erroneous combination of the application with the .GADGET file extension. If, when servicing a new .GADGET file type, we point the system to the wrong program, the system will erroneously recommend its use whenever a file of that type is encountered. In this case, you should try to select the appropriate application again. Right-click on the .GADGET file, and then select from the menu the option "Open With..." and then "Choose default program". Now select one of the installed applications from the above list and try again.

Programs that will open the .GADGET file

Manual editing of the Windows Registry

If our system cannot cope with the .GADGET extension and all the automatic and semi-automatic methods of teaching it this art have failed, manual editing remains Windows registry. This registry stores all information related to the operation of our operating system, including the connection of file extensions with programs for servicing them. Team REGEDIT inscribed in the window “search for programs and files” or "launch in the case of older versions of the operating system, it gives us access to the registry of our operating system. All operations performed in the registry (even not very complex ones regarding the .GADGET file extension) have a significant impact on the operation of our system, so before making any modifications, you should make sure that a copy of the current registry is made. The section we are interested in is the key HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT. The following instructions show, step by step, how to modify the registry, specifically the registry entry containing information about the .GADGET file.

Step by step

• Click “start” button
• In the “find programs and files” window (in older versions Windows systems this is the “Run” window, enter the command “regedit” and then confirm the operation with the “ENTER” key. This operation will launch the system registry editor. This tool will allow you not only to view existing records, but also to modify, add or delete them manually. Due to the fact that the Windows registry is key to its operation, all operations carried out on it should be performed judiciously and consciously. Carelessly removing or modifying an inappropriate key may permanently damage the operating system.
• Using the ctr+F key combination or the Edit menu and the “Find” option, find the .GADGET extension you are interested in by entering it in the search engine window. Confirm by pressing OK or using the ENTER key.
• Backup copy. It is extremely important to create a backup copy of the registry before making any changes to it. Every change has an impact on the operation of our computer. IN extreme cases Incorrect modification of the registry may make it impossible to restart the system.
• The value you are interested in regarding the extension can be manually edited by changing the keys assigned to the found extension.GADGET. In this place, you can also independently create the desired entry with the extension a.GADGET if it is not in the registry. All available options are located in the handy menu (right mouse button) or in the "Edit" menu after placing the cursor in the appropriate place on the screen.
• After you finish editing the entry for the .GADGET extension, close system registry. The introduced changes will take effect after restarting the operating system.