Microsoft Fix-It to disable gadgets in Windows 7, Vista

Rumor has it that Microsoft is going to kill gadgets in Windows 8, and while nothing has been confirmed yet it seems like a move that aims to get users to work with the Metro interface and the apps it provides. There could be another reason though, and it comes in form of a security advisory for Windows Vista and Windows 7.
If you look at the reason for the advisory, you are probably wondering why that is only being addressed now and not previously. Here is Microsoft's official statement regarding the issue:
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.
First, there is a vulnerability in Windows Sidebar that could allow malicious gadgets to run run arbitrary code in the context of the current use. This is a security issue that needs to be addressed. But Microsoft goes on and explains that gadgets installed from untrusted sources can be malicious in nature. And that's like telling us that software programs installed from untrusted software can be malicious. The consequence however is to disable the gadget engine and Windows Sidebar completely which feels like an over the top solution to the issue.
Microsoft has made available to Fix-It solutions that address the issue. One disables gadgets and the sidebar in supported operating systems, while the other enables the features of the system again. All you have to do is run the Fix It which will automatically enable or disable gadgets and the sidebar on the system. A system restore point is created prior to that.
Please note that the gadget is automatically using the primary language of the operating system, or, if not supported, English.
Administrators and users who do not want to use the Fix It solutions can disable the sidebar in the Group Policy or the Windows Registry instead.
Disabling Sidebar and gadgets manually
To disable the Sidebar using the Group Policy do the following (Group Policy is not available on all systems):
- Bring up the run box with Windows-r, enter gpedit.msc and hit enter
- Browse to Local Computer Policy > Computer Configuration > Administrative Templates > Windows Components > Windows Sidebar
- Right-click on Windows Sidebar, select Properties, and there the Enabled button.
- Log off or restart the PC to apply the changes
To disable the Sidebar in the Registry, do the following:
- Bring up the run box with Windows-r, enter regedit and hit the enter key.
- Go to HKLM/Software/Microsoft/Windows/CurrentVersion/Policies
- Right-click on Policies and select New > Key and enter Windows as its name
- Right-click on the new Windows key, and select New > Key and type Sidebar as the name
- Right-click on Sidebar and select New > DWord (32-bit) Value and name it TunrOffSidebar
- Right-click TurnOffsidebar and change the value to 1
- Log off or restart the system for the changes to take effect.
Both solutions disable the sidebar in the operating system. (via Mike)

What mental age of reader are you targeting with the first sentence? 10?
Why not write an article on how to *avoid* upgrading from W10 to W11. Analogous to those like me who avoided upgrading from 7 to 10 for as long as possible.
If your paymaster Microsoft permits it, of course.
5. Rufus
6. Ventoy
PS. I hate reading these “SEO optimized” articles.
I used Rufus to create an installer for a 6th gen intel i5 that had MBR. It upgraded using Setup. No issues except for Win 11 always prompting me to replace my local account. Still using Win 10 Pro on all my other PCs to avoid the bullying.
bit pointless to upgrade for the sake of upgrading as you never know when you’ll get locked out because ms might suddenly not provide updates to unsupported systems.
ps…. time travelling?
written. Jan 15, 2023
Updated • Jan 13, 2023
This happens when you schedule a post in WordPress and update it before setting the publication date.
Anyone willing to downgrade to this awful OS must like inflicting themselves with harm.
I have become convinced now that anybody who has no qualms with using Windows 11/10 must fit into one of the following brackets:
1) Too young to remember a time before W10 and W11 (doesn’t know better)
2) Wants to play the latest games on their PC above anything else (or deeply needs some software which already dropped W7 support)
3) Doesn’t know too much about how computers work, worried that they’d be absolutely lost and in trouble without the “”latest security””
4) Microsoft apologist that tries to justify that the latest “features” and “changes” are actually a good thing, that improve Windows
5) Uses their computer to do a bare minimum of like 3 different things, browse web, check emails, etc, so really doesn’t fuss
Obviously that doesn’t cover everyone, there’s also the category that:
6) Actually liked W7 more than 10, and held out as long as possible before switching, begrudgingly uses 10 now
Have I missed any group off this list?
You have missed in this group just about any professional user that uses business software like CAD programs or ERP Programs which are 99% of all professional users from this list.
Linux doesn’t help anyone who is not a linux kid and apple is just a fancy facebook machine.
Microsoft has removed KB5029351 update
only from windows update though
KB5029351 is still available from the ms update catalog site
1. This update is labaled as PREVIEW if it causes issues to unintelligent people, then they shouldn’t have allowed Preview updates ot install.
2. I have installed it in a 11 years old computer, and no problems at all.
3. Making a big drama over a bluescreen for an updated labeled as preview is ridiculous.
This is probably another BS internet drama where people ran programs and scripts that modified the registry until they broke Windows, just for removing stuff that they weren’t even using just for the sake of it.
Maybe people should stop playing geeks and actually either use Windows 10 or Windows 11, but don’t try to modify things just for the sake of it.
Sometimes removing or stopping things (like defender is a perfect example) only need intelligence, not scripts or 3rd party programs that might mess with windows.
Windows 11 was a pointless release, it was just created because some of the Windows team wanted to boost sales with some sort of new and improved Windows 10. Instead, Microsoft cannot support one version well let alone two.
Windows 11 is the worst ugly shame by Microsoft ever. They should release with every new W11 version a complete free version of Starallback inside just to make this sh** OS functionally again.
motherboard maker MSI has recently released a statement regarding the “unsupported processor” blue screen error for their boards using Intel 600/700 series chipsets & to avoid the KB5029351 Win11 update:
https://www.msi.com/news/detail/MSI-On–UNSUPPORTED-PROCESSOR–Error-Message-of-Windows-11-Update-KB5029351-Preview-142215
check out the following recent articles:
Neowin – Microsoft puts little blame on its Windows update after UNSUPPORTED PROCESSOR BSOD bug:
https://www.neowin.net/news/microsoft-puts-little-blame-on-its-windows-update-after-unsupported-processor-bsod-bug/
BleepingComputer – Microsoft blames ‘unsupported processor’ blue screens on OEM vendors:
https://www.bleepingcomputer.com/news/microsoft/microsoft-blames-unsupported-processor-blue-screens-on-oem-vendors/
While there may be changes or updates to the Windows 10 Store for Business and Education in the future, it is premature to conclude that it will be discontinued based solely on rumors.
My advice, I left win 15 years ago. Now I’m a happy linux user (linuxmint) but there is Centos, Fedora, Ubuntu depending on your needs.
motherboard maker MSI has recently released new BIOS/firmware updates for their Intel 600 & 700 series motherboards to fix the “UNSUPPORTED_PROCESSOR” problem (Sept. 6):
https://www.msi.com/news/detail/Updated-BIOS-fixes-Error-Message–UNSUPPORTED-PROCESSOR–caused-BSOD-on-MSI-s-Intel-700-and-600-Series-Motherboards-142277
I try to disable the Diagnostics Tracking Service (Connected Devices Platform User Services) but it wont let me disable it, any help will be greatly appreciated.
Tank you for your help