Windows Sidebar

Internet Explorer 4/Desktop Update

Windows 98

A sidebar-like object was included with the first edition of Windows 98. It was HTML based and very different from the feature later included with Windows NT 6.X.

This sidebar is not affiliated with any future programs such as the "Windows Sidebar" or "Sideshow" starting with Sideshow and beyond.

Evolution

Sideshow

Before Longhorn, during PDC 2001, Microsoft demonstrated Windows Sideshow, which was to be used alongside Windows 2000, ME, and XP. It was a sidebar where emails could be retreived, people can socialize, weather forecasts can be accessed, and so could traffic updates. One build of this program was released. It can be made to work on previous versions of Windows by using a special fix. It works on all operating systems up to Windows 8, but many of the tags don't work due to its old age. Some can be rejuvinated by reentering the code in the test apps located in the program's files.

This program has a bug by turning black when trying to change its appearence in operating systems newer than Windows XP.

This developing product was soon integrated with Longhorn. A video presentation of this program is available on YouTube.

Early Longhorn

The Windows Sidebar was tested in very early Longhorn builds, the earliest build being 3683. It ran concurrently with the Explorer process, and included only two gadgets; an analog clock, and a picture preview. In build 3706, the feature was merged with the taskbar, but this later proved to be unreliable, and so it was put back into its original state. From the 3xxx to the 403x builds, the appearance of the Sidebar matched the Plex theme and was automatically translucent in earlier builds without the Desktop Composition Engine running.

Later Longhorn Builds

Microsoft later scrapped the Plex theme and started with the then-new Slate theme. The sidebar was now black and could be made translucent in build 4074 by enabling the MILDesktop registry key. The sidebar was not included in the 64-bit builds of the operating sytem.

• Longhorn 4074 x64
• Longhorn 4083 x64

The last known build of Longhorn to include the sidebar was build 4093. It had a glossy touch up of the Slate theme, but was virtually unusable due to the instability of the build.

Omega-13 Reset

The Windows Sidebar was not seen again until Windows Vista build 5219, which was the first build to include the feature after the development reset of Longhorn, though it had leaked apart from the build itself and could be downloaded. Builds prior to 5219 did not include the sidebar, reportedly because Microsoft did not plan to implement it. After complaints from beta testers, Microsoft recompiled the feature, which ran mostly in its own process, Sidebar.exe.

Vista RTM

The Windows Sidebar was included in Windows Vista and included 10 Gadgets by default: a calendar, analog clock, contact list, CPU and RAM usage meter, RSS feed reader, sticky notes, picture puzzle, picture slideshow, stock viewer, and weather forecast monitor.

Windows 7

During the development of Windows 7, Microsoft decided to let the Gadgets roam on the desktop instead of putting them on the actual sidebar.

In early builds, the Gadgets could not be aligned perfectly.

Windows 7 removed the black sidebar, but allows the Gadgets to be placed on the desktop. Gadgets are more closely integrated with Explorer, but still run in the Sidebar.exe process.

Windows 8 and onward

The Sidebar was available in Windows 8 up to its Release Preview, being removed completely in the final version of the operating system. Microsoft stated that this was due to the feature being a security risk (even releasing a patch to disable the sidebar in previous versions of Windows), although many believe that it was removed in order to push development of Windows 8 applications.

By copying the files from a Windows Vista or Windows 7 installation, or by using a third party installer, the Sidebar can be reinstated.

Microsoft shut down the Windows Desktop Gadget Gallery, wanting to "focus on the exciting possibilities of the newest version of Windows." It is still possible to find Gadgets from third-party websites.