Here are answers to some common questions about Windows Sidebar.
Sidebar provides a way to organize the information you want to access quickly, without cluttering your workspace. Sidebar is located on the desktop and contains gadgets, which are customizable mini-programs that display continuously updated information and allow you to perform common tasks without opening a window. For example, you can display regularly updated weather forecasts, news headlines, and a picture slide show.
Sidebar is open by default, but, if you close it, you can open it again.
Open Windows Sidebar by clicking the Start button , clicking All Programs, clicking Accessories, and then clicking Windows Sidebar.
Yes. You can decide which installed gadgets to put on Sidebar and which gadgets to remove. You can also add multiple instances of a particular gadget, and detach one or more gadgets from Sidebar and place them on your desktop. If you want Sidebar to stay visible when you're working in an open window, you can set it to always stay on top of other windows. You can also close Sidebar while keeping your detached gadgets visible.
Individual gadgets can also be customized. For example, you can set the time on the Clock or select which pictures to include in the Slide Show.
For more information, see Customize Windows Sidebar.
No, the width of Sidebar is a fixed size. However, you can detach gadgets from the sidebar and place them anywhere on the desktop.
Right-click the gadget you want to detach, and then click Detach from Sidebar.
Drag the gadget to the location you want on the desktop.
Some of the gadgets that come with Windows are Calendar, Clock, Contacts, Feed Headlines, Slide Show, Picture Puzzle, and Notes.
Yes. You can find more gadgets on the Microsoft Gadgets website. You can also find a wide variety of gadgets, from games to productivity tools, available for download at the Windows Live Gallery website .
You should download and install gadgets only from sources that you trust.
Any installed gadget can be added to Sidebar. Once you add a gadget to Sidebar, you can use it there, or detach it and place it anywhere on the desktop. If you close Sidebar, you can still use any detached gadgets on your desktop.
Yes. For more information, see "To remove a gadget" in Customize Windows Sidebar.
No, the size of gadgets as they appear in Sidebar is fixed. However, many gadgets resize themselves slightly larger when detached from Sidebar and placed on the desktop.
Yes, you can build your own custom gadgets. For example, a network administrator might build a gadget to remind users on a company network to download important software updates or help employees track travel times and itineraries. A games enthusiast might build a gadget that displays game statistics or online player lists.
Open Windows Sidebar properties by clicking the Start button , clicking Control Panel, clicking Appearance and Personalization, and then clicking Windows Sidebar Properties.
Clear the Start Sidebar when Windows starts check box, and then click OK.
