Running Flash-dependent gadgets on 64-bit Windows
Because Adobe does not provide a 64-bit plugin for their Flash player, gadgets that require Flash (such as Pandora) will not operate on 64-bit Windows. To get around this problem, you can run the 32-bit version of the program that manages the gadgets.
Windows Vista
- In the System Tray right-click on the Sidebar icon and select Properties Uncheck the "Start Sidebar when Windows starts" option
- Go to C:\Program Files (x86)\Windows Sidebar
- Drag and hold Sidebar.exe over the start orb
- Then drag and hold it over All Programs And again (drag and hold) over startup
- Now drop it into startup
Windows 7
- Right click on the Desktop, go to View, and uncheck "Show desktop gadgets".
- In Windows Explorer, go to C:\Program Files (x86)\Windows Sidebar and open sidebar.exe.
I believe that Windows will then continue to run the 32-bit version automatically even after you log off and log back on.
If you subsequently hide the desktop gadgets again, you'll have to manually re-launch the 32-bit version.
The only problem I've noticed with this so far is that Windows 7's weather gadget won't run in 32-bit mode for some reason.
Pandora Gadget