Convert your Windows Server 2008 to a Workstation!

Windows Server 2008 to Workstation Manual

1. stan March 12, 2008 at 10:43 pm

   weather gadget doesn’t work

   and

   the syntax “%ProgramFiles%\Windows Sidebar\sidebar.exe” in x64 doesn’t work eather

   

   Arris: Thanks for your reply. Fixed it!
2. tony March 14, 2008 at 11:51 pm

   try for 32bit “c:\Program Files\Windows Sidebar\sidebar.exe”
   for 64 bit “c:\Program Files (x86)\Windows Sidebar\sidebar.exe”

   this worked for me
3. Van March 16, 2008 at 4:05 am

   No offence intended to those who have made the sidebar files available .. but I’m not comfortable putting ‘unknown’ files on my computer. And, yes, I know it’s a bit ironic given that I’m hacking a Microsoft OS.

   Is it possible to grab the necessary files from an existing Vista installation or install CD?

   I suspect that’s where the downloads came from in the first place.

   Cheers,

   Van

   Arris: Added to step 1 where I got the files from. Of course you can download, and install Windows Server 2008 Beta 3 in a Virtual Machine and copy the files from there, but this is much more practical!
4. Tony*R March 17, 2008 at 5:34 am

   I keep getting runtime errors – library not registered

   How do I uninstall this?

   Arris: You can try to register the two libraries in the Windows Sidebar directory by running the following two commands in Start->Run (replace ‘Program Files’ by ‘Program Files (x86)’ if you are using 64bit):
   regsvr32 “C:\Program Files\Windows Sidebar\sbdrop.dll”
   regsvr32 “C:\Program Files\Windows Sidebar\wlsrvc.dll”

   Uninstall can be done by removing the Sidebar value from the registry (Start->Run->regedit->delete Sidebar from HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run) and removing the Sidebar folder.
5. Tony*R March 18, 2008 at 4:46 am

   tried that…

   The module “c:\program files (x86)\Windows Sidebar\sbdrop.dll” was loaded but the call to DllRegisterServer failed with error code 0×80020009

   this is on 64 bit Server 2008, btw

   Arris: If you search google for the error code 0×80020009, you ‘ll find it has something to do with permissions. Did you run the command as an Administrator?
6. mad_tony March 21, 2008 at 6:04 am

   funny; this is one of those Vista bits I hate
7. Pentahex March 23, 2008 at 10:42 pm

   Running x64. Most gadgets do not work properly. Clock for example is a back box with two red hand pointing to 12.
8. Hugo Chagas March 31, 2008 at 12:23 pm

   and the games of Vista (example: Spider Solitaire). I would like to have in my Server 2008.

   Arris: I already added it to the Wish List
9. crow March 31, 2008 at 6:35 pm

   Hi,
   Working solution for me on x64 Standard Server is:
   “C:\Program Files\Windows Sidebar\sidebar.exe” /RegServer

   and to run it:
   “C:\Program Files\Windows Sidebar\sidebar.exe”
   This doesnt work:“%ProgramFiles%\Windows Sidebar\sidebar.exe”

   Arris: Thanks, updated it. Most people will have C:\ as their system root anyway.
10. SillyHalfMexican April 1, 2008 at 10:03 am

    I have been able to get the sidebar to run (following the directions here) and all seems fine except for one thing. The sidebar isn’t transparent, it’s pure black.
    Any help would be appreciated.
    Thanks!
    Great site btw.
11. Steve April 1, 2008 at 1:04 pm

    Hi,
    Found I got it working acceptably, though not perfectly by omitting the quotation markes from:

    “C:\Program Files\Windows Sidebar\sidebar.exe” /RegServer

    “C:\Program Files\Windows Sidebar\sidebar.exe”

    May seem obvious to do this, but initially I didn’t omit the quotes & couldn’t get sidebar to install or run.

    Hope this helps someone as thick as me! lol
12. SRW April 16, 2008 at 1:39 am

    If you register the two dll files as an administrator:

    regsvr32 C:\Program Files\Windows Sidebar\sbdrop.dll
    regsvr32 C:\Program Files\Windows Sidebar\wlsrvc.dll

    then enter
    C:\Program Files\Windows Sidebar\sidebar.exe” /RegServer
    as listed in the instructions everything works just as it does in Vista including the installation of custom gadgets by double clicking them (you do not need winrar).

    Arris: Thanks, I added this information to step 4. However if the automatic installation won’t work for some reason, people can still use the Installing Custom Gadgets tutorial to get it done!
13. Jon Davis April 26, 2008 at 11:18 pm

    Thanks for the great site!!! Yeehaw!!

    Regarding the security warning and the need to unblock the EXE, the correct sequence is actually to unblock the .zip file as soon as the .zip file is downloaded. Windows will automatically retain the “blocked” flag for all files extracted from a “blocked” .zip file. Just unblocking the .zip file will make all of the extracted file’s contents unblocked.

    I have made it a habit of unblocking all files I download from Internet Explorer.

    Also, Firefox and most third party download managers will download without the downloaded file being blocked.

    Jon

    Arris: Thanks for the compliments and the explanation of the Internet Explorer downloaded files security measures!
14. Daniel Reimer May 8, 2008 at 2:05 pm

    If you have problems using the sidebar in a non english Version. (No gadgets show up) go to C:\Program Files\Windows Sidebar\Gadgets and there rename all en-US folders in all Subfolders into your language used. For German it would be de-DE as example.
15. Lucian May 12, 2008 at 3:46 pm

    for me is not working, i hava a Server 2008 X64 DataCenter,
    when i run c:\program files (x86)\Windows Sidebar\sbdrop.dll or other comand i get this messahe: “The module “C:\Program Files(x86)\WindowsSidebar\sbdrop.dll” may not be compatible with the version of Windows that you’re running. Check is the module is compatible with an x86(32-bit) or x64(64-bit) version of regsvr32.exe.”
    I downloaded the Sidebar from your x64 version link, tried also with a copy made from a Vist Business X64 but i get the same erro. Any idea ? thx.

    Arris: In the x64 versions of Windows Server there are two different versions of regsvr32.exe: C:\Windows\System32\regsvr32.exe and C:\Windows\SysWOW64\regsvr32.exe. The regsvr32.exe in System32 should be the right one if you use the x64 version of the SideBar. Otherwise you can also use the x86 version of the SideBar by extracting the archive to C:\Program Files (x86)\ and running the regsvr32.exe from SysWOW64. Hope that works!
16. Greg May 14, 2008 at 8:36 am

    The problem I ran into is the side bar is blank and all white.
    I ran the dll’s , the C:\Program Files\Windows Sidebar\sidebar.exe” /RegServer , and C:\Program Files\Windows Sidebar\sidebar.exe , could not be found but I ran the install in the folder, any ideas ?

    thats in windows server 2008 32 bit enterprise edition

    Arris: If the files couldn’t be found by regsvr32.exe, go to the command prompt (start -> run -> cmd.exe) and enter cd “\Program Files\Windows Sidebar”. Now run the commands sidebar.exe /RegServer and regsvr32 sbdrop.dll and regsvr32 wlsrvc.dll. After all commands have been executed successfully, open the sidebar by running sidebar.exe!
17. Greg May 19, 2008 at 11:26 am

    thanks
18. Patt May 24, 2008 at 1:58 pm

    I’ve followed all the instructions and successfully installed and ran sidebar.. although the sidebar wont detect any gadgets, even when following the tutorial for installing custom gadgets.

    Arris: Are you sure you installed the SideBar for the right architecture (x86/x64)? If you install the x86 SideBar into C:\Program Files\ in the x64 edition no gadgets will be shown.
19. Dirk May 28, 2008 at 3:35 pm

    Same here!
    I tried it installing to: C:\Programme\Windows Sidebar and to C:\Programme (x86)\Windows Sidebar but nothing worked, no way, i tried every combination.
    ( I know it is German, because my Installation is German;), so do not tell me i didnt spell it correct )

    Longhorn runs on 64bit architecture btw

    Arris: What exactly doesn’t work? Do you see the SideBar but can’t you see any gadgets; can’t you see the SideBar at all; isn’t it possible to add new gadgets;… However, try to check what goes wrong using the instructions in this post at the forum.
20. Marakai May 29, 2008 at 5:55 am

    While most gadgets seem to work just fine (W2K8-64 Std here), for some reason CPU metering ones do nothing.
    I’ve tried a few from the gadget gallery, including my favourite “All CPU Meter” which worked fine on 64-bit Vista. They come up, but all warped and don’t actually update information.
    I wonder if the interface to that information is somewhat different between Vista and Server?

    (to repeat: otherwise everything works well, and several other of my favourite gadgets work beautifully!)
21. NL12143 June 2, 2008 at 6:43 pm

    If you cut&paste the regsvr32 commands in a CMD window, it results in a “file not found” error .

    Please replace your “ …. ” with the appropriate ” … ” for DOS.

    It’s running fine. Going next to the dreamscene tweak ….

    Arris: Thanks for notifying, I changed the default quotes into html entity " Now it should work directly!
22. Shanedog June 5, 2008 at 5:25 pm

    RE: Weather Gadgets (or any gadget which needs an internet connection)

    I was experiencing the same problem as Stan… my weather gadgets were not working… but I discovered my problem.

    If you have a proxy set-up it may be restricting a connection to the needed server for the gadget to function correctly. It may also be possible that IE has to be set as the default browser (I still need to check that). But I disabled my proxy (and made a direct connection), set IE as the default browser and the weather gadget now works!
23. Windows Server 2008 240 Tage Testen - Seite 2 - SysProfile Forum - pingback on June 6, 2008 at 2:48 pm
24. mini78 June 11, 2008 at 4:15 pm

    sidebar for server08_GER,
    you need for the german OS the /de-DE/-Folder. you can take it from Vista.

    Here is my version, which runs perfectly under german-OS

    http://rapidshare.com/files/121699139/Windows_Sidebar_DE.rar
25. Michael June 20, 2008 at 7:02 am

    Some gadgets don’t work, e.g. wp-corp mail checker. These gadgets produce a black box, although you can adjust the settings.
    Also, the currency converter seems not to connect to the net, but weather channel does.
26. notausgang June 27, 2008 at 9:01 pm

    Would be nice if someone can host a x64bit sidebar for german version also. Maybe Windows included gadgets r showen if its the right languageversion. I don’t want to install Vista first, just to extract the file. Thx in advance
27. Umar AlFarooq June 30, 2008 at 9:59 pm

    Great tip!! Thank you!
28. Obliviant July 5, 2008 at 4:26 am

    After following the instructions i was still left with an empty sidebar, and no gadgets to add. I did copy the files to “C:\Program Files (x86)” on my 64bit system. It will not work.

    Copy them to “C:\Program Files\” instead. That works

    Another tip.. don’t use the Command Prompt for keying in the commands.. you have no admin privelege there.. you have to use the start->run method
29. Anonymous July 11, 2008 at 7:44 pm

    awesome working!
30. Me July 11, 2008 at 8:50 pm

    the sidebar is empty! no vista-standart gadgets are displayed when i click “add gadget”.
    what can i do??

    installing other gatgets with the name xxx.gadget works.
31. Me July 11, 2008 at 9:44 pm

    problem fixed, i just had to rename the en-US file to de-DE cause i´m using the germadn version…
32. vmlinuz.exe July 16, 2008 at 6:50 pm

    Why go through all that trouble, just get Yahoo! widgets or Google Desktop. Works with any version or language.
33. Doug T July 18, 2008 at 12:38 am

    If your having trouble registering the dll’s because your run dialogue is not executing with administrator privileges then run the commands from an elevated command prompt..Programs–Command prompt right click and run as administrator
34. AGod July 23, 2008 at 4:52 am

    For those getting the 0×80020009 error. Make sure that your run box says “this process will be run with administrative privilages”. If it doesn’t display a message similar to that, then right click on “command prompt” in the start menu and select “run as administrator”. Then follow the admin’s post on #16.

    Also, I’m running x64 standard and the sidebar works perfectly. The x64 sidebar download is indeed a 64-bit app, so put it in program files, not program files (x86).
35. Zarlon July 24, 2008 at 11:05 pm

    I kept getting an error that file name was not found. Tried downloading using Firefox, still no joy. Checked properties, the Creator had no permissions (I am logged on as Administrator), gave Creator full permissions. Open a Command window and tried to change directory kept getting an error. Tried using CD command with beginning ” but no ending “, great joy in Mudville, casey hit a home run. Then ran the commands as Greg was instructed by admin. Everything went smooth now and Gadgets are working. Thanks for this guide on using Server 2008 as a WS.
36. Justin Olbrantz (Quantam) August 3, 2008 at 11:15 pm

    Tip: You don’t need the 64-bit version of the Sidebar files to use it on a 64-bit version of 2008. I copied the files from a 32-bit version of Vista (because I really don’t like running binaries from non-trusted sites, and I only have a 32-bit copy of Vista) to the Program Files (x86) directory, and it’s working fine.

    Arris: That’s possible indeed.
37. Erwin August 9, 2008 at 3:30 pm

    Sidebar installed ok for me, but I can’t seem to add any custom gadgets. The .gadget file extension is unknown. I associated it with sidebar.exe, but this didn’t help.

    How can I fix this, the procedures I found for vista don’t work (registry entries)
38. Erwin August 9, 2008 at 4:19 pm

    Never mind, I got it to work by first deleting all registry keys containing “.gadget” and deleting the sidebar directories. Then I did a reboot and followed the guide above to the letter. Now everything is working just peachy .
39. Malcolm Brichler September 3, 2008 at 6:05 pm

    What should be the right type for the *.gadget extension? I’ve got the *.gadget extension registered so that I can install the gadget by double-clicking it. But heck! The association…
    The FriendlyTypeName parameter here HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\Windows.Gadget has a value of C:\Program Files\Windows Sidebar\sbdrop.dll,-100
    What should be the correct value?
    Thank you.

    Arris: I also have that value. See my HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\Windows.Gadget registry information here.
40. Brian September 23, 2008 at 12:28 pm

    I’m running Server 08 64bit. I’ve followed the steps above, and have installed the Sidebar successfully, but no gadgets show up, and there are none listed in the Add Gadgets dialog. I’ve tried extracting the files to both Program Files and to Program Files (x86), but no luck yet.

    On my other home system(Vista Ultimate x64), I noticed that there is a Windows Sidebar folder in both c:\Program Files and in C:\Program Files (x86). Both folders contain the exact same files.

    Arris: Maybe this topic at the forum can help you?
41. Reg October 3, 2008 at 6:58 am

    Since installing the sidebar, my computer has slowed waaay down. I have cleaned my registry twice and am not sure what the problem is.

    Arris: The Sidebar can be the cause. If you open your Windows Task Manager (ctrl+shift+esc), go to the Processes tab and soft on the CPU Time column, you see that sidebar.exe uses relatively much CPU Time. (If you don’t see the CPU Time column click Select Columns in the View menu and check CPU Time)
42. AseMan October 4, 2008 at 6:57 am

    The link below shows how you can use the Vista SP1 sidebar on server 2008. This is a guy from Microsoft.

    http://blogs.technet.com/yungchou/archive/2008/06/25/adding-vista-sidebar-and-aero-to-windows-server-2008-desktop.aspx

    Very easy and work well.
43. help me October 16, 2008 at 9:04 am

    I have Server 2008 x64 Std and installed sidebar using the instructions provided on this site. Downloaded the x64 file and installed. Once I clicked install the sidebar automatically poped up and it is completely black including the clock and weather or whatever it is. Also the regsvr32 commands don’t work.

    Arris: There is a topic about this problem at the forum.
44. HellSpawn October 19, 2008 at 8:03 pm

    I’m having a problem running the Sidebar. I have followed everything in the article. DLL’s registered fine, it seems like Sidebar installed fine. However, when i run the program, the Sidebar icon appears, but when i go to click it, it dissapears. I have tried reinstalling it twice. I have restarted the computer as well. I have copied the Windows Sidebar files from my own Vista x64. I am trying to install this on Win2k8 Enterprise x64.

    Arris: Maybe you can find out what the problem is using Sysinternals Process Monitor. See this topic at the forum for more information.
45. Anonymous October 26, 2008 at 5:01 pm

    And how do I cleanly uninstall the sidebar?

    Arris: Kill sidebar.exe, execute the following commands and after that remove the SideBar directory:
    “C:\Program Files\Windows Sidebar\sidebar.exe” /UnRegServer
    regsvr32 /u “C:\Program Files\Windows Sidebar\sbdrop.dll”
    regsvr32 /u “C:\Program Files\Windows Sidebar\wlsrvc.dll”
46. Anonymous November 6, 2008 at 4:10 pm

    Here is a better copy of the x64 sidebar

    http://www.4shared.com/file/41573244/e31ab005/Windows_Sidebar_x64.html?err=no-sess
47. Kevin November 19, 2008 at 5:34 am

    I am just curious if the Vista side bar and gadgets have any competitive advantage over Google desktop other than the lack of yet more Google branding and a Google search box that will not disapear?

    Is it lighter on the system than Google Desktop? better at grabbing gadgets online gadgets? easier to customize?
48. Marcus Fahy November 21, 2008 at 3:50 pm

    When trying to run the regedits in step 4 from the run command to make the gadgets install automatically, I am getting the following error using Server 2k8 x64 Enterprise – The module “c:\Program Files\Windows Sidebar\sbdrop.dll” was loaded but the call to DllRegisterServer failed with error code 0z80020009.

    The user that I am using to try this has been added to the group administrator.

    Cheers
49. Marcus Fahy November 21, 2008 at 4:05 pm

    Comment number 34 worked for me. I was trying from the run box.

    Cheers!
50. hi-tech blog » Blog Archive » Hyper-V Gadget for Windows Sidebar - pingback on December 11, 2008 at 5:46 am

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