8GadgetPack is an application that allows you to install gadgets on the latest versions of the operating system. As you know, the ability to add gadgets for the desktop appeared in Windows Vista; they also worked in the “seven”, but when the Windows 8 operating system was released, the developers decided to abandon the possibility of using them. This decision was made due to the appearance of many "holes" and "vulnerabilities" in the system's security, which were caused by the addition of these "add-ons" to the desktop.

For those who are accustomed to using desktop gadgets, but at the same time want to switch to more recent versions of the operating system from Microsoft, this program was created. It returns users the ability to work with gadgets on Windows 8, 8.1 and 10, allowing them to be placed in the sidebar or in any location on the desktop. Installing the program is as simple as possible. In addition to 8GadgetPack itself, a set of the most popular desktop add-ons will also be added to your PC. You can also download them (gadgets) from specialized web resources and add them to the program library (or directly to the sidebar) using the appropriate button.

8GadgetPack can be launched when Windows starts, allows you to scale the sidebar and the gadgets themselves, “pin” them to a specific place on the desktop, and also disable the display of all desktop add-ons in one click. You can download and use this program completely free of charge.

Key Features and Functions

• allows you to use desktop gadgets on Windows 8, 8.1 and 10;
• contains its own library with add-ons;
• makes it possible to pin gadgets in a specific place, as well as freely scale them;
• can place gadgets on a separate panel or in any location on the desktop;
• distributed free of charge.

In this lesson we will make our computer life more diverse and convenient, and for this let's learn how to install Desktop gadgets.

So, Desktop gadgets are special mini programs that, immediately after installation, are placed directly on the Desktop (in the form of images) and are designed for quick and convenient access to information or tools that are useful to us.

Gadgets come in a wide variety. For example, installing a gadget Weather, we will always see before our eyes the weather forecast for the coming days, and if we install a gadget to display exchange rates, we will always know the latest exchange rate of the selected currencies of the world. gadget Alarm will emit a beep at the right time, and the search gadget will quickly find the information we are interested in on the Internet. There are “reminder” gadgets, clocks and calendars, translators, note-taking gadgets, various computer status indicators, games... In short, we can always find and install on our computer any gadget that suits our type of activity and preferences.

Finding out which gadgets are already installed on our computer is very simple. To do this, just right-click anywhere on the Desktop and select the menu item Gadgets:

After this, a window will immediately appear Desktop gadgets collection, which will show all the gadgets currently present in the system:

Clicking on any of the icons in this window automatically places this gadget on the Desktop of our computer (another way is to simply drag the desired gadget from this window directly to the Desktop).

However, keep in mind that the gadget consists of pictures and files written in HTML, JavaScript and CSS (like a simple Internet page), so in order for it to display normally, you must have at least one installed on your computer. Usually there are no problems with this, because... Internet Explorer is always installed on Windows, but you need to know this just in case.

Also keep in mind that for some gadgets to work correctly, you must have an Internet connection in order to be able to update and display current information (weather, exchange rates, etc.)

If you right-click on the Desktop and you don’t see the option Gadgets, then you need to enable the corresponding Windows component.

To do this, click Start - Control Panel - Programs and Features - Turn Windows features on or off and put a tick Windows gadget platform:

If you hover your mouse over a gadget on the desktop, the following menu will appear to the right of it:

Here, the cross serves to close the gadget, the arrow icon changes the size of the gadget, the key icon serves to enter the settings menu, and the lowest icon serves to move the gadget anywhere on the Desktop (although you can also drag the gadget itself).

A gadget may have fewer icons, for example, if it does not have settings or cannot be resized.

Please note that the cross simply closes the gadget (removes it from the Desktop), but the gadget itself remains in the system and can be returned to the Desktop by simply clicking in the window with the gadget collection (this is discussed above). Well, if we need to completely remove it from the system, then in the same window we right-click the desired gadget and select Delete:

If we error will be deleted any of the system gadgets (there are 9 in total), then it can be restored through Control Panel("Category" view) - Appearance and Personalization - Recover Desktop Gadgets Installed by Windows:

If a gadget from third-party developers (which we downloaded from the Internet) was deleted, then in order to restore it we will have to install this gadget again.

On the Internet you can find and download a wide variety of gadgets for free without any problems. The size of the gadget is usually very small, so downloading does not take any time at all, and the installation process is extremely simple.

To find gadgets on the Internet, just enter a search query in your browser (for example, “ GadgetsWindows» ), select the site you like, then find and download the gadget you need. Usually the downloaded file with a gadget is a file containing a file with the extension .gadget:

By clicking on such a file, we will start the installation process, and in just a couple of seconds the gadget will appear on the Desktop.

It is very likely that we will see a warning window like this:

This window notifies us that the file is not digitally signed (its author is unknown) and therefore it may be potentially dangerous.

Here you should understand that such files are not always viruses (often they are normal gadgets), however, in such a situation you should be more careful and, just in case, scan the downloaded files with an antivirus. There are cases when such gadgets are not installed at all or work intermittently, and sometimes even interfere with the operation of other gadgets. In this case, we can safely remove such a gadget.

If you are sure that the site from which the gadget was downloaded can be trusted, then click the button Install, check its performance and use it for your pleasure.

Desktop gadgets are nothing new in the Windows world. They were first noticed in Vista, where they were located on the side panel. Even if the idea itself was good, it was not a great success. With the advent of 7, Microsoft slightly reworked this element. With this instruction you will learn, as well as how to set them up for convenient operation.

Download the archive with the gadget file. Unzip it to any folder. Ready-made (gadget). Double-click on the file with the left button, a window will open in which click the “install” button. After installation, the gadget will immediately appear on the desktop.

There is a less used option that makes no sense to waste time on. You need to download the archive of files of the gadget itself, and then throw the extracted elements into a specific folder, which takes a long time to get to. Therefore, we will not consider it.

Note: download only from trusted sources so as not to harm your Windows 7.

Where to find gadgets

First, you need to go to the gadgets control panel. There are two ways to do this:

2. Right-click on an empty space on the desktop and select “gadgets” from the drop-down menu. In my opinion, this is an easy and convenient way.

The collection window will show a list of installed gadgets. By default, Windows 7 has the following:

1. Windows Media Center
2. Currency
3. Puzzle
4. Web channel news headlines
5. CPU indicator
6. Calendar
7. Weather
8. Slide show

How to turn gadgets on and off

To install a gadget, double-click on it with the left button, and it will be activated in a split second. You can also select and drag it onto your desktop to the desired location.

If you want to remove a gadget, point at it. After which several buttons will appear to the right of it. Click on the white cross with a red background, and the gadget will disappear from the desktop.

How to set up and move gadgets

They can be personalized and customized in different ways. Below, I will try to summarize all the elements that can be installed and configured:

1. Increase the size of gadgets - allows you to increase their size for better perception of information. If this is possible, then when you hover over the menu, there should be a square with an arrow on the right, as shown in the screenshot below. Click on it and you will see how much the increase has occurred. If you want the gadget to be of standard sizes, you must click on the same button (now the arrow will be directed to the square).

2. Hide or show all gadgets - there is a way to get rid of them all at once. Right-click on an empty area of ​​your desktop, point to “view,” and then click “show desktop gadgets.” In order for all of them to be shown as before, click again; this will be indicated by a checked box opposite the option name.

If you think that gadgets will work in the background of Windows 7, you are mistaken. The process in the task manager that is responsible for this is called “sidebar.exe”. Once you hide them all, the process will disappear and vice versa.

3. Display on top of all windows - a number of gadgets must always be kept in sight. Select the one you need and right-click on it. In the menu that opens, you need to check the box on the line “on top of other windows.”

4. Transparency level – right-click on the gadget, then point to “opacity” and select a percentage number. If you set the percentage lower, the transparency will be more noticeable.

5. Switching between active gadgets - to do this, hold down the key with the windows icon, and press G on the keyboard, with each click on which you will switch from one to another.

If you hover your mouse over the “collapse all windows” button, which is located on the taskbar, then all active gadgets will be shown.

How to remove a gadget

There are some very simple steps for this procedure. Open the gadget collection and select an item. Then right-click and click "delete". After which you will see a warning that you must agree to.

Now it's becoming clearer how to install gadgets for windows 7. Compared to Vista, the developers took care of flexibility of use. Now you don't have to place elements in the right or left panel. You have the opportunity to place gadgets anywhere on the desktop, so that it is more comfortable to work.

30
but I
2009

Gadgets Program for Windows XP 6.0.6002.18005d

Year of manufacture: 2009
Genre: Gadgets
Developer: GadgetMix
Developer's website: http://gadgetmix.com
Interface language: Russian
Platform: Windows XP, Vista
System requirements: Processor: Intel / AMD compatible at 1 GHz or higher
Description: The program for implementing a desktop sidebar on XP is similar to Windows 7/Vista using gadgets. Gadgets are miniature applications that display certain information, for example: processor and RAM load, clocks, weather informers and exchange rates, RSS channels, news, notepad, calculator and much more... The program includes a minimum number of the most popular gadgets for every day. Additionally, you can freely download and install any gadget you wish.

Note: You must have .Net FrameWork installed, preferably version 2.0 and higher. DirectX. After installing the program, a system reboot is required.
Add. information: A very convenient and successful application, portable to XP from the newer OS Vista and 7.
Search results are displayed directly on the desktop, in a nice window (optional) with significantly less load.
Customizable RSS gadgets make it possible to receive subscribed news also on the desktop, open details and search by keywords.
All this significantly saves time spent surfing the Internet.
Medicine: not required

24
Mar
2010

Windows Sidebar for XP 6.0.6003.20103

Year of manufacture: 2010
Genre: Interface change
Developer: CWER.ru
Developer's website: http://www.cwer.ru/node/30110/
Interface language: Russian
Platform: Windows XP
System requirements: You must have .Net FrameWork installed, version no lower than 2.0, preferably version 3.0
Description: The program for implementing a desktop sidebar on XP is similar to Windows 7/Vista using gadgets. Gadgets are miniature applications that display certain information, for example: processor and RAM load, clocks, weather and exchange rate informers, RSS feeds, news...

02
Apr
2011

Yamicsoft Windows XP Manager 7.0.6 Final

Year of manufacture: 2011
Genre: System optimization
Developer: Yamicsoft
Developer website: http://www.yamicsoft.com/
Interface language: English
Platform: Windows XP, XP x64
Description: Windows XP Manager is a program for configuring and optimizing the operating system. With its help, you can try to improve the performance of Windows, improve security settings, clean the registry, remove junk files, speed up data transfer over the network and over the Internet. In addition, the program makes it possible to create a backup copy of data for the Outlook Express email client, automatically check for non-working...

14
Aug
2010

1000 Gadgets for Windows 7

Year of manufacture: 2009
Genre: Gadgets
Developer: AddGadget.com

Interface language: Russian, English
Platform: Windows 7, Vista (not completely)
System requirements: RAM at least 512 MB
Description: The gadget is a great way to improve the functionality of your system and make your work easier, without installing large and resource-intensive applications. They are easy to find, install, and use, and they are completely free. Gadgets are made so that you can easily get the information you need, or use any function, and all this...

30
Jul
2010

200 gadgets for Windows 7

Year of manufacture: 2009
Genre: Gadgets
Developer: AddGadget.com
Developer's website: http://addgadget.com/
Interface language: English
Platform: Windows 7
System requirements: RAM at least 256 MB
Description: Desktop Gadgets (General) Windows includes mini-programs called gadgets that provide quick help and quick access to frequently used tools. Gadgets allow you, for example, to show slides and view constantly updated news headlines. Why do we need desktop gadgets? Desktop gadgets provide quick access to...

15
Jan
2011

Two themes for Windows XP in the style of Windows 7

Year of manufacture: 2010
Genre: Themes
Number of files: 2
Format: ani, cur, exe
Description: In the distribution there are two themes in the Windows 7 style: Seven VG RTM - file "XP_SevenVG_theme" Windows Ultimate style - file "XP_Seven_theme" The first has a wider start menu, like in Windows 7. To install the theme, just click on the sfx archive.
Add. Information: No additional programs are required to install themes. The bonus folder contains: -Win7 cursors -Win7 icons -Aero shake -Aero snape If you wish, you can install it.

02
Dec
2009

Anime themes for Windows Xp

Year of manufacture: 2009
Genre: Windows Themes
Number of files: 34
Resolution: Your monitor size
Format: Rar,exe
Description: Several themes from different anime Bleach Nanoha Umineko Naruto Shippuuden Full Metal Alchemist
Add. information: The folder contains rar and exe files. We simply install the exe files. Themes can be selected in the screen/theme properties. Extract the files from rar to an empty space, then move them to the path C:/windows/resources/Themes. These themes can be selected in properties of the screen/theme If you want to thank me, click on the + button in the profile It’s nothing for you, but I’m pleased

18
Jun
2008

Themes for Windows XP(2008)

Year of manufacture: 2008
Genre: XP Design
Developer: KM-Software
Publisher: KM-Software
Publication type: license

Medicine: Not required
Platform: PC
Version:1.1
System requirements: Windows XP only
Description: The program contains a set of the best themes for Windows XP. All themes are designed for use through the “Design” item in the screen properties, and do not require the installation of additional programs that eat up quite a lot of system resources.
Size: 6.2 Mb
Add. information: Leave a comment I will be very glad and answer Here is another release of the theme for Window...

11
Jan
2010

Themes for Windows XP 1

Year of manufacture: 2010
Genre: Themes
Interface language: Russian
Platform: Windows XP
Description: We offer 25 free Windows XP themes for your consideration.
Add. information: The archive contains screenshots of the themes, the themes themselves are in separate folders (the names are the same). There is also a patch so that you can use themes for Windows XP from third-party developers. Instructions for installing XP themes. Installing a theme is quite simple, but sometimes you may encounter some difficulties. Some theme folders contain a file with the extension .msstyles (official XP themes), you need to run it, then click...

15
Jan
2008

Interface language: Russian only
Medicine: Not required
Platform: Windows XP
System requirements: Any XP, but better than SP2
Description: 25 themes from Windows Vista + program for installing themes. But the program is not required. You can look first. And then move it to the Themes folder (C: WINDOWSResourcesThemes). The image shows the Longhorn Aero theme.

21
Aug
2010

Cool sounds for Windows XP

Genre: Windows XP Design
Developer: www.file-online.ru
Publisher: www.file-online.ru
Publication type: license
Interface language: English + Russian
Medicine: Not required
Platform: PC
System requirements: Windows XP only
Description: A collection of themes for Windows Xp on various topics: games, films, pop performers, nature and much more.
Quantity:~115 pcs.
Size: 94.7 Mb
OS: Windows Xp
Add. information: Selected themes for your Computer List of themes # Archive E:DOWNLOADSthemes.rar XBOX VS ~ v1.2Imagesbig.jpg XBOX VS ~ v1.2Imagessmall.jpg XBOX VS ~ v1.2X ...

01
Mar
2010

Wallpapers and themes for Windows XP

Year of manufacture: 2010
Genre: Decoration, Desktop
Developer: IDDK Publisher: IDDK Interface language: Russian
Platform: Windows XP Processor: Pentium® II 600 MHz
Memory: 256 MB RAM Free space on
Hard disk drive: 400 MB hard drive CD drive: 4-speed CD/DVD-ROM drive
Description: One of the distinctive features of Microsoft® Windows® XP is the ability to use various visual themes for the desktop, which makes working with your computer more comfortable. This disk contains 453 interface design options, desktop wallpapers, and design themes. No hassle with installation, prog...