windows 7 weather gadget cannot connect to service

I found a permanent solution to the problem...

All of the above solutions are worthless...

Unfortunately, within the last few hours, the 'Select current location' search option in the Weather Gadget seems to have gone down again;  and, the country location listed on active gadgets is not being abbreviated.

Perhaps this is finally the end of this feature/option...  Perhaps it will be back in 24 hours...

<rant>

I don't quite understand why MS just can't patch the so-called security issues with sidebar.exe instead of apparently giving-up by trying to shut Windows Gadgets down (especially those accessing the network like Currency and Weather).  This, among other things, makes MS look incompetent and ignorant when it comes to how MS thinks customers use, and will use, MS technology.

One just need look at the utter failure regarding Windows 8/8.1 market share with respect to how out of touch MS is/was with millions of customers over things like the proven "Windows Desktop app" versus the newer and rather limited so-called "Windows Store app" via a central store (which they did only to generate more revenue by skimming profits from "app" sales), but also regarding basic Windows practicality, flexibility, and feasibility in "getting things done" given a proven and practicable graphical-user interface (GUI), especially as MS tried to turn a powerful and flexible desktop PC environment in to a dumbed-down, glorified tablet by inefficiently mixing two very different human-machine interfaces (HMI)/GUIs in the same operating system (OS) initially without any real choice except to use various third-party workarounds to "restore" previously basic Windows GUI features, by which, of course, actually increase security risks.  What did they expect?  Obviously not a total failure in market share or Windows 8 as we know it would have never happened.  Out of touch indeed.

There is always a risk involved when installing ANY store "app"/desktop software, and users must always be on guard regarding such things.  Can Microsoft control every single security risk we throw at Windows?  Of course not.  But, do we really need Big Brother holding our hand, looking over our shoulder every step of the way, telling us where to go and how to get there?  MS Windows users have, in fact, always had the greatest responsibility in protecting themselves, especially when online.

Such actions by MS, seemingly limiting user choice regarding how we protect and use our own PC's, are unnecessarily intrusive and rather time consuming for those of us who try and work around this nonsense in the name of so-called security.  IMHO, it's a cop-out argument especially when people pay good money for software and its support, not its abandonment by tucking their tales between their legs and running away fast and far pretending to be otherwise.

This entire issue at MS over Windows 7 Gadgets security (and by extension their utter failure with Windows 8/8.1 market share), and now the confusion over GWX.exe software suite (see http://answers.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/forum/windows_7-security/suspicious-new-folder-windirsystem32gwx/e3661a2f-93f5-4d7c-a83f-2fcc25ed7ac2 and http://www.sevenforums.com/windows-updates-activation/365788-update-enables-additional-capabilities-windows-broken.html), found at "%WINDIR%\System32\GWX" on Windows 7 x64 which "installed" last week via Windows Update, a software suite apparently trying to push us to "Get Windows X/10", indeed shows just how out of touch MS really is with its users and how they think they know what is best for me, seemingly without any meaningful and realistic real-world consultation and implementation, by pushing users in a particular direction without practicable and flexible choice instead of helping me feel more confident about existing MS software still within its support lifestyle, reminds me of a song by Emiliana Torrini called Baby Blue (here are some lyrical excerpts):

Boxing shadows in my sleep

It's the company I keep

The perfect exercise

As I grow older

I'm looking for some place to go

Sucking out screams in stereo

Before my bare eyes

I saw her drowning

Keep my daughter in a jar

She can't get out she won't go far

My heart is in my mouth

But still keep pounding

</rant>

Regards.