Weather gadget not working- Cannot connect to service

No, its not the only way MS could solve this problem they created, as they totally refuse to even acknowledge or correct the problem so that Win 7 Users can still use any valuable or popular gadget they had installed and wish to keep using!  Instead, MS created a false or very lame Security threat narrative that they are using to justify the auto update action they took to disable Gadgets in every Win 7 Users Computer!  I don't expect them to ever admit they made a mistake as they never do, as it seems in this Case they just wanted some hairbrained excuse to do away with Gadgets for Win 10 and then also applied it to Win 7 & 8 OS Versions!  Wake up Microsoft! For your Info, http://gadgets.live.com/configW7.xml  is still accessible online, but it may not be enabled by MS or may be disabled?  PS: I agree with your comments on Anders and Sting! LoL 

VZ, your solution worked partially! However, you failed to explain (if you know) why you have to use a City Zip code to get a new Weather location to search and load?? Is there something different between the online XML file (which is still there/online but may have been disabled by Microsoft?) and the XML file in the Cache folder? I still consider the disabling of only the online XML file by Microsoft a forced disabling of the Weather gadget, which it should restore to normal operation!! Also, why is the XML file still accessible online if it no longer supports the Weather Gadget as you state? Is there something else changed by MS in Win 7 that prevents the Weather Gadget from accessing the online XML file as it could before?

Again, your workaround is a good fix but needs more explanation, but it would be better if the Search function on the Weather gadget worked as before with the ability to search by City and Zip!

Hello Mitch,

the XML file isn't accessible. Quote: "The requested URL "/configW7.xml", is invalid." I assure you that if the file was still accessible, we wouldn't be talking or complaining here. The working configW7.xml URL would look like this:

http://www.tandemradio.hu/download/Config.xml

What we are left to is the state described here:

https://social.technet.microsoft.com/Forums/windows/en-US/af8955e5-e47a-4fb9-bb0f-48d2ed47a582/weather-gadget-not-working-httpgadgetslivecomconfigw7xml-switched-of?forum=w7itprogeneral

only this time it's permanent and no Microsoft official admits or communicates it. Since this is the sole cause for the gadget's failure, it also would be the most reasonable remedy to bring the file back online. There is absolutely zero relation to any kind of update or installation of whatever software. In case you're wondering why one of your gadgets is still working: This may differ from user account to user account because the content of Temporary Internet Files will vary. For the gadget to continue working, config.xml needs to be converted from configW7.xml in the IE cache on a regular basis, usually on startup. If you have a working gadget left, that means a local copy of configW7.xml that was present before January 31 is still there and keeps the gadget alive.

The unability to search by city is a whole different and newer issue not related to config.xml, and I don't know about any fix for that.

Regards, VZ

Hi VZ,

Thanks for your detailed and inciteful response!  In response to your Points:  By accessible, I meant you can still access the MS XML file at  http://gadgets.live.com/configW7.xml and the contents are exactly the same as the one you state are good in your site at http://www.tandemradio.hu/download/Config.xml  ??  Your other Link or source from social.technet.microsoft.com appears to be outdated, as its from 2013 and the problem with Gadgets now is more recent or I believe from early this year!!  It may be the same or a similiar problem as from 2013, but MS has apparently taken additional action since then to disable/degrade Weather or other Gadgets in some way??

As the online XML file is still accessible and appears good, I have to assume MS did something else in one of their Security/Optional updates to Degrade or disable the operation of the Weather Gadget? The Weather gadget on computers still works fine, its just that its degraded and you cannot search for or change the location for an new or previously installed Weather gadget!  Your or Anders ( forgot who came up with it originally?) work around (Change the Cache XML file Config.xml date to 2017 and make it Read Only) worked for me partially as Weather will now search for new locations if you use a Citys Zip code but will not search using a city name and state?? 

You state the inability to search by City and State is a whole new and different or recent new issue not related to the XML file issue, but this has been the only issue I've had with the Weather gadget since I've Posted here??  In fact, the Anders work around fix with the XML file did restore the search functionility,  but only if you use a Zip code to search for a new City for Weather info!

The only Problem now (it appears) is the Search functionality of the Weather Gadget (and maybe some problems with other Gadgets?)!  I still believe it was a MS Security/Optional Update that degraded its ability to search locations properly and it would be best for MS to correct or restore full functionality to the Weather Gadget and other affected Gadgets that are popular on Win 7 machines!!!  As the online XML file appears to be restored or still operational (for its purpose?), I firmly believe it was a recent (this year) MS update that caused the current problem, as it affected two of my Win 7 machines or laptops exactly the same way!  If you or someone else knows, or has a good high level contact within MS who is able to address this issue, I would love to be put in contact with this person, as their normal every day Tech Reps are from India or some other foreign Country and have no ability to address such an issue??  I have to assume current MS Officials or high level Techs monitor this Forum and could answer here if they wanted too, but I won't hold my breath! 

As there is a very slim chance or long odds that MS will acknowledge this problem  or issue a fix (based on its rhetoric opposing Gadgets),  I would welcome any suggested new work arounds to do so or an explanation of the actual cause/problem for the Weather Gadget search problem?   I suspect that if the MS update that caused this problem can or could be identified, it could easily be fixed by uninstalling the specific update?  This may be hard as MS issues so many Security and Optional updates (a restore to an earlier date is not a real option due to other problems that would cause!)!  I really don't understand MS' logic or its lame risk rationale for degrading/disabling Gadgets, unless its a fear that Users will demand them in Win 10 or won't upgrade to 10 if they have workable Gadgets on WIn 7??  MS, can you just restore functionally to Gadgets for Win 7 Users, as its not your option to disable/degrade Gadgets on your own!!????

Regards MitchZZ & Thanks!

PS:  Can MS Customer Service be as bad as Comcast?  You decide!

No, its not the only way MS could solve this problem they created, as they totally refuse to even acknowledge or correct the problem so that Win 7 Users can still use any valuable or popular gadget they had installed and wish to keep using!  Instead, MS created a false or very lame Security threat narrative that they are using to justify the auto update action they took to disable Gadgets in every Win 7 Users Computer!  I don't expect them to ever admit they made a mistake as they never do, as it seems in this Case they just wanted some hairbrained excuse to do away with Gadgets for Win 10 and then also applied it to Win 7 & 8 OS Versions!  Wake up Microsoft! For your Info, http://gadgets.live.com/configW7.xml  is still accessible online, but it may not be enabled by MS or may be disabled?  PS: I agree with your comments on Anders and Sting! LoL 

VZ, your solution worked partially! However, you failed to explain (if you know) why you have to use a City Zip code to get a new Weather location to search and load?? Is there something different between the online XML file (which is still there/online but may have been disabled by Microsoft?) and the XML file in the Cache folder? I still consider the disabling of only the online XML file by Microsoft a forced disabling of the Weather gadget, which it should restore to normal operation!! Also, why is the XML file still accessible online if it no longer supports the Weather Gadget as you state? Is there something else changed by MS in Win 7 that prevents the Weather Gadget from accessing the online XML file as it could before?

Again, your workaround is a good fix but needs more explanation, but it would be better if the Search function on the Weather gadget worked as before with the ability to search by City and Zip!

Hello Mitch,

the XML file isn't accessible. Quote: "The requested URL "/configW7.xml", is invalid." I assure you that if the file was still accessible, we wouldn't be talking or complaining here. The working configW7.xml URL would look like this:

http://www.tandemradio.hu/download/Config.xml

What we are left to is the state described here:

https://social.technet.microsoft.com/Forums/windows/en-US/af8955e5-e47a-4fb9-bb0f-48d2ed47a582/weather-gadget-not-working-httpgadgetslivecomconfigw7xml-switched-of?forum=w7itprogeneral

only this time it's permanent and no Microsoft official admits or communicates it. Since this is the sole cause for the gadget's failure, it also would be the most reasonable remedy to bring the file back online. There is absolutely zero relation to any kind of update or installation of whatever software. In case you're wondering why one of your gadgets is still working: This may differ from user account to user account because the content of Temporary Internet Files will vary. For the gadget to continue working, config.xml needs to be converted from configW7.xml in the IE cache on a regular basis, usually on startup. If you have a working gadget left, that means a local copy of configW7.xml that was present before January 31 is still there and keeps the gadget alive.

The unability to search by city is a whole different and newer issue not related to config.xml, and I don't know about any fix for that.

Regards, VZ

Anders, what are you talking about???  Gadgets that work may be enough reason to keep using  Win 7, just like many still use Win XP!

Bottom line, you can't trust MS to do the right thing or make a new Bug Free OS until after many updates and Service packs!        

1:  There will be ( Weather- ) Apps instead of Gadgets with Win10, so no problem there.

2:  If you don't trust MS, then go for eg. Apple OS instead, and stop complaining here.

Meanwhile:

ALL one has to do, is to change the Date = Year, to like 2017, on the config.xml, and then set the config.xml to be Read-Only.

The path in my system are:

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

And when there, just:

Change the Year on the config.xml to 2017

and then set it as a Read-Only file, and that WILL

make the Weather Gadget work again.

Anders,  did you even read my Post??  Who needs a Weather App to just moniter Weather???  The current Weather Gadget did just work fine before MS tried to delete its use!  Also, this simple gadget can provide the User with Multiple views of different locations' weather with out doing anything and they are viewable anytime right from the main Screen, simple and efficient!!  Also, you're assuming everyone will quickly upgrade to WIn 10 (just because its a free upgrade, maybe?) and that Win 10 will not be another Flop!?  You can't make that assumption with any MS major update/upgrade (especially its OS!!!)!!

I don't have to stop complaining here and I won't, as this is where you do need to complain unless you are a retired MS jockie who thinks MS is perfect!  I don't have an Apple, but it has a much better track record than MS, unless you have been hiding under a rock??  I think you can now stop posting your work around on how to fix the Weather Gadget partically, as you're posted it a zillion times!  But if you have any additional info on how to fix it back to where it will search using City and State data then Post that instead!! Maybe you can talk to some of the so-called experts at MS you may know and try to get them to reverse this crazy thing they did to disable all gadgets without anyones permission, and for no good or valid reason!!! 

Yes, I don't trust MS, because it does things like this, ie, disables everyones' Win 7 Gadgets on its own without giving the User a choice for a frivious made-up reason!!  Also, because of all the other problems (included in my Post) MS causes whenever it issues a completely New OS just to make money on its OS software, when it could have just issued Free updates and accomplished the same thing!  Just like all the other OS software in the world is handled!