Microsoft Fix It Gadget

Martin Brinkmann
Apr 20, 2009
Updated • Jun 3, 2017
Windows
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20

Microsoft has recently introduced a new service called Fix It which aids users in fixing common problems that are encountered when using the Windows operating system and other Microsoft software. Fix It programs are small applications designed to repair common issues that users experience on the system.

The process has been simplified, and the programs are basically small scripts that users can download from Microsoft, and execute without installation on the system to attempt to fix the issue that they are experiencing.

Microsoft usually lists a manual fix as well that Windows users may apply to the system which is great if users don't want to run the Fix It program, or prefer to know what is being done in the background to fix the issue.

All the fixes that Microsoft created can be accessed directly on the official website. A recent addition is the Fix It gadget which can be added to both the Windows Vista and the Windows 7 operating system (and probably even for the Windows XP sidebar mod).

Update: Sidebar gadgets have been retired in all recent versions of the Microsoft Windows operating system. The Fix It Gadget is no longer available as a consequence.

Fix It sidebar Gadget

fix it gadget

The Fix It sidebar gadget provides access to all of the fixes that have been created by Microsoft for the company's various operating systems and applications.

It offers a search that can be used to search the database for fix it solutions, and a tag cloud which you may use to click on popular products. Solutions are displayed in the gadget directly; this includes the name and download count. A click on a problem will open a new window with additional information and a link to the one click solution.

fix it

The footer of the gadget lists links to pages that offer additional information including Technet and Facebook pages of the Fix It project. The Microsoft Fix It gadget is a handy tool for users who use the sidebar in Windows Vista or Windows 7.

Update: Microsoft has retired the gadget engine recently and removed most gadgets that it has created in the past as a consequence.

This means that the Fix It gadget is no longer available. You can still visit the Fix It Solution Center to search for scripts though.

All you need to do there is select one of the solution categories, e.g. Windows, Internet Explorer or Office, and select the problem area, or use the search to find solutions if available.

Update 2: The Fix It Solution Center is not available anymore as well.

Summary
software image
Author Rating
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no rating based on 0 votes
Software Name
Microsoft Fix It Gadget
Operating System
Windows
Software Category
Administration
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Comments

  1. Tuulikki Salminen said on February 7, 2011 at 9:37 am
    Reply

    Virusinfo

  2. Pietzki said on May 3, 2009 at 6:18 pm
    Reply

    Sorry Martin, I forgot rule number one….

  3. Vanillaman said on May 3, 2009 at 5:40 pm
    Reply

    Hmmm!! Lol. I’m the idiot, Pietzki. Who woke you up? Read my article again, you stupid muppet, then get your facts straight before you go on a stupid rant 2 days late….. I could comment more, but you’re obviously too friggin thick to waste it on dummy.

  4. Pietzki said on May 3, 2009 at 3:48 pm
    Reply

    @vanillaman

    Umm, constructive criticism? All you did was bash the article, and it wasn’t even warranted BECAUSE THE FRIGGIN’ LINK WAS RIGHT THERE ALL ALONG!!! Real constructive criticism is written in a neutral, even friendly tone (i.e. advice), not like your crappy bickering post.

    And now you get all defensive because you made an idiot of yourself by shooting your mouth off at martin even though the link was there.

    I for one have been quite happy with the software Martin suggests. Tell me one thing, if you dislike Martin’s articles so much, why on earth are you still here?

    Either you’re a troll, or just an idiot…

    Kindest regards,
    Pietzki ;)

  5. Vanillaman said on May 2, 2009 at 8:28 pm
    Reply

    Yeah right. Whatever!! Now, get lost. You’re starting to annoy me.

  6. Rarst said on May 2, 2009 at 6:38 pm
    Reply

    @Vanillaman

    What link did you want to see included? Direct download link to Vista-only gadget file? Yeah that would make so much freaking sense.

  7. Vanillaman said on May 2, 2009 at 6:26 pm
    Reply

    “Yet `another user’ with no clue on what he is talking about.!” Yeah arsehole, and if you can’t handle constructive criticism from users about your site, then take it down. You certainly have a great way to win support for it, if that’s your attitude.

    I think you’ll find that you have a habit of NOT including links to some of the programs you review, which by its nature is “pointless” and defeats the purpose. And, you’ll also find that most users will probably find my advice about CNET very useful, just to be on the safe side. So, keep your nasty insults about users to yourself. Idiot!!

    1. Martin said on May 2, 2009 at 7:16 pm
      Reply

      Would not constructive mean that what you said would make sense? Troll off please, thanks. And please try to get rid of all those nasty words and insults. I remove any more comments that make use of this foul language.

  8. Martin said on May 2, 2009 at 2:46 pm
    Reply

    Vanillaman: Yet another user with no clue on what he is talking about. If you would have followed the first link you would have noticed that it leads to the official site with download possibilities. Maybe it would be better if you would continue your pointless accusations over at Cnet download.com or any other site but mine. Thanks for nothing.

  9. Vanillaman said on May 2, 2009 at 12:54 pm
    Reply

    Yet again another review with no link to the actual program, (pointless really) just another runaround to well known “crap” like “Driver Detective”. I’ve learnt a long time ago that before you consider downloading anything Martin comes up with, check it out on CNET Download.com first.

  10. [deXter] said on April 20, 2009 at 11:10 pm
    Reply

    Another common problem I come across is that sometimes Windows just stops recognizing a flash drive. Sometimes a reboot fixes it, sometimes it might require digging into the registry. This is one problem that’s present in XP as well. As usual, no solution on the Microsoft site.

    Yet another problem is with ReadyBoost. Sometimes, when you safely remove the drive and put it back in later, Windows forgets that the drive is meant to be used for ReadyBoost. It completly ignores the ReadyBoost.sfcache file and acts as if that space is used by some other program (When I go again into the ReadyBoost dialog). Thus I’d end up deleting the cache manually and re-creating it all over again. What a waste.

    Once again, the Fix It site has no solutions. I think the Fix It site is more like an “How to” site, like ‘How to Uninstall IE8’ and such…

  11. [deXter] said on April 20, 2009 at 11:00 pm
    Reply

    Nice find Martin, but I wonder how useful it’s going to be. For instance, I couldn’t find a solution to why so many programs, IE included, crash in Vista. I can’t remember when was the last time a program crashed on me in XP without any reason. I sure hope Win7 is better.

  12. Martin said on April 20, 2009 at 8:55 pm
    Reply

    fixed.

  13. Paulus said on April 20, 2009 at 8:40 pm
    Reply

    Great find martin only your link to Windows XP sidebar does not work correctly. It brings the last entry page upfront.

  14. Martin said on April 20, 2009 at 6:02 pm
    Reply

    Rarst yeah the Twitter comments probably are better off in a separate section like the pingbacks :)

  15. Rarst said on April 20, 2009 at 4:39 pm
    Reply

    Nice, I remember lack of central page with all fixes being one of my complaints when I reviewed Fix It so it’s nice to see that… fixed. :)

    Off topic – I wondered how integrating tweets would look like on real live blog. It sucks. :)

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