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Random gadget order in Vista Sidebar after installing SP2
Random gadget order in Vista Sidebar after installing SP2
- Since upgrading Vista Ultimate 64 bit to SP2, gadgets in the sidebar appear in random order when the sidebar is restarted (starting app manually or logging off/on). Have tried deleting the .ini file and adding gadgets again but problem is solid. Reverted back to SP1 and order back to normal. Ideas?
- Edited byEnglishM45 Monday, June 01, 2009 8:58 PM
- Moved byKevin - Support Engineer Monday, June 01, 2009 10:15 PMcorrect type (From:Vista Assistant)
1 person got this answerI do too
Answers
Hello EnglishM45,
You may have to reinstall both Adobe Flash player and Java on your machine.Download the latest version of Java using this link http://java.com/en/download/index.jsp
To download Adobe flash player, use this link http://get.adobe.com/flashplayer/?promoid=BUIGP
Hope this information is helpful
David O
Microsoft Answers Support Engineer
Visit our and let us know what you think.- Marked As Answer byJames- Support EngineerMSFT, ModeratorWednesday, July 08, 2009 8:13 PM
All Replies
- Hello EnglishM45,
Thank you for posting. Did you install SP2 through Windows update or download the stand alone version? I'm thinking that it might have been a error in the install. Let's try installing from the stand alone SP2 and see if the problem still happens. I've included the links below to both the 32 bit and the 64 bit versions.
SP2 32 bit
SP2 64 bit
Please let me know if this helps you.
Zack
Microsoft Answers Support Engineer Visit our Microsoft Answers Feedback Forum and let us know what you think. - I tried installing SP2 both ways, the first via windows update which I then backed out using System Restore (which corrected the problem) and most recently the stand alone version, which reintroduced the issue.
It's definitely an SP2 issue when closing the sidebar as something changes the SidebarDockedPartsOrder entry in the ini file. Also tried just using two of the standard gadgets and the same happens so it isn't gadget specific.
Any other suggestions?
Thanks! Hello EnglishM45,
You may have to reinstall both Adobe Flash player and Java on your machine.Download the latest version of Java using this link http://java.com/en/download/index.jsp
To download Adobe flash player, use this link http://get.adobe.com/flashplayer/?promoid=BUIGP
Hope this information is helpful
David O
Microsoft Answers Support Engineer
Visit our and let us know what you think.- Marked As Answer byJames- Support EngineerMSFT, ModeratorWednesday, July 08, 2009 8:13 PM
- Just wanted to add that I have the same problem on Vista Home Premium x64 after upgrading to SP2 (through windows update)...I'll give the reinstall of java and flash a try....
- I tried installing the latest flash player - no difference
I already had the latest Java installed (x64 version) but reinstalled anyway - no difference.
Maybe this is just an x64 issue as there are several similar problems reported on the web? - Same here. No difference.
Maybe it's a specific gadget?
I have the calender, weather, notepad, CPU usage, network meter and a stock ticker...those last two are 3rd party if I recall. Same here. No difference.
Maybe it's a specific gadget?
I have the calender, weather, notepad, CPU usage, network meter and a stock ticker...those last two are 3rd party if I recall.
I'm having the same problem. Each time the Sidebar is loaded, the SidebarDockedPartsOrder entry in the settings.ini file gets rewritten in whatever order the OS deems fit. Any attempt to make the file read only fails. Essentially Sidebar is doing whatever the ____ it wants with each load and it's massively frustrating.- It's not gadget specific. I have tried reducing to two and used a selection of standard ones - no difference. Must be an SP2 bug on x64 Vista. How can this get reported to someone that can reproduce in Microsoft?
- I did a bit more digging into this issue and what I've found is that after installing Vista x64 SP2, quitting and restarting Sidebar instigates the random behavior. I discovered this by rolling back to a disk image I have of my system from prior to the first appearance of the problem. SP2 was already on my machine, but I had not quit and restarted Sidebar. Everything looked good. I then quit Sidebar and restarted it. The fault appeared.
The problem occurred on my Vista Business x64 laptop. I have an Ultimate x64 SP2 machine which thus far has not exhibited the fault.
Any suggestions from MS would be most welcome. - Just tried closing the taskbar, deleting the settings.ini file, and restarting the taskbar - no luck. Still random order after a reboot. So it seems that this isn't just some type of corruption of the settings.ini file. The sidebar program itself has gone nuts.
- Yes, I did that several time too. The problem is that when exiting the sidebar, manually or on log off/reboot the order specified by the data associated with the SidebarDockedPartsOrder entry in the .ini file is 'randomised.
- Glad that I'm not the only one having this problem. I'm running Vista Business x64 and having the same problem after upgrading to SP2. Seems like the problem happens on x64 OS only as there is no such problem on my friends x86.
- I'm experiencing the same issue since installing SP2, I'm running Vista Home Premium x64.
- i have Adobe CS3 Master Corporate Collection, and since its Adobe, i never have to worry about my flash version, in order to make the newest and best websites you must have the newest and best versions.
i never saw this error after i installed SP2
- Edited byKamikazi2142 Sunday, June 07, 2009 6:08 PMforgot to get to the point
- Anyone from Microsoft care to respond?
- I have the same problem with Vista Ultimate, the proposed solutions (Reinstalling SP2, Java and Flash) did not work.
I hope Microsoft works on this problem and finds a solution that works soon or we will be forced to install Google Sidebar instead. - Hello all,
It's possible that you have corrupted a file or two.I suggest you check your system for corrupt files. You use the System File Checker tool (SFC.exe) to check and fix system corrupted files. To do this, follow these steps:
1. Open an elevated command prompt. To do this, click Start, click All Programs, click Accessories, right-click Command Prompt, and then click Run as administrator. If you are prompted for an administrator password or for a confirmation, type the password, or click Allow.
2. Type the following command, and then press ENTER:
sfc /scannow
The sfc /scannow command scans all protected system files and replaces incorrect versions with correct Microsoft versions
Thanks for using the Answers Forum. Please let us know how this works out.
Joseph
Microsoft Answers Support Engineer
Visit our Microsoft Answers Feedback Forum and let us know what you think. Hello all,
Hi,
It's possible that you have corrupted a file or two.I suggest you check your system for corrupt files. You use the System File Checker tool (SFC.exe) to check and fix system corrupted files. To do this, follow these steps:
1. Open an elevated command prompt. To do this, click Start, click All Programs, click Accessories, right-click Command Prompt, and then click Run as administrator. If you are prompted for an administrator password or for a confirmation, type the password, or click Allow.
2. Type the following command, and then press ENTER:
sfc /scannow
The sfc /scannow command scans all protected system files and replaces incorrect versions with correct Microsoft versions
Thanks for using the Answers Forum. Please let us know how this works out.
Joseph
Microsoft Answers Support Engineer
Visit our Microsoft Answers Feedback Forum and let us know what you think.
I tried this as instructed and got the following result:
Verification 100% complete.
Windows Resource Protection did not find any integrity violations.
The problem still exists I'm afraid, any more suggestions?- Me too.
Microsoft, please take this seriously. I am a s/w engineering professional with 30 years experience. This is a bug, not a file corruption or environment problem. - Tried that too. Doesn't work at all.
- I agree that the Vista SP2 has issues, this Forum has "several" Posts where SP2 has caused issues. For now I would leave off SP2 (not install it) and wait for Microsoft to release another SP to address yet more issues including this one.
You might find more info over at connect.microsoft.com (or Post a bug)
Phreak_89 - I did the sfc /scannow with the following result: Windows Resource Protection did not find any integrity violations.
Somebody at Microsoft must know where the information on the Gadgets order is saved so Windows Sidebar can read it, and restore the same order at startup.
It is either not saved at all, or not correctly saved, or not red back and restored at startup.
I do not think it would be difficult to find the bug and correct it, it is only a matter of importance, if many other tasks are considered more important at Microsoft, then they will never have time to fix this one. On the other hand if there are thousands of complains, they may give this problem a higher priority.
- I was having the same problem with my sidebar gadgets after installing SP2 on my Vista Ultimate X64. I don't know what happened but everytime I restart my computer my gadgets are now keeping there positions.I started by going to the directories where the windows sidebars were locatedC:\Program Files\Windows Sidebar\ and C:\Program Files (x86)\Windows Sidebar\I decided to compare the files below in both the x86 and x64 directories to see if the permissions were the same.sbdrop.dllsettings.inisidebar.exewlsrvc.dllsbdrop.dll.mui (en-US folder)Sidebar.exe.mui (en-US folder)From the x64 and the x86 directories, I right-clicked the files then chose properties and the security tab and compared the permissions for both x86 and x64 bit for every files in both the C:\Program Files\Windows Sidebar\ and C:\Program Files (x86)\Windows Sidebar\ folders. They were all matching in both places so I decided to do a restart. To my surprise, my gadgets were positioned correctly. I restarted 4 more times and the gadgets were still positioned ok. I hope this will work for you guys as it did for me.
- OK, time to chime in! I have Home Premium 64-bit SP2 (Standalone Download) and I am having the same problem everyone else is having, that being, the Sidebar Gadgets will shuffle in all sorts of different order on a restart or shut down and start. I have tried taking all gadgets off so only two are on the sidebar and on restart it still shuffles. I tried leaving those same two gadgets in the shuffled order, restarted to see if they would stay or change, you guessed it, they shuffled yet again!
THOUGHT ~~ When I loaded SP2, I did so utilizing the "Upgrade Install (In theory, Retaining all currently loaded files and programs)" update methodolgy. I was wondering, has anyone who is currently having this problem, utilized the "Clean Install (In theory, Deleting all currently loaded files and programs)" update methodolgy? I haven't a clue if it will or will not, and if it does resolve the problem, a "smarter" Guru will need to explain the particulars of why and how.
Regardless, this is definately an SP 2 issue! Damn, just when you thought it was safe to go in the water....
Gunny I was having the same problem with my sidebar gadgets after installing SP2 on my Vista Ultimate X64. I don't know what happened but everytime I restart my computer my gadgets are now keeping there positions.
I started by going to the directories where the windows sidebars were locatedC:\Program Files\Windows Sidebar\ and C:\Program Files (x86)\Windows Sidebar\I decided to compare the files below in both the x86 and x64 directories to see if the permissions were the same.sbdrop.dllsettings.inisidebar.exewlsrvc.dllsbdrop.dll.mui (en-US folder)Sidebar.exe.mui (en-US folder)From the x64 and the x86 directories, I right-clicked the files then chose properties and the security tab and compared the permissions for both x86 and x64 bit for every files in both the C:\Program Files\Windows Sidebar\ and C:\Program Files (x86)\Windows Sidebar\ folders. They were all matching in both places so I decided to do a restart. To my surprise, my gadgets were positioned correctly. I restarted 4 more times and the gadgets were still positioned ok. I hope this will work for you guys as it did for me.
First ~~ I tried this as instructed and got the following result:
Verification 100% complete.
Windows Resource Protection did not find any integrity violations. ~~~ The problem still exists I'm afraid, any more suggestions?
Now, I am getting ready to do the compare as suggested above, but I don't see where anything changed in your findings, am I reading it correct? Besides the comparison check, which resulted in no findings, what happened and what triggered the resumption of normality?
Gunny- OK, I have tried the comparison options as suggested above and the command prompt option as well. Neither option resolved the problem. So, any other idea's?
If I were so inclined, is there an easy way to bounce back to SP1 and cut the apron strings on SP2? Has anyone else had any further issues with SP2 deserving notice? If this is the only bug of major concern, I'd just as well leave SP 2 installed and adjust the sidebar as needed until MS fixes the bug. On the other hand, if there are other serious issues, which I just haven't found out about yet, than thats a horse of a different color!
Please advise on the sidebar issue as well as the SP 2 Overall Quest.................................... Thanks!
Gunny I was having the same problem with my sidebar gadgets after installing SP2 on my Vista Ultimate X64. I don't know what happened but everytime I restart my computer my gadgets are now keeping there positions.
AubeI started by going to the directories where the windows sidebars were locatedC:\Program Files\Windows Sidebar\ and C:\Program Files (x86)\Windows Sidebar\I decided to compare the files below in both the x86 and x64 directories to see if the permissions were the same.sbdrop.dllsettings.inisidebar.exewlsrvc.dllsbdrop.dll.mui (en-US folder)Sidebar.exe.mui (en-US folder)From the x64 and the x86 directories, I right-clicked the files then chose properties and the security tab and compared the permissions for both x86 and x64 bit for every files in both the C:\Program Files\Windows Sidebar\ and C:\Program Files (x86)\Windows Sidebar\ folders. They were all matching in both places so I decided to do a restart. To my surprise, my gadgets were positioned correctly. I restarted 4 more times and the gadgets were still positioned ok. I hope this will work for you guys as it did for me.
I checked as you suggested, but no differences for me.
BUT got me thinking and testing further.
For me if I run the X64 version I get the problem as I have since installing SP2. However if I use the 32 bit application the gadget order is solid, so DEFINITELY an x64 only bug Mr Microsoft. Please fix it.- Edited byEnglishM45 Friday, June 12, 2009 6:53 PM
I was having the same problem with my sidebar gadgets after installing SP2 on my Vista Ultimate X64. I don't know what happened but everytime I restart my computer my gadgets are now keeping there positions.
AubeI started by going to the directories where the windows sidebars were locatedC:\Program Files\Windows Sidebar\ and C:\Program Files (x86)\Windows Sidebar\I decided to compare the files below in both the x86 and x64 directories to see if the permissions were the same.sbdrop.dllsettings.inisidebar.exewlsrvc.dllsbdrop.dll.mui (en-US folder)Sidebar.exe.mui (en-US folder)From the x64 and the x86 directories, I right-clicked the files then chose properties and the security tab and compared the permissions for both x86 and x64 bit for every files in both the C:\Program Files\Windows Sidebar\ and C:\Program Files (x86)\Windows Sidebar\ folders. They were all matching in both places so I decided to do a restart. To my surprise, my gadgets were positioned correctly. I restarted 4 more times and the gadgets were still positioned ok. I hope this will work for you guys as it did for me.
I checked as you suggested, but no differences for me.
BUT got be thinking and testing further.
For me if I run the X64 version I get the problem as I have since installing SP2. However if I used the 32 bit application the order is solid, So DEFINITELY an x64 only bug Mr Microsoft. Please fix it.
Agreed I run x64 at home with this bug but my x86 Vista laptop at work doesn't have this issue.- I would just like to mention that there seems to be a general problem with the order of gadgets on the Vista sidebar. The scenario which I have on an x32 system is that gadgets are usually displayed in the correct order, but sometimes in an undesired order. This problem predates SP2. Perhaps SP2 on x64 isn’t the cause of the problem, but rather triggers/aggravates an underlying problem.
An internet search reveals that others have the same problem as I do, but as yet I have seen no actual solutions – only suggestions such as putting the gadgets on the desktop instead or dragging them into the correct order each time. One posting I found offered the following comment:
"Vista SideBar is probably multi-threaded and the gadgets not start-up sequenced nor the gadgets fixed positionally, so they appear in the order they complete initialization."
While this problem has put some people off Sidebar completely, I suspect that many others are simply putting up with this annoyance because it only takes a few seconds to reorder the gadgets!
- I also having sidebar gadgets reshuffle by itself on every boot after installed Vista SP2.
I already did clean install of Vista and updated to SP2 but the problem still exist.
I'm using Vista Ultimate x64. It looks like this bug effect Vista x64 users.
I hope Microsft will fix it fast because its very annoying to rearrange the gadgets everytime. - im using vista home premium x64 SP2 ... with the same problem ... it was working fine with SP1 ... something in SP2 has created this "bug".
FIX it microsoft... i seriously hope Windows 7 doesnt have this kind of garbage - I agree with EnglishM45. It is true, the x64 version of the sidebar dose not work as it should (gadgets always appear in random order), while the 32 bit sidebar works as it should. I also agree with unlogic in that it is VERY annoying to have to rearrange gadgets each time you reboot or open and close the sidebar.
I am 47 years old and have been using PC since the earliest versions of Windos. It has been a continuos learning curve and some progress has been made, but I don't think we are there yet and wonder if Microsoft will EVER get it right and we can get on with life and ENJOY our computers instead of googling for solutions to problems brought to us via updates and all the wonders of using a Windows PC bring.
Some of the replies I have seen here from Microsoft are the equivalent of first tier tech support any place... completely BOGUS and the royal run around. It is NOT always the end user with the problem, and it is not PAINT BY NUMBERS... if you see people experiencing the same problem on different machines in different locations and countries, gee, maybe you should have a look into their complaints.
I held off on buying a new PC until December of 2008 because I did NOT want Vista as XP was good or bad enough. Now I have more modern hardware, more RAM, a faster processor and to date have seen NO benefit to Vista other than the "eye candy". I invested $1,800 US Dollars in a new notebook, then several hundred Dollars in new software to run on the x64 system, new hardware including printer and scanner in order to be Vista compatible, and what do I get? SP2 with gadgets that do not behave?
I am waiting for a FIX to come to me and not a fix that I have to find on some public board published by an end user that was willing to work harder and find a solution to a problem that Microsoft created in the first place. MICROSOFT... stop sending us garbage updates and patches and get it right the FIRST TIME. As a temporary workaround you can just use the x86 version of the Sidebar located at c:\Program Files (x86)\Windows Sidebar\sidebar.exe
It seems that the issue is with the x64 exe (the x86 version doesn't rearrange the gadget at startup), so nothing to do but wait for a hotfix from MS.- Proposed As Answer byPeteRobOs Tuesday, November 17, 2009 3:29 AM
- Agreed - as posted 12th June, above
Yes, I have done this. I set the properties on the x64 version of sidebar so that it would no longer start when Windows starts, ran the x86 version and set it up to start when Windows starts, and as you say, this is the FIX for the time being. Works for me... thanks!
As a temporary workaround you can just use the x86 version of the Sidebar located at c:\Program Files (x86)\Windows Sidebar\sidebar.exe
It seems that the issue is with the x64 exe (the x86 version doesn't rearrange the gadget at startup), so nothing to do but wait for a hotfix from MS.
Wow, it really works!!!
Thanks!!
Where is Microsoft?? sleeping??Where is Microsoft?? sleeping??
Yeah, what's happened to Joseph and Zack, the Support Engineers? It seemed like we were getting some coverage from MS on this issue but it's been nothing but radio silence for a while now.- I've had the same issue since sp2 was installed on vista 64 ultimate.. I
didn't use windows update to install it either.
there was a couple of other issues I've had as well but they went back to the
latest updates in sp1 right before sp2 was released. There's a couple of
gadgets that don't display fully until I hover the mouse over them right after boot,
as well as the scramble order issue. lemme get some screenshots and post them
here of what it looks like on boot and the scramble that happens.
http://img198.imageshack.us/img198/5185/desk1k.jpg <-- This is what it should be like
http://img198.imageshack.us/img198/5167/desk2n.jpg <-- This is what I get randomly scrambled on boot since sp2 - sometimes both of the affected bad display gadgets show correctly also but it almost always scrambles.. really random - Seems like the problem has been solved after a recent Windows update. My setting stays every time I reboot the system now. Can someone verify this?
- I have all updates installed and just tried exiting the x86 sidebar and loading the x64 sidebar... I still have the same situation... x86 works ok, x64 gadgets are out of order.
- I still got problem with x64 sidebar.
x86 sidebar works fine. - +1 same problemx64 sidebar random orderx86 in orderWindows Home Premium 64 bit
- +2 STILL same problemx64 sidebar random orderx86 in orderWindows Vista Ultimate 64 bit
- +3 STILL same problemx64 sidebar random orderWindows Vista Ultimate 64 bit
i think because sp2 not compatible with antivirus, read at kaspersky forum and outpost forum there is same problem after uninstalling antivirus / firewall a sidebar gadget back to in order
i formatted my computer 2 days ago and installing vista sp1 + sp2 sidebar gadget must in order
after inistall kaspersky internet security 2009 / 2010 sidebar gadget come back to random order
i tried eset nod32 and gdata sidebar gadget at in order but i love kaspersky can't leave it. so please fixed this bug from windows vista ultimate x64 >< - Microsoft is chasing Google, they forgot their traditional customers and lost sight of the ball.
- Hi,
I have been experiencing this problem since I installed SP2. Something about two months.
Today I lost my patience and contacted MS through a chat option at the Vista support site. Their Indian support team spent about 90 mins of their AND my time (because I had to assist them every two minutes) but did not fix anything. Sure, they told me they would contact me on coming Monday to continue digging into my system. And they will! I know. It is not the first time I try to get help from MS. However, it looked like they heard of this problem for the first time. So, I am not going to invest more time/money into education of MS' support staff. Honestly, it looks like MS just does not care about our problems. The problem was reported 40 days ago but the support staff has no solution and even has never heard of it.
Then I found this thread. I tried all suggestions except reinstalling Vista and SP2. ))) Sorry, but it is overkill in my opinion. Only x86 version substitution works but conditionally. I mean I have to reorder gadgets in x64 version, close it, then open x86 version. Now I can reboot w/o harm to gadgets' order. However, if I add new gadget(s) to x86 version this(ese) gadget(s) can appear in random place over or under the group of gadgets previously ordered in x64 version.
BTW, thanks for mentioning about Google Gadgents! I will take a look at it definitely! - yeah I dunno why they won't fix this.. it's probably something very simple- at least give us a solution on how to do it ourselves besides the 32 bit sidebar solution- my install is probably older than anyone's here.. installed ultimate 64 retail right after beta
please just fix this- not a bunch of poontangers posting here- the vista x64 sidebar is still broken since sp2 - Well I don't know what happened, but for the last couple of days, the problem has been resolved! Maybe a fix, finally fixed the problem, but they have been loading correctly now for at least the last 2-3 days that I have noticed. Maybe longer, heck I was so use to fixing them it got to be common business. But they are working fine now!
Anyone else have the issue resolved? Possible resolution = I reformated my drives and rebuilt out my system, about 2 days ago. The problem before was as a result of SP2, but I downloaded it as a seperate download. This time around, SP2 came to me through the update pathway! I bet that was the fix and why it works now. Anyone have thoughts on that???
Gunny Yeah, I just switch on back the x64 sidebar and surprisingly the problem was fixed!!
I don’t which WU hotfix that fix the problem.
- I do not know, guys...
It is the third day i am working with the MS' support. Their last suggestion was to create a new account to check if it was not a result of broken account. I've just made a new account with "Administrator" privileges. The bag is still there. I have to mention I installed all updates issued up to today.
Now I am waiting for their next great idea. They have a lot of. ))) Why not to replicate this problem on MS' computers and work there? Why we have to pay twice: first, for buggy system and then for MS' staff fun?
Could it be a problem related to multiple displays configuration? I had a theory, which was put to shame that if someone tried to change the permission properties on the settings.ini folder, the system would be unable to write to the file, and therefore not be able to change the gadget order.
It appears that the Windows Sidebar will create a new settings.ini folder if it sees it does not have permissions to write to another.This sidebar gadget problem seems to go away when I remove the Logitech webcam software on Vista Ultimate 64 bit.
- No, sorry, this did not solve the problem for me and I have this problem on a notebook without cam too...
- Everyone, try these troubleshooting steps. I did not work for one user, however it did for another.
http://social.answers.microsoft.com/Forums/en-US/vistaprograms/thread/28e184f9-35ce-42e4-b8f3-c3a28a99c776
If this does not work, we have a few options:
1. Revert back to SP1
2. Use the x86 (32-bit) version of the Windows Sidebar
3. Wait for a mysterious update that seems to be fixes peoples issues. Some users have reported that just after a period of time, and a few non-related updates, the problem is fixed Okay thanks!!! Did not help but was a good idea!
I´ve tried to find out something with the ProcessMonitor, but nothing to see, only some subprocess (sidebar.exe) from explorer.exe but nothing special...
After enabling auditing I can see this audit event
Object:
Object Server: Security
Object Type: File
Object Name: C:\Users\[UserName]\AppData\Local\Microsoft\Windows Sidebar\Settings.ini
Handle ID: 0x27cProcess Information:
Process ID: 0x1588
Process Name: C:\Windows\System32\dllhost.exe
Okay, now I know that the settings.ini will be changed on sidebar.exe start but the source remains unknown.
I give up and switch to W7 in october :-))- I guess they can't be bothered to fix it.. I'm running the 32-bit bar as a temporary fix but I had to update one of the gadgets to a more recent version
thanks for nothing microsoft.. gee I wonder if I'm going to get windows 7 with this kind of support- I suffered through vista's horrible transfer speeds and bad drivers as an early adopter of vista 64 ultimate retail..
I messed with it a bit.. changed permissions and replaced all the files in the 64 bit sidebar folder with old versions from the original vista 64 disk- same thing.. maybe a registry thing that gets waxed on the orginal install of sp2.. whatever it is I couldn't figure it out.. I found that thread on the atl.dll registration too- tried that with no results.. - This is just one of those things that happens when major updates are released. Microsoft cannot anticipate EVERY possible glitch/bug. SP2 does not seem to break it on EVERY machine, so it seems to be a mix of updates and mabye even some gadgets themselves?
Like I said before, some people who where having this issue just let it sit there and after a period of time (and maybe some automatic updates) the issue just suddenly resolved itself. May not work on every machine, but being able to use the 32-bit sidebar is better than nothing.
Im sure this will be addressed soon. On the developer end, they may be working on something more important, like a security hole fix. They will fix items that are critical first and then move down the list. Not to say this is not important, but you get the jest. - After reinstalling the latest Logitech webcam software after uninstalling it a couple weeks ago, I can definitely say that in my case Logitech's software is causing my gadget order to become random after every reboot. The gadgets stayed where I placed them for the time I had the Logitech software uninstalled.
- Upgrading Logitech Setpoint from v.4.7x to 4.8x fixed the problem for me in x64 Ultimate.
- Dude, thanks for the tip. My issue was related to Logitech Setpoint also. Is M$ listening?
I had to take an extra step as I already had Setpoint 4.8 installed. Uninstalling is not enough although that proved to me it is Logitech related as my Sidebar now acted normal after the uninstall.
Also, my Sidebar was ok with Vista 64 Ultimate SP1 and Setpoint. No new gadgets were added after the SP2 update from a downloaded file. Like others my Sidebar went haywire after updating to SP2 and that took an act of Congress to update too. But, that's another story.
What I had to do was delete the .../Program Files/Common Files folders and files related to Logitech after uninstalling Setpoint. As an added measure I deleted the ../Program Files/Logitech folder and I ran CCleaner to clean up the left over stuff in the registry.
Once things were "clean" I restarted and reinstalled Setpoint 4.8 and the Sidebar is normal (not randomly loading the gadgets). Well, at least after 3 boots. We'll see what happens after the next Windows Update. - Upgrading Logitech Setpoint from v.4.7 to 4.8, plus deleting the files in .../Program Files/Common Files/Logishrd semi-fixed the problem for me with Vista x64 Ultimate.
Now when booting from cold the gadgets are in the order they were at the previous shutdown.
HOWEVER, I think all that has changed is that at boot time the gadgets are now being loaded either before setpoint starts, or maybe before it checks for updates, or some other process starts, as the fundamental MS problem is still there. You can prove this by simply closing the sidebar and then starting it again from Accessories- the order of the gadgets is then random again.
Still, for normal operation I no longer have to re-order the gadgets at every login. - Hello... No help for me... I don't have any Logitech software on my system... I think we are still waiting for Microsoft to bail us out?
- I have solved the random gadget order on my x64 Vista Ultimate machine with Kaspersky Internet Security 2010.
I added the x64 sidebar.exe program to the trusted applications list in Kaspersky and now the gadgets load correctly on startup.
I have had to add other programs to the list in Kaspersky to get them to work correctly but did not think about the gadgets until I read this post from Fusionist x64.
Hope this helps other people.- Proposed As Answer byThe_Beacon_Expert Wednesday, September 09, 2009 1:28 AM
- Unproposed As Answer byEnglishM45 Wednesday, September 09, 2009 4:50 PM
- I don't have Kaspersky and performing a similar action in AVG doesn't work for me.
Also, having installed the latest updates from MS, the good that was done by uninstalling Logitech Setpoint 4.7 and then installing 4.8 has been undone. I'm now back to random gadget order at every boot. Would probably be fixed temporarily again by uninstalling Logitech Setpoint 4.7 and then installing 4.8again, but why should I need to? Come on MS this is beyond a joke. - I also tried the suggestion adding the x64 sidebar to the trusted applications for McAfee and it had no effect. I am still loading the x86 sidebar and all gadgets are in order.
- Also having the same problem.
Not @ PC Starting up, but only if a gadget crashes and I have to reboot the sidebar.
Doesn't M$ care about their customers? - skiwi2,
Are you running the 32-bit version of Windows Vista? Are you running SP2? skiwi2,
Are you running the 32-bit version of Windows Vista? Are you running SP2?
Sorry for not telling, but have same problem as the rest.
SP2 - 64-bit.- I am also running Vista Ultimate 64 sp2 with the exact same problem as everyone else. Random order. Nothing suggested or that I have tried has fixed it.
Take sidebar.exe from Vista 32 sp2, filesize is 1.17 Mb, file version is the same. It works perfect with x64. To change the file, use Take OwnerShip sript or use my article http://www.vistax64.com/vista-general/64718-my-sidebar-rearranges-my-gadgets.html#post1159417 Best Regards!
- Hi,
I had the same problem with Vista SP2 x64. The gadgets in the sidebar appeared at random order at start up. I tried updating my Logitech SetPoint software to no avail.
Finally I resolved the issue by reinstalling my anti-virus software (avast!) that had somehow gotten messed up most likely in the SP2 update process. After repairing my avast! the sidebar started working normally again and the gadgets remained in good order.
Hope this helps someone. - Definitely a start up timing issues. I can make it work for a while but uninstalling and reinstalling various apps that start on boot, but soon comes back again after a few restarts. Definitely not fixed - yet. Maybe I can get a free copy of Windows 7 to fix the problem (no gadgets I'm told?)
- Same issues exist on 32 bit Vista Ultimate as well. I have 32 bit Vista Ultimate running SP2 and the same freaking issue driving me crazy......
I refuse to upgrade to 7 for now as my Vista setup runs awesome still, apart from this UBER annoying thingy ... - SP2 has nothing to do with the problem that you are describing. Do you have Logitech Setpoint installed? Logitech's Setpoint utility causes the random order. It is just a coincidence that you are noticing it after SP2. This is NOT a microsoft programming error.
- SP2 has nothing to do with the problem that you are describing. Do you have Logitech Setpoint installed? Logitech's Setpoint utility causes the random order. It is just a coincidence that you are noticing it after SP2. This is NOT a microsoft programming error.
- SP2 has nothing to do with the problem that you are describing. Do you have Logitech Setpoint installed? Logitech's Setpoint utility causes the random order. It is just a coincidence that you are noticing it after SP2. This is NOT a microsoft programming error.
- SP2 has nothing to do with the problem that you are describing. Do you have Logitech Setpoint installed? Logitech's Setpoint utility causes the random order. It is just a coincidence that you are noticing it after SP2. This is NOT a microsoft programming error.
- SP2 has nothing to do with the problem that you are describing. Do you have Logitech Setpoint installed? Logitech's Setpoint utility causes the random order. It is just a coincidence that you are noticing it after SP2. This is NOT a microsoft programming error.
- SP2 has nothing to do with the problem that you are describing. Do you have Logitech Setpoint installed? Logitech's Setpoint utility causes the random order. It is just a coincidence that you are noticing it after SP2. This is NOT a microsoft programming error.
- SP2 has nothing to do with the problem that you are describing. Do you have Logitech Setpoint installed? Logitech's Setpoint utility causes the random order. It is just a coincidence that you are noticing it after SP2. This is NOT a microsoft programming error.
- SP2 has nothing to do with the problem that you are describing. Do you have Logitech Setpoint installed? Logitech's Setpoint utility causes the random order. It is just a coincidence that you are noticing it after SP2. This is NOT a microsoft programming error.
- SP2 has nothing to do with the problem that you are describing. Do you have Logitech Setpoint installed? Logitech's Setpoint utility causes the random order. It is just a coincidence that you are noticing it after SP2. This is NOT a microsoft programming error.
SP2 has nothing to do with the problem that you are describing. Do you have Logitech Setpoint installed? Logitech's Setpoint utility causes the random order. It is just a coincidence that you are noticing it after SP2. This is NOT a microsoft programming error.
Hmmm, 9 repeated replies means we take you seriously?
If you look at the thread you will see uninstalling/reinstalling Setpoint has an effect, but it is not the root cause, especially as it also happens to people without Setpoint installed!
Agreed. I do not have setpoint software, nor any Logitech peripherals.SP2 has nothing to do with the problem that you are describing. Do you have Logitech Setpoint installed? Logitech's Setpoint utility causes the random order. It is just a coincidence that you are noticing it after SP2. This is NOT a microsoft programming error.
Hmmm, 9 repeated replies means we take you seriously?
If you look at the thread you will see uninstalling/reinstalling Setpoint has an effect, but it is not the root cause, especially as it also happens to people without Setpoint installed!
