Fans of trying new ones installed “Vista” almost immediately after its official release. And they came across a novelty - a side panel, like a translucent useful development, but this development completely blocked the place where it is located. You could not even dream of making it auto-hide or putting icons under it. As a result, on most computers it was either closed or minimized to tray. Connoisseurs could stop the service responsible for starting the panel.
When the new OS appeared, many were afraid that the side panel for Windows 7 would occupy half the screen again, and the Vista problems would recur. It turned out no, the panel in the new Windows is missing. In any case, many thought so.
Panel implementation in the new OS
It turned out not to be missing. The developers finalized it a bit, and users of the new version received a side panel ... but without a panel. All is left - the ability to add a clock, calendar and other useful gadgets to the user's choice, but now these mini-programs are not fixed on one side. In the new OS, the user can drag them around the desktop, scatter them in the corners, even cascade them or put them in a column, as it is implemented in Vista. There was also the possibility of using space under the gadgets. In general, the sidebar for Windows 7 has ceased to be a panel in the usual sense of the word.
There is no longer any concept of a panel in the standard Windows 7 distribution of any edition. But in the standard section a new icon appeared - "Gadgets". He launches several gadgets (clock in the upper right corner). The user can lay out further gadgets himself - from the menu of any running gadget. The side panel for Windows 7 can start in another way - by clicking on the PCM desktop, then select "Gadgets".
The standard set of gadgets for Windows 7 completely duplicates the set that came with Vista, but the network has many separate selections as well as entire programs that significantly expand the standard settings.
If the gadgets do not start, it is possible that they were not marked during installation. In order not to search manually, you can make updates - gadgets are considered the main element, and with such an update, the system will deliver them. But it should be updated with caution. Sometimes a crooked update can tear down the language bar. If you use abbreviations, you can not return it, but the indicator of the language is usually not superfluous.
Returning the language bar
If as a result of an update or some action the Windows language bar has stopped displaying, you can check for its presence in the following way. “Control Panel” - “Language and Regional Standards” - “Language Panel”.
Here we check two marks:
- "Display text labels on the language bar" turn on;
- “Fixed in task panel” - turn on as desired. Disabling this item will allow you to position the language indicator where it is convenient for you.
You may need to restart to apply the settings. It should also be noted that if the system uses only one language to enter text - for example, Russian, then there will be no indicator either. For its correct operation, two or more languages are required. Additional languages are added in the same block “Language and regional standards”, only by another link - “Languages and keyboards”. Here you can return English (if it is not), add German and other necessary languages using the "Add" button. Such a change may require a distribution of the system. However, the seven can search for a package on the Internet, if it is connected.
A few words about the control panel
Starting with XP, the control panel began to use nested items. Therefore, if, for example, you need wallpaper settings, permissions, any other settings related to the monitor or video card, the Windows control panel hides them in the personalization block, the language panel - “Language and regional standards”, etc. But, unlike XP, all menus are usually visible immediately, you do not need to open the entire block.
Conclusion
The side panel for Windows 7 (first for Vista) was a rather interesting invention, but with the departure of the seven, it also leaves the market. The new, updated 8.1 has the ability to display the familiar desktop, but fans of this panel will have to look for a third-party replacement for it.