windows 7 weather gadget cannot connect to service

-o- There are several solutions listed on the web for the weather gadget.  There is a difference between "broken" and "malfunctions" such as "not updating".  Most of the solutions help where the gadget code is malfunctioning in one of several ways.  For a malfunction where the gadget stops updating there are a few simple solutions to get it to update and an elegant way to keep it updating without continually applying a solution. 

-o- MS stopped supporting Gadgets.  That does NOT mean that all of them don't work. The code for the Gadgets is still there, and should work. However, MS made changes to many updates to Win7 and MSIE.  Some of those files, if you happen to use certain features or websites with specific features, will interfere with the auto data update of the Weather Gadget.  The Currency Gadget seems to have lost it's source of currency data.  The other Gadgets have no reason, yet, to discontinue to work in Windows 7.  Lack of support to Gadgets means MS won't fix bugs in Win7 to help Gadgets work better.  MS says it stopped supporting them due to a security vulnerability.   From what I've read, the update to Internet Explorer 11.0, in conjunction with the Windows Display size setting called DPI (Dots Per Inch) is disrupting the update ability inside the Weather Gadget when certain types or amount of other apps or web pages are also performing auto updates.

-o- The Currency Gadget seems to have no hope, because MS isn't providing data for the exchange rates.

-o- Different specific causes for the problem have different solutions, and thus there's a list that follows:

If you recently updated Windows, and you cannot find your gadgets after more than one reboot, jump down to SOLUTION 4, to try to turn your Gadgets back on.

Otherwise, start with the easiest and work toward the more complicated.  The easiest usually works.

SOLUTION 1: ****I am placing this solution first, because it is the easiest fix and it often works.  This usually work if there are no data or file structure problems with any of the files. This acts like hitting a reset button. However, weather data often stops updating within days, seemingly due to normal use of MSIE or other MS apps.  

This method requires that you have a text editor like Notepad, EditPad, or another text editor. 

Part A - 

In this solution you will RE-TIMESTAMP the file called: Config.xml

a.  Copy and paste the following BOLD text,into the Windows Explorer search box.

*%localappdata%\microsoft\Windows Live\Services\Cache*

The line above, replaces the need to type: 

C:\Users*YourOwnWindowsName\AppData\Local\Microsoft\Windows Live\Services\Cache*

where "yourownwindowsname" is specific to your account on Windows

You will see the config.xml  file. 

b.  Right click on the file config.xml- select "open with" and use Notepad or another simple text editor to open the file.

c.  Then, "Save" or "Save As" to overwrite the existing file (do not change the name).  This will update the date.  Verify the new date of the file is current.

     [That's correct, make no changes, just open it in an editor and save it.]

• The Weather Gadget should begin to work within a minute or two.
• You should count on it to stop updating, for the same reason it stopped in the first place. 
• Plan to keep applying this fix on a regular basis. There are shortcuts.
• MS made a fundamental change and they don't support Gadgets anymore, so a "fix" from MS is unlikely.

   [Note: EditPad is free software available online (there are fuller-featured version for purchase). 

   I used multiple versions of it for decades, and have never experienced any problems with it.]

Option to Part A -

This is a way to apply Part A, quickly, without looking up this method for finding the file.

You will create a shortcut on your DESKTOP to the file which contains config.xml

a.    To do this, go up one level in the file path, 

      or copy and past the following BOLD text,into the Windows Explorer search box.

%localappdata%\microsoft\Windows Live\Services

b.    You will be at the folder called Cache

       Right Click on Cache        ---  A drop down list opens up.

c.    In the drop down list (near the bottom) select:    Create shortcut

d.   Now drag and drop that shortcut/file to your desktop.

Part B - 

This fix has been posted by many people to make Part A continue working without manually applying the fix on a regular basis.  

Personal Note: I have used this, but for me, it caused a series of problems.  I find the manual update to the config file is fast enough and easy to do.  I only use Part A and the Option to Part A.

    [Note: if you have a tool to change the timestamp, use it to change the date to a future date, on the file, in lieu of opening and closing the file. Use Part A to locate the file.]

a.  First:  Change the date of your computer to a few years in the future.

Be aware that changing the date might temporarily affect other apps.

You might have to reboot after you change it back to the current date.

     In the taskbar, select the date/time area, and then select, "Change date and time settings..."

b.  Now, follow Part A, above. 

c.  After you follow part A, re-change the date on your computer. 

     Note: I had to re-install my Weather Gadget after changing the date.

If this solution works for you for longer than a month, please advise everyone on this thread.

Part C - 

In this solution you will UPDATE the file called:    Settings.ini

in the same way as you did above for the config file.

a.  Copy and paste the following BOLD text,into the Windows Explorer search box.

%localappdata%\microsoft\Windows Sidebar

b.  Right click on the file Settings.ini- select a simple text editor like Notepad or EditPad to open the file.

Save (overwrite) the file.

If this solution works for you for longer than a month, please advise everyone on this thread.

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SOLUTION 2:

This is a solution proposed by Microsoft.  It's easy and worth a try if you have a more serious problem that Solution 1 did not fix.  If it's a "settings" issue this should work. This solution should only be used if you have a more serious "break" in the weather gadget.

BE CAREFUL and follow every step.

In this solution, you will RESTORE the Windows Sidebar to defaults, by allowing Windows to re-establish a new settings.ini file. You will be renaming the existing file.  DO NOT DELETE the existing file.

You will restore the Sidebar to defaults.

a.  Right click on the Sidebar and select Exit. Click Start.  (skip this if you don't have a windows sidebar). 

b.  Copy and paste the following BOLD text,into the Windows Explorer search box.

****%localappdata%\microsoft\Windows Sidebar

This will open up the Sidebar gadgets folder, where you should see a file named Settings.ini.

c.  Right click on the file Settings.ini  and select Rename.

d.  Rename it to settings.old 

e.  Restart your computer

f.  Verify that the    settings.ini   file has been installed by Windows.

     Copy and paste the following BOLD text,into the Windows Explorer search box.

****%localappdata%\microsoft\Windows Sidebar

     This will open up the Sidebar gadgets folder, where you should see a file named Settings.ini. 

g.  If the file is missing, this did not work.  

    In this situation backtrack. If the file is missing: rename    settings.old    back to    settings.ini

h.  If the file was replaced by Windows see if this solved your problem.

     Note: The Currency Gadget requires updated data from MS. This is no longer supported by MS.

If this solution works for you for longer than a month, please advise everyone on this thread.

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SOLUTION 3:

If Solution 1 did not work, try this.  This is a solution has worked for many people, for the same reason Solution 1 works. However, this solution takes it one step further and changes a few of the default settings. Don't bother with this if Solution 1 works for you.

This method requires that you have a text editor like Notepad, EditPad, or another text editor. 

In this solution you will EDIT the file called: Config.xml

a.  Copy and paste the following BOLD text,into the Windows Explorer search box.

*%localappdata%\microsoft\Windows Live\Services\Cache*

You will see the config.xml  file. 

b.  Right click on the file config.xml- select a simple text editor like Notepad to open the file.

c.  Make changes to four settings in the file as follows.  Note: These settings are located at the top and the bottom of the file. Do not edit any of the language items.

At the top ---

<services refresh="60">

change from 60 to 45

<service name="weather">

<operation interval="30"/>

change from 30 to 15

Scroll to the bottom, skip over the language settings.

At the bottom ---

<service name="stocks">

<operation interval="15"/>

change from 15 to 10

</service>

<service name="currency">

<operation interval="30"/>

            change from 30 to 15

d:  Save and Close the file, using the original file name.

e:  Done.  

Open the Weather Gadget.  Wait a minute to two. See if it's working.

f. If it did not work, add two steps to this solution.  Before step "a."  reboot. Then reboot after step c.

If this solution works for you for longer than a month, please advise everyone on this thread.

SOLUTION 4:

This solution should work if the Gadgets are broken on your PC, and you have access to another PC with working Gadgets.  If you do not have a PC with a working copy of the Gadgets, this Solution cannot be accomplished.

This looks more complicated than it is.  

-- Close all copies of the Weather Gadget on the PC where it doesn't work.

Reboot if you can. If you cannot, or prefer not to, try it without rebooting. 

-- Open Windows Explorer on the SOURCE computer (where the weather gadget is working).

You open Windows Explorer by selecting "START" at bottom left and then select "Documents".

1. First step will be to obtain a copy of a file called    Config.xml

from your source computer. 

a.  Copy and paste the following BOLD text,into the Windows Explorer search box.

*%localappdata%\microsoft\Windows Live\Services\Cache*

b. Copy the   config.xmlfile to a flash drive, or a file share, or a floppy disk, or the cloud. If your computers are networked, you can it them to the destination computer.

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2. Second step will be to obtain a copy of the directory called: 

168522d5-1082-4df2-b2f6-9185c31f9472

a.  Copy and paste the following BOLD text,into the Windows Explorer search box on your source computer.

*%localappdata%\microsoft* *Windows Sidebar\Cache*

You will see a folder named:    168522d5-1082-4df2-b2f6-9185c31f9472

b. Copy folder named:   168522d5-1082-4df2-b2f6-9185c31f9472to the same flash drive, or a file share, or a floppy disk, or the cloud; if networked, copy directly to the destination computer.

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3. Third step  will be to obtain a copy of a file called   Settings.ini

a.  Copy and paste the following BOLD text,into the Windows Explorer search box on your source computer.

%localappdata%\microsoft\Windows Sidebar

You will see a file named:    Settings.ini

b. Copy the    Settings.ini     file to the same flash drive, or a file share, or a floppy disk, or the cloud.; or if networked to the destination computer.

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4. Fourth step you will retrace these steps and copy/replace the files on your destination computer.

Go to each folder location and copy the file.

    a - Copy and paste the following BOLD text,into the Windows Explorer search box on your destination computer.

*%localappdata%\microsoft\Windows Live\Services\Cache*

    b - Copy the   config.xml from the external drive to REPLACE the file on the destination computer.

    c - Copy and paste the following BOLD text,into the Windows Explorer search box on your destination computer.

*%localappdata%\microsoft* *Windows Sidebar\Cache*

    d - Copy folder named:   168522d5-1082-4df2-b2f6-9185c31f9472from the external drive to REPLACE this folder on the destination computer.

    e.  Copy and paste the following BOLD text,into the Windows Explorer search box on your destination computer.

%localappdata%\microsoft\Windows Sidebar

    f. Copy the    Settings.ini     from the external drive to REPLACE the file on the destination computer.

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5. See if the Weather Gadget is working.  If not, reboot, and check again. 

If this did not work, first be sure you followed every step. Try a reboot before you copy from the source computer, and after installing on the destination computer.  If none of this works, there is a more serious problem on your pc.

If this solution works for you for longer than a month, please advise everyone on this thread.

SOLUTION 5:

This method is a combination of solutions, more time consuming and requires several reboots.

1. Turn the "Windows Gadget Platform" off .

  a.  To do this, open Control Panel  (found on the menu when you select START)

  b.  Select "Programs and Features". On the "Programs and Features" you will see three links on the upper left side. Select "Turn Windows features on or off".

    Note: It can take a minute or longer for the window to populate. Be patient.

  c.  Scroll down to find "Windows Gadget Platform" and UN-CHECK it. 

(it is closer to the bottom, maybe 6th from bottom).

  d. Select OK at the bottom of the window. (This can take 5 minutes or longer to process. Be patient.)

2. Reboot.  
3. Turn the "Windows Gadget Platform" back on.  

   a. Open the Control Panel

   b. In the Control Panel, on the "Programs and Features" page, on the upper left side, select "Turn Windows features on or off".

   c.  Scroll down to find "Windows Gadget Platform" and CHECK it. 

   d. Select OK at the bottom of the window. (This can take 5 minutes or longer to process. Be patient.)

4. Follow the steps in SOLUTION 4.  (or preceding any of the other SOLUTIONs)

If this solution works for you for longer than a month, please advise everyone on this thread.

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Your input or comments are appreciated ---- please let me know if any of these solutions worked for you, or if a slight twist to any of these worked for you.

We all continue to find out the quirks of the Weather Gadget.

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Too complicated.  I have no flash drive or network file share.  Is there something more straightforward?

no its my problem also