Sidebar will not launch

  • Thread starter Thread starter Guest
  • Start date Start date
Hi Paul/mbobh767,


Here's the short version for fixing sidebar startup, though do please bear
in mind your problem may not be the same as the one I had. Even though this
shouldn't do anything bad, make sure (as always) that your data is backed up
first.

Before we start, check that it's not some real simple issue. Go to the
Start Menu, click 'Run', enter 'sidebar' (don't type the quotes). We'll
assume that sidebar didn't just start, and so we'll continue with the dll fix
with the next four steps:


1. To start an 'elevated' command prompt (not just a normal command prompt):


- Go to 'Start Menu', 'All Programs', 'Accessories', right-click 'Command
Prompt' and on the submenu, select 'Run as administrator'

You'll get a pop-up window or two asking if you're happy to do this, confirm
them.

(When the command prompt does appear, check in the title bar that it says
"Administrator: Elevated Command Prompt")


2. In the command prompt, type:


cd "\Program Files\Windows Sidebar"



(you need to enter the quotes, make sure you use the double-quote ")


Your command prompt should now say, "C:\Program Files\Windows Sidebar>"


3. Type in the following, pressing enter after each one:

regsvr32 -u ATL.DLL
regsvr32 -u sbdrop.dll
regsvr32 -u wlsrvc.dll

regsvr32 ATL.DLL
regsvr32 sbdrop.dll
regsvr32 wlsrvc.dll


(you may get an error after regsvr32 -u ATL.DLL, just keep going with the
next ones anyway)


4. Try running sidebar again, if you had the same problem as I did, then
hopefully it will come up!



If you have trouble with this, let me know what messages you're getting.


Craig.
 
Worked for me. Thanks!
--
me


SStarman said:
Hi Paul/mbobh767,


Here's the short version for fixing sidebar startup, though do please bear
in mind your problem may not be the same as the one I had. Even though this
shouldn't do anything bad, make sure (as always) that your data is backed up
first.

Before we start, check that it's not some real simple issue. Go to the
Start Menu, click 'Run', enter 'sidebar' (don't type the quotes). We'll
assume that sidebar didn't just start, and so we'll continue with the dll fix
with the next four steps:


1. To start an 'elevated' command prompt (not just a normal command prompt):


- Go to 'Start Menu', 'All Programs', 'Accessories', right-click 'Command
Prompt' and on the submenu, select 'Run as administrator'

You'll get a pop-up window or two asking if you're happy to do this, confirm
them.

(When the command prompt does appear, check in the title bar that it says
"Administrator: Elevated Command Prompt")


2. In the command prompt, type:


cd "\Program Files\Windows Sidebar"



(you need to enter the quotes, make sure you use the double-quote ")


Your command prompt should now say, "C:\Program Files\Windows Sidebar>"


3. Type in the following, pressing enter after each one:

regsvr32 -u ATL.DLL
regsvr32 -u sbdrop.dll
regsvr32 -u wlsrvc.dll

regsvr32 ATL.DLL
regsvr32 sbdrop.dll
regsvr32 wlsrvc.dll


(you may get an error after regsvr32 -u ATL.DLL, just keep going with the
next ones anyway)


4. Try running sidebar again, if you had the same problem as I did, then
hopefully it will come up!



If you have trouble with this, let me know what messages you're getting.


Craig.
 
Hi mbobh767,

I'm not 100% certain that this has not been resolved already therefore i
will tell you anyway just to make sure.

The problem you are experiencing is due to the fact that your are typing the
command:

"program files\windows sidebar"

this is easily rectified as the command prompt will look at the first word
as an operator. Therefore what you actually need to type is:

"cd program files\windows sidebar"

Before you type anything into the command prompt however, you must first
make sure that it says "C:\"

If there is anything else after this then you will need to use the command:

"Cd .."

this command will bring you back up one level, keep going until it just says
"C:\"

after which the "cd program files\windows sidebar" command will work as
expected :)

Hope this helps

Ben
 
Thank you for all the help! My sidebar went dead and I was at a loss to
explain it. Seems somehow my ATL.DLL was removed from C:\Program
Files\Windows Sidebar. I copied the ATL.DLL from C:\Windows\System32 and
followed your instructions and it worked perfectly! Thanks again!
Chaz
 
hi there.. i did what u wrote but my title bar stated 'administrator: command
prompt' without the elevated. and i tried the stuffs that you told to key in
but it says ' "\Program Files\WindowsSidebar" is not recognised as an
internal or external command, operable program or batch file', what do i do?

My windows sidebar has been working well but after i exited the application
few days ago, now i just can't open the program, just like what many others
have mentioned.
Please help! Appreciate your help very much!
 
SStarman,

Well after 1 month of no Sidebar, I have sought out your method, completed
your method and bingo bango, Sidebar is NOW working!

I do not know why it is now working, but it is. Sure do not know what
caused it, but it is BACK!

Thanks! ~~~~ Gunny
 
I have much the same problem, as often as not the sidebar does not load. I
found that going to the Start Menu & clicking on the SB icon didn't seem to
work either. Finally I opened the Task Manager & went to the Processes tab,
scrolled down to Windows Sidebar & ended it (if there were more than one
instance, I'd close however many there were). Then I'd Okay it & close Task
Manager. At this point I could click on the icon in the Start Menu & SB would
open. However, a few boots later I'd have the same problem.
 
for those interested who may not have read all of the posts in this column, I
tried the suggestions made by Randy 1/7/2007 & those by SStarman 3/2007 & the
sidebar problem seems to be corrected. Thanks to Randy & SStarman.
 
Back
Top