Microsoft Windows Vista: add and remove gadgets from the Windows Sidebar

Windows Vista introduced gadgets to provide easy, at-a-glance information on the desktop. Gadgets appear in the Windows Sidebar, which is a long, vertical area along the right side of the desktop.

In this demonstration, you'll learn how to add and remove gadgets from the Sidebar.

Click the Add Gadgets button (displayed as a plus sign).

The Gadget Gallery window opens.

Scroll through the available gadgets.

Double-click the desired gadget to add it to the Sidebar.

The gadget appears in the Sidebar.

To browse more gadgets, click Get more gadgets online.

On the Personalize Windows Vista Sidebar Web page, click See all gadgets.

Click the Download button for the desired gadget.

If a warning appears, read it.

If you feel confident in the source of the gadget, click Install.

In the File Download dialog box, click Open.

Click Install.

Close the browser window when finished adding gadgets.

The new gadget appears in the Sidebar.

Close the gadgets window.

Next let's see how to remove a gadget from the Sidebar.

Click a gadget to select it.

Click the Remove (X) button.

The gadget is removed from the Sidebar.

This demonstration showed you how to add and remove gadgets from the Sidebar. As you saw, you can select from many different gadgets within Windows Vista or online through Microsoft.com.