V. A. wants her desktop gadgets back
When I try to open Desktop Gadgets, this message pops up ‘Desktop gadgets are managed by your system administrator.’ I am the administrator. The only ‘fix’ that I see in the microsoft forums have to do with editing the Registry and the instructions are not clear enough for me to try. I see this is an issue for some people when they try to delete certain files. All I really want is the Vista gadget clock back on my desktop. As is often the case, youall are the ones I turn to for solutions to any computers problems. I have been subscribed to InfoAve Premium since it’s inception, I believe. This year, I was happy to “gift” a friend with a year’s subscription. Thank you for all your help over these many years, starting with my first computer and Windows 98. I’m up to my 5th computer and you’ve been with me all the way!
Our answer
Thanks V. A. Thanks for your support and you’re nice comments. In order to get rid of that message you’ll need to edit the registry — don’t worry, though, we’re going to make it easy for you:
1. To Enable Gadgets
a) Download our Gadgets zip file Unzip it to a folder. There are two files in the folder – one called Enable_Gadgets.reg and the other called Disable_Gadgets.reg. The one you’re concerned with for now is Enable_Gadgets.reg. We’ve included the Disable_Gadgets.reg in case you ever want to disable the gadgets.
b) If not already, make sure that you have Windows Gadget Platform checked in Windows Features.
c) Choose the Enable_Gadgets.reg file in the folder
d) Right click on it and click on Merge.
e) Click on Run, Yes, Yes, and OK.
f) Restart your computer
Or to reverse the above and disable gadgets again ….
2. To Disable Gadgets:
a) Choose the Disable_Gadgets.reg file in the folder
b) Right click on the downloaded .reg file and click on Merge.
c) Click on Run, Yes, Yes, and OK.
d) Restart your computer
(Gadgets that are currently running may not be disabled until you complete these steps)
e) You can delete the delete the zip file from your computer if you like. You should save the folder with the reg files in it in case you need the again :-).
On July 10, 2012, Microsoft issued this security bulletin:
“Microsoft is announcing the availability of an automated Microsoft Fix it solution that disables the Windows Sidebar and Gadgets on supported editions of Windows Vista and Windows 7. Disabling the Windows Sidebar and Gadgets can help protect customers from vulnerabilities that involve the execution of arbitrary code by the Windows Sidebar when running insecure Gadgets. In addition, Gadgets installed from untrusted sources can harm your computer and can access your computer’s files, show you objectionable content, or change their behavior at any time.
An attacker who successfully exploited a Gadget vulnerability could run arbitrary code in the context of the current user. If the current user is logged on with administrative user rights, an attacker could take complete control of the affected system. An attacker could then install programs; view, change, or delete data; or create new accounts with full user rights. Users whose accounts are configured to have fewer user rights on the system could be less impacted than users who operate with administrative user rights.
Applying the automated Microsoft Fix It solution described in Microsoft Knowledge Base Article 2719662 disables the Windows Sidebar experience and all Gadget functionality.”
As with all things Microsoft, it’s never simple. On the page with the “Fix it” solution to disable Gadgets, there’s a “Fix it” solution to enable Gadgets too. If you want to try the Fix it solution to enable Gadgets, you can find it here: http://support.microsoft.com/kb/2719662 .
We hope you’ll find our solution works for you and you don’t have to use Microsoft’s Fix it. We’ve found, in most cases, Microsoft Fix its don’t “fix it” at all.
Thanks For This tool to Enable_Gadgets.
regards
sakhans@gmail.com