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    Best way to make Vista Sidebar 100% transparent?

    Discussion in 'Windows OS and Software' started by justinluck, Apr 5, 2008.

  1. justinluck

    justinluck Notebook Consultant

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    Hey guys, I want to get rid of the shadow gradient on the Vista Sidebar. Ideally, I would like to completely transparent. What is the best way to go about this? Do I need to install a skin program? And if so, which is the best one? Thanks!
     
  2. AKAJohnDoe

    AKAJohnDoe Mime with Tourette's

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    100% transparent would be invisible, right?
     
  3. McGrady

    McGrady Notebook Virtuoso

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    I think he means that he doesn't want the outlines of the 'box' on sidebar. He just wants his widgets there.
     
  4. justinluck

    justinluck Notebook Consultant

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    Oops, sorry about the confusion. I am talking about the Sidebar background. By default, it is transparent on the left and fades to black to right. I would like it transparent, so I see the gadgets in the Sidebar, but without the shadow effect in the background.
     
  5. Gintoki

    Gintoki Notebook Prophet

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    As far as i know, you can't.
     
  6. Diablo

    Diablo Metalhead

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    um...drag the gadgets off of the sidebar onto the desktop and close the sidebar, but not the gadgets.
     
  7. Pai

    Pai Notebook Evangelist

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    Jackpot! Or you can right click on the sidebar and click "close sidebar", just be sure you don't mistakenly click "Exit" caz that exits the sidebar completely.
     
  8. justinluck

    justinluck Notebook Consultant

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    Thanks guys! That works.
     
  9. McGrady

    McGrady Notebook Virtuoso

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    oh yeah, i didnt think of that. i forgot about it actually. i remember i did that for app launcher, when i used vista sidebar, but now i dont use that. its sux. ;p
     
  10. Evan42

    Evan42 Notebook Guru

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    what do you use in lieu?

    i use objectdoc to launch some programs, but what do you suggest for cpu and ram meter, stuff like that that I currently have on sidebar?

    I tried rainmeter, but i think I'm too dumb to use it. It's less user-friendly for non computer programmers than sidebar.
     
  11. roytse

    roytse Notebook Evangelist

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    hav u tried yahoo widgets?
     
  12. McGrady

    McGrady Notebook Virtuoso

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    i use rocketdock and rainmeter. haha. rainmeter is easy to use...just get used to it. much better looking that sidebar. if u go look in the show ur desktop thread, u will see.
     
  13. Nocturnal310

    Nocturnal310 Notebook Virtuoso

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    They are right... drag the Widgets... EDIT: oops i mean Gadgets out of the sidebar & right click on Sidebar & 'close sidebar'

    You can have them floating on your Desktop without the black shade.

    and btw
    Rainmeter is what i am using but i dont know how to EDIT skins :(

    but i prefer it over Sidebar...

    It looks so natural on the Desktop & its light .

    I can also keep it running while playing Online Games like CSS, CZ