One of the good (or perhaps only) things that happened with Windows Vista was the advent of desktop utilities. In Windows 7, it has become popular to not be limited to the sidebar only. But it was removed from Windows 8 unexpectedly because of serious vulnerabilities.
Some of these utilities are really useful
After the release of Windows 10, it seems that these utilities will never officially appear on Windows again. These add-ons are only harmful when internet security is disabled. Other than that, they are some of the most useful things you can pin to your desktop and make it look good.
So let’s see how we can get the add-ons back in Windows 10. However, be cautious when you download the add-ons.
Install Windows Desktop Gadgets
Windows Desktop Gadgets is your very own utility application from Windows 7. Yes, the same application from the good old days of Windows Vista.
To get the app back, download and install the Windows Desktop Gadgets Installer. The zip file contains the installer and needs to be unzipped. Just follow the on-screen instructions while installing the app. It’s quick and simple.
Once the product is installed, right click on the desktop and you will find Tool option where, like before, it is also added to the old Control Panel of Windows 10.
You can use any of these options to add widgets to your home screen. Some utilities may not work because Microsoft has decommissioned the servers where they get data. But you can always add more gadgets from the online repository. Click Get more gadgets online or visit this page.
Try the 8Gadget Pack
As the name suggests, 8Gadget was originally designed for Windows 8 but is also compatible with Windows 10. Once you install the app on your computer, it will be added to the desktop’s context menu. If you have Windows Desktop Gadgets installed, it will be replaced by 8Gadget. By default, you will get 45 different widgets in 8Gadget compared to just 8 from the previous installer.
8Gadgets provides a utility that can be launched from the Start Menu and gives you the option to disable Autorun at Windows startup. You can also make the gadgets smaller or larger depending on your needs. Changes made to all add-ons can also be rolled back from here. These are some of the additional settings you get in 8gadget that are not available in Windows Desktop Gadgets discussed earlier.
Note: Both apps additionally support .gadget files that can be downloaded from a variety of online sources. Be very careful about where you download them. Always look for reliable sources because you can get malware on your PC when downloading from shady places.
What is more?
If you really like widgets and desktop customization, I recommend you try Rainmeter. It’s a highly customizable app with a great community and you can customize your screen the way you want and make it look eye-catching and trendy.
Categories: How to
Source: thpttranhungdao.edu.vn/en/
