The Calendar gadget in the Windows Sidebar may display blank content, showing only the plain orange background. Also, the Stocks Gadget may not show up when you add it to the Sidebar. This problem is usually caused by a missing scripting run-time registration.

Registering VBScript.DLL

Registering the vbscript.dll file from an admin Command Prompt fixes the problem. Follow these steps:

1. Open an Admin Command Prompt window. To do so, click Start, click All Programs, click Accessories, right-click Command Prompt, and then click Run as Administrator.

2. Type the following command and press ENTER:

regsvr32.exe vbscript.dll

You should see the following message after running the command:

DllRegisterServer in vbscript.dll succeeded.

3. Restart Windows and see if the Calendar and Stocks Gadgets render correctly.

That doesn’t help? Fix the Zones Registry Key

Of late, we’ve seen several cases where an additional IE Security Zone registry key causing this problem. The additional security zone may have been added by a Malware, could appear as a pseudo-graphic number listed before zone number 0. The fix listed below is the same as the one documented in post Gadgets are Not Displayed Correctly in Windows 7 and Windows Vista.

Run the Fix-It Solution from Microsoft

[Windows 7 Users] Download the Fix it solution by clicking the image above, and run the executable. The problem should be taken care of, automatically.

To Fix the Problem Manually

1. Click Start, type Regedit.exe and press {ENTER}

2. Navigate to the following branch:

HKEY_CURRENT_USER \ Software \ Microsoft \ Windows \ CurrentVersion \ Internet Settings \ Zones

3. Under the Zones key, delete the subkey shown with an ASCII character, as in the above graphic.

4. Exit the Registry Editor.

5. Logoff and login back to your account.

Still doesn’t work after trying the above steps? Drop your comment below, and let’s see if we can work on this issue further.


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30 Comments

  1. BlueRider
    said this on Thursday, January 26th 2012 10:24 pm

    Thanks JR!!
    Your solution was quite simple and effective. I tried all the methods with proper guide lines but I got it solved by making the ‘BAT’ file with your posted script. And now my calender is restored.
    Thanks buddy and cheer up!!

  2. said this on Sunday, January 8th 2012 3:32 am

    I, too, tried all sorts of recommended “fixes” to no avail. After having trouble with other VBscript tools, I finally decided to track the problem down myself and this is what I found:

    My issues were the result of the uninstall of the trial McAfee Antivirus that came with my computer.
    The uninstall of McAfee did not return this registry key to the proper value:

    [HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\CLSID\{B54F3741-5B07-11cf-A4B0-00AA004A55E8}\InprocServer32]
    @=”C:\\Program Files\\Common Files\\McAfee\\SystemCore\\ScriptSn.20110222204811.dll”
    “ThreadingModel”=”Both”

    The default value needed to be changed:

    [HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\CLSID\{B54F3741-5B07-11cf-A4B0-00AA004A55E8}\InprocServer32]
    @=”C:\\Windows\\system32\\vbscript.dll”
    “ThreadingModel”=”Both”

    Hope this helps somebody :)

  3. said this on Saturday, January 7th 2012 5:21 am

    Thanks Jr after looking all over the internet your “resetwidget.bat” was the only one that worked.
    Thanks

  4. Michael
    said this on Friday, December 30th 2011 11:03 pm

    tried all of these methods and my calender gadget still is blank and initiates a debug window everytime it starts

  5. Jr
    said this on Thursday, December 29th 2011 1:36 am

    Settings\Zones” f

    >>>>>Should be on same line as “reg delete”

    reg delete “HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\…….\Internet Setting\Zones” /f

  6. Jr
    said this on Thursday, December 29th 2011 1:22 am

    I tried all of the above and then found this… Its worked for me.

    Create a batch file (text file) named “resetwidget.bat” using notepad or simular text editor.

    Copy and paste the following into the batch file and save it. Then run the batch file by double clicking on it.

    taskkill /im sidebar.exe /f
    regsvr32 /s msxml3.dll
    regsvr32 /s scrrun.dll
    regsvr32 /s jscript.dll
    regsvr32 /s atl.dll
    Regsvr32 /s “%ProgramFiles%\Windows Sidebar\sbdrop.dll”
    Regsvr32 /s “%ProgramFiles%\Windows Sidebar\wlsrvc.dll”
    reg delete “HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Internet Settings\Zones” /f
    “%ProgramFiles%\Windows Sidebar\sidebar.exe”

  7. Brad
    said this on Sunday, December 18th 2011 10:46 pm

    I searched the knowledge base and every forum I could find for a solution to the Windows 7 blank calendar gadget. Nothing seems to work and now I find my Windows Installer is corrupted. With regard to the discussion of an ACSI character in the registry key, I will echo Chris’ comment above. I had no ACSI character. (Yes, I understand what an ACSI character is.)

    Any help you may offer is certainly appreciated. I am one month away from restoring my comuter but that draconian step frightens me.

  8. Atunyo Thomas
    said this on Saturday, December 3rd 2011 6:55 pm

    Be blessed indeed, i had lost hope regaining of my nice calender gadget only to receive a miracle today, this is the most happening day of this month for me, thank you for the good job done.

    Thomas

  9. DEAN
    said this on Wednesday, November 23rd 2011 4:01 am

    the gadets dont laod right for the sidebar in vista. i have tried the command prompt & typed in the three commands each one failed. i have checked the step 2 & found no zone with a ancII simbable. i have tried the micrcosoft fix it & that did not work.
    please help

  10. JIM
    said this on Thursday, November 3rd 2011 2:51 am

    Hi thank you win,

    The first method worked for me now after rebooting date shows with out any problem thankyou once again

    truly

    JIM

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