Startup program entry details:

Sidebar (sidebar.exe)

This page expands upon the information already available for this entry in the Pacman's Portal Windows start-up programs database.

User's choice - depends whether a user deems it necessary

For further information on how to identify and disable startup programs please visit the Introduction page.

Description:

Windows Sidebar is a pane on the side of the Microsoft Windows Vista desktop where you can keep your gadgets organized and always available. In Windows 7 this feature is known as Desktop Gadgets and each gadget can be placed anywhere on the desktop. If the file isn't located in %ProgramFiles%\Windows Sidebar or you're using other versions of Windows it could be part of the Searchcentrix hijacker

Startup information:

Registry (Start → Run → regedit)

• Key(s): HKCU\Run
• Name: Sidebar
• Data: C:\Program Files\Windows Sidebar\sidebar.exe /autoRun

MSConfig (Start → Run → msconfig → Startup)

• Startup Item (XP): N/A
• Startup Item (Vista/7): Microsoft® Windows® Operating System
• Command: C:\Program Files\Windows Sidebar\sidebar.exe /autoRun

Windows Defender (Start → All Programs → Windows Defender → Tools → Software Explorer)

• Name: Microsoft Windows Sidebar
• Startup Value: C:\Program Files\Windows Sidebar\sidebar.exe /autoRun

HijackThis (HJT) log examples:

O4 - HKCU\..\Run: [Sidebar] C:\Program Files\Windows Sidebar\sidebar.exe /autoRun
O4 - HKCU\..\Run: [Sidebar] C:\Arquivos de programas\Windows Sidebar\sidebar.exe /autoRun
O4 - HKCU\..\Run: [Sidebar] C:\Programmi\Windows Sidebar\sidebar.exe /autoRun
O4 - HKCU\..\Run: [Sidebar] F:\Programme\Windows Sidebar\sidebar.exe /autoRun

Other information:

• File location: %ProgramFiles%\Windows Sidebar
• File properties "Description":
  • Windows 7
    • Windows Desktop Gadgets
  • Windows Vista
    • Windows Sidebar
• Purpose: Desktop utility
• Program disable option:
  • Windows 7
    • None
  • Windows Vista
    • Start → Control Panel → Windows Sidebar Properties → deselect "Start Sidebar when Windows starts"
• Shortcut(s) available: Start Menu
• Vendor/Publisher: Microsoft Corporation
• Product(s): Windows Vista, Windows 7
• Tested: Yes

Note:

• %ProgramFiles% - refers to the Program Files folder; typically the path is C:\Program Files
• HKCU refers to HKEY_CURRENT_USER

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