How to install the [actual] Windows Vista Sidebar in Windows XP (with tons of gadgets)

I have done it myself, and I would like to pass on this wonderful information to anyone who cannot afford Windows Vista. First, to get started, here is a video screencast:

If you don't believe I'm using XP, note the crappy vista start orb (the top is cut off).

OK, so here's how you do it.

First, install the Microsoft Visual C++ 2005 Redistributable Package: http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?familyid=32BC1BEE-A3F9-4C13-9C99-220B62A191EE&displaylang=en

Then, install, if you don't already have it, the .NET Framework 3.0: http://www.fallingleafsystems.com/site_media/vaio/vaioxp_b2r3.4_feb02.zip. It will probably make you restart; do everything it tells you to do until it is fully installed. If you already have .NET 3.0, ignore this step.

Then, install, if you don't already have it, Internet Explorer 7: http://www.microsoft.com/windows/downloads/ie/getitnow.mspx. It will probably ask you to restart at least once, so do everything it says until it is fully installed. If you already have IE7, ignore this step.

After that, install the Wireless LAN API: http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?familyid=52A43BAB-DC4E-413F-AC71-158EFD1ADA50&displaylang=en

Then, install, if you don't already have it, Windows Media Player 11: http://www.microsoft.com/windows/windowsmedia/player/download/download.aspx. If you already have WMP11, ignore this step.

Then, install VAIOXP; if you have Windows XP, go here: http://www.gcnaddict.com/mirror/vaio/vaioxp_b2r3.4_feb02.zip. If you have Windows Server 2003, go here: http://www.gcnaddict.com/mirror/vaio/vaio2003_b2r3.4_feb02.zip. It will mke you restart your computer possibly a few times; do everything it tells you to do!

Then, install some fonts: http://www.sokoolz.com/addons/r64/Ricks_VistaRTMFonts_AddOn_v1.1.7z

Then, finally, download and install the Vista RTM Sidebar: http://www.sokoolz.com/addons/r64/Ricks_VistaRTMSidebar_AddOn_v2.4.rar. You can unzip that using a free program like 7-Zip.

It will make you restart. Then, you can run it. Now some gadgets, like the clock, will look like crap. Therefore, run the following command in the Run (start>>run) box:

"%VAIOTOOLS%\regtlib" "%ProgramFiles%\Windows Sidebar\sidebar.exe"

When you restart the Windows Sidebar, the gadgets should show perfectly.

How to install new gadgets:

All the gadgets from the Windows Live Gallery site can be installed. They, however, are not as easy as one click.

When you download a gadget, you think you should be able to double-click on it, and it would install itself, but this is not the case. Here's how to do it.

First, open up Windows Explorer, and navigate to: C:\Program Files\Window Sidebar\Gadgets. If you have downloaded a .Gadget file to your desktop that is named HelloWorld.Gadget, create a folder in the Gadgets directory called HelloWorld.Gadget.

Then (you need 7-Zip for this, see above), right click the gadget file on your desktop. Hit the 7-Zip menu >> Open Archive. Then, select all the files in the archive, and drag them into the HelloWorld.Gadget directory you created under the Gadgets folder. Alternatively, you could hit Extract Files instead of Open Archive, and then selected the folder you created.

Finally, your gadget it installed!

One of the things you will like the most about the Windows Sidebar is the fact that when you use the Windows Live Search feature, instead of opening a browser window, it opens the search in a pull-out box, which can be enlarged (see the screencast above).

References:

1. http://www.wincert.net/forum/index.php?showtopic=485
2. http://www.aeroxp.org/board/index.php?showtopic=8968&pid=100498&mode=threaded&start=0#entry100498
3. http://www.joejoe.org/forum/index.php?showtopic=2538
4. http://www.aeroxp.org/board/index.php?showtopic=7728

What could Google do to make iGoogle really awesome?

Here is a list of things:

• Make the editing of the gadgets nicer
• Have a twitter-like application to push updates to the Daily Me gadget
• Have the Daily Me gadget have a history of updates, just like twitter
• Basically copy the crap out of twitter
• Add WYSIWIG
• Allow gadgets to get into the catologue sooner
• Give each new gadget its own xml file so people can easily transfer them.
• Allow for the creation of new templates with code
• Allow for user-created themes
• Add tab functionality to Google Apps Start Page
• Allow gadgets really easily to be added to web-pages

Just my two pence....

OK, I officially love Blogger!

A long time ago, I had a blog with Blogger. It used to be here: http://ajaxtech.blogspot.com/, but I deleted it. It has since been chosen by a blogger.

I was frustrated with the lack of cool and classy template designs, and with the horrible blog editor. In fact, I many times had lost posts through it. I heard Wordpress.com was pretty nice, so I checked it out; thus was born http://ioannusdeverani.wordpress.com. Over a long period of time, I began to get more and more hits every day, so that after a while I was at about 50-60 per day. There were some big days, like April Fools, where I got 384 hits in a day because of my post, Google Drive Beta Invites. Ever since then, my old blog has been averaging about a hundred hits per day. I have had a good experience with Wordpress.com.

I decided to switch to Blogger, so I could have advertisements, and make a small amount of money. I was excited about the Google integration, and the new features, like tagging, draggable layouts, and other cool things.

I took me a really long time to find a template I liked; I tried to use a custom one, but it wasn't really working out for me. I eventually chose the one I have now and added my signature header-image. Since, I have found several reasons why I think Blogger is better than Wordpress.com.

Why is Blogger better than Wordpress.com?

1. Blogger allows javascript and flash widgets in the sidebar. My favourites are:
1. Google Reader Shared Items
2. Twitter status flash badge
2. Blogger allows the complete editing of the template, whereas Wordpress.com only allows editing of CSS (and you have to pay to get that functionality)
3. Blogger has an easier tagging interface
4. Blogger is integrated with your Google Account
5. Blogger allows advertisement!!!!!
6. The Blogger interface is faster
7. Blogger's archive browser on your sidebar is dynamic
8. Blogger allows mapping to a custom domain, for free (it costs money in Wordpress.com)

There is only one thing that I can think of that I like better in Wordpress.com, and that is easy statistics. With Blogger, you have to use a third party service, like Statcounter, or Google Analytics.

So, thank you Blogger! And readers, please tell your friends about my blog; I am trying to build up a good reader base for my new site (I am afraid I have lost a lot of people in the move...).

Clicking on your own Adsense

Ooops, I just clicked on my own Adsense, which is against the agreement. What do I do if I am really actually interested in the ad that is on my site? For instance, the one I clicked was for Widgetbox, a directory of web widgets for blogs. Now, I am always looking for stuff to add to my sidebar. What do I do in such a situation???? So, Blogger people, please tell me. In the meanwhile, I will be looking at some neat widgets