Discussion on:

How do I make Windows 7 desktop gadgets visible on mouse-over only?

Are Windows desktop gadgets more appealing if you can only seem them with a mouse-over?

I would like to be able to scale the gadgets so I could make them smaller, thus allowing for more gadgets in the same screen area.

I use a 7 Sidebar gadget to keep all my gadgets off to one side like we could in Vista. They have an option to change the width of the column. Not quite making the gadgets smaller but might work for you.

It's not in the Windows gallery but can be found here: http://nes.bplaced.net/sidebar7.html I've used it for months with no issues.

....find the settings.ini file?
Not in the location described in the article.
I have Win 7 Ultimate, is it in a different location?
P.S. I did search numerous times, no luck.

The directories mentioned in the article are hidden, that is why you are unable to see them.

To unhide look at this link.
http://www.bleepingcomputer.com/tutorials/tutorial151.html

I have already made those changes. Still no AppData folder shown.

I had to type the path into "RUN" to get the folder to show up.
Then I created a shortcut in my user folder for easier future access.

I still don't know why it doesn't show up after making the changes in the "folder view" settings???

Yea, it's kinda different for 7, but look here:

C:\Users\[Your Username]\AppData\Local\Microsoft\Windows Sidebar

You should see a Gadgets folder and the Settings.ini

No AppData folder shown.

Found the folder but there was no
private setting_gadgetopacity line, any suggestions

I will give it a try, although Win 7 does allow me to place the gadgets wherever I want on the screen. I normally keep them all lined up vertically on the right, but occasionally add a gadget elsewhere on the screen, as well.

Dave

I have no idea where this is or how to find it. I was lost from this step onward.

Step 1: Kill the Windows Sidebar Task. Just right-click the Panel, select Start Task Manager, and then kill the process sidebar.exe.

Thanks. One of the first things I do at any new computer is to add the "desktop" toolbar to the status bar, and turn off the icons for a clean desktop. With Win 7 there were a couple gadgets I liked well enough to leave showing and now I can hide them too!

Is it possible to give us a registry edit or some other way to permanently add a zero value to the opacity options, making this even easier?

So even if you do this, you still can't stack the gadgets to free up space on the desktop.

Oh...and you still can't put icons in those areas of the desktop occupied by gadgets. In fact, there's a chance you'll some day want to move a program icon to an area of your desktop that's, unknown to you, occupied by an invisible gadget; who knows what kind of behavior you'll get dropping that icon onto that gadget.

Oh...AND...you either have to remember where each gadget is or just move your mouse around until you stumble upon the gadget you wanted.

Seems to me there were several very good reasons Microsoft didn't put a 0% opacity option on gadgets.
This tip is going to cause many more problems than it solves.

If this doesn't do what you want, just don't do it. Sounds like someone had a "case of the Mondays"...

No, just don't like wasting a few minutes of my life reading through a post that is completely worthless.
It isn't a case of not doing what I want, this tip does nothing useful in any way. As I stated, these invisible gadgets are still taking up desktop space, so why would you want them to be invisible and run the risk of dragging and dropping something onto a gadget when you're trying to put it on the desktop?