How to Fix Windows Sidebar not Starting in Vista

Information
This will show you how to get Windows Sidebar to start again if it will not start for you.

Step One Double Checking

1. See if you have a sidebar.exe listed in Task Manager.
NOTE: See: How to Open and Close a Application and Process in Vista Task Manager A) If you do, then End Process it. NOTE: This will close the Windows Sidebar exe so hopefully you will be able to open another one if it was just not responding before. B) Try doing step 3 now. 2. Make sure Windows Sidebar is Enabled. NOTE: See: How to Enable or Disable Windows Sidebar in Vista

3. Make sure Windows Sidebar is Turned On.

NOTE: See: How to Turn Windows Sidebar On or Off in Vista

4. Check your Firewall or other Security programs to make sure that Windows Sidebar or
sidebar.exe is not being blocked.

5. If Windows Sidebar will not start after this, then proceed to STEP TWO.

Step Two Fix it Through a Elevated Command Prompt

Tip
I would recommend to use Copy and Paste to make doing this easier.

Note
Special thanks to meche94.

1. Open a elevated command prompt. 2. In the elevated command prompt, type: (See screenshot below) A) For 32 bit and 64 bit Vista:
Regsvr32 -u "%ProgramFiles%\Windows Sidebar\sbdrop.dll" B) Also Type for 64 bit Vista Only: Regsvr32 -u "%ProgramFiles(x86)%\Windows Sidebar\sbdrop.dll" C) Press Enter after A and/or B.

3. Click on OK. (See screenshot below)

4. In the elevated command prompt, type: (See screenshot below) A) For 32 bit and 64 bit Vista:
Regsvr32 -u "%ProgramFiles%\Windows Sidebar\wlsrvc.dll" B) Also Type for 64 bit Vista Only: Regsvr32 -u "%ProgramFiles(x86)%\Windows Sidebar\wlsrvc.dll" C) Press Enter after A and/or B.

5. Click on OK. (See screenshot below)

6. In the elevated command prompt, type Regsvr32 atl.dll and press Enter. (See
screenshot below)

7. Click on OK. (See screeshot below)

8. In the elevated command prompt, type: (See screenshot below) A) For 32 bit and 64 bit Vista:
Regsvr32 "%ProgramFiles%\Windows Sidebar\sbdrop.dll" B) Also Type for 64 bit Vista Only: Regsvr32 "%ProgramFiles(x86)%\Windows Sidebar\sbdrop.dll" C) Press Enter after A and/or B.

9. Click on OK. (See screenshot below)

10. In the elevated command prompt, type: (See screenshot below) A) For 32 bit and 64 bit Vista:
Regsvr32 "%ProgramFiles%\Windows Sidebar\wlsrvc.dll" B) Also type for 64 bit Vista Only: Regsvr32 "%ProgramFiles(x86)%\Windows Sidebar\wlsrvc.dll" C) Press Enter after A and/or B.

11. Click on OK. (See screenshot below)

12. Close the elevated command prompt. 13. Restart the computer. 14. Now turn on Windows Sidebar to see if it will start up for you.
NOTE: For how, see: How to Turn Windows Sidebar On or Off in Vista

15. Your done. Windows Sidebar should start now.

NOTE: If Windows Sidebar still does not start, then run a sfc/ scannow command to see if it can find and fix any bad system files that may be the cause. That's it, Shawn