New
to XP users are a set of nice mini applications named “Gadgets”. You
can add Gadgets to your desktop to display information or to access
some of the Windows 7 tools.
How do I find these Gadgets: Just right click on your desktop and near the bottom of the list click on ‘Gadgets’.
How to add a Gadget to your desktop: Click
on ‘Gadgets’ and you should see the gadget icons (Gadget Window)
displayed. Double click on any of the icons to add the gadget to your
desktop.
Some
gadgets have options you can set. For example add the Weather gadget to
your desktop and then the mouse cursor on top of the gadget, you should
see small side bar open with three or four symbols one of which will be
a ‘wrench’ indicating this gadget has options. Alternately you can
right click on the gadget and choose ‘Options’. For the Weather gadget
you can now enter your zip code to get the local weather. There are
more advanced Weather gadgets which I’ll show you how to access.
Where to find additional Gadgets: When
you right click on the Desktop and click ‘Gadgets’, located in the
lower right corner is a button to ‘Get more gadgets online’. This will
load a Microsoft Windows 7 page titled “Personalize your PC”. Here you
will find a few more gadgets, but if you scroll down to the bottom of
the page you will find a link titled “Get more desktop gadgets…”. This
will load a Gallery page with thousands of Gadgets. http://gallery.live.com/results.aspx?c=0&bt=1&pl=1&st=5
Want
a twitter gadget, use the Gallery search and enter: twitter. Try
searching for specific gadgets or use the ‘SideBar’ which has gadgets
by groupings.
Installing new Gadgets: Click
on the ‘Download’ button below the gadget icon. Click the ‘Install’
button, save the gadget file to whatever location you specify. After
downloading one or more gadgets install them buy double clicking on the
gadget file. Next click ‘Install’. Most gadgets you install will
automatically be displayed on the Desktop, but if it’s not then just
right click on the Desktop and once again select ‘Gadgets’. If you have
downloaded a number of gadgets you may now have more than one page
(upper left corner) of gadget. Page to the gadget you want and install
it.
Two of my favorites are the Weather and Calendar gadgets. You can also download additional gadgets from Microsoft.
Gadget tips: Forget
what each gadget icon represents: In the Gadget Window click the ‘Show
details’ button (lower left corner) and then single click on any of the
gadget icons.
Flip
through the available options: Some gadgets are hot in that if you
single click on the gadget you can flip through the various options the
gadget offers. Others will present more detailed information (such as
the Weather Icon) when you double click on the gadget icon.
Move the Gadget to a better location: For
some gadgets it’s a simple as left click and drag. For others you need
to right click on the gadget and select: ‘Move’, place the four way
arrow over the gadget, press the up arrow key and then use the mouse to
move/drag the gadget to where you want it on the desktop, then left
click to lock it in place.
Permanently remove a Gadget: Right click on the Desktop, next select ‘Gadgets’, then right click on the gadget you want to delete and select ‘Uninstall’.
Finally as always there usually more than one way to accomplish what you want to do, so feel free to experiment.
