Win 11 Widget Board all Black - asks to install Dependencies, but nothing happens...

Anonymous
2025-04-02T15:58:08+00:00

Just had to reinstall Windows 11, 2h24, on our Lenovo T15. Everything works fine but the Widget Board. When I click the Taskbar Icon (shows no activity) the Widget Board loads but is nothing but black. When clicking on it, a message says "Additional Dependencies are needed to download and install" But when I click the install button the circle starts turning around. On and on forever. Nothing happens.

How do I fix this issue to make the Widget Board work again?

Windows for home | Windows 11 | Performance and system failures

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  1. Ramesh 181.8K Reputation points Volunteer Moderator
    2025-05-07T03:12:32+00:00

    Thank you so much, Ramesh,

    I will read about it.

    Thank you for all that valuable info.

    Macrium and a portable disk will be the solution.

    Just read about Macrium.

    Best Regards,

    Anders

    You're welcome, Anders.

    Glad the info helped.

    Regards,

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  2. Anonymous
    2025-05-06T23:40:33+00:00

    Thank you so much, Ramesh,

    I will read about it.

    Thank you for all that valuable info.

    Macrium and a portable disk will be the solution.

    Just read about Macrium.

    Best Regards,

    Anders

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  3. Ramesh 181.8K Reputation points Volunteer Moderator
    2025-05-06T19:04:34+00:00

    Hi Anders,

    You can read about File History in the link below. It's a "set it and forget it" feature, but it doesn't do complete OS image backups. You configure it initially. File History takes regular backups at chosen intervals. It doesn't use Robocopy.

    https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/backup-and-restore-with-file-history-7bf065bf-f1ea-0a78-c1cf-7dcf51cc8bfc

    Robocopy is a console tool. I use it to create mirror backups of specific directories, in addition to File History and Macrium.

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  4. Anonymous
    2025-05-06T18:52:42+00:00

    Thank you Ramesh

    Macrim I have heard of. Sounds to be a good choice.

    Is File History a feature on robocopy? I am not familiar to this, so I better find some online references.

    Thanks again, Ramesh.

    Best

    Anders

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  5. Ramesh 181.8K Reputation points Volunteer Moderator
    2025-05-06T17:50:20+00:00

    Yes I checked the taskbar settings and Widgets are mowhrre yo find.

    My wife don't like Widgets so I am reluctant to install the Windows Web Experience Pack. If something goes wrong, I will have to sleep in our greenhouse for days!

    But thanks again, Ramesh. I will save your reply for a future opportunity to install the Web Exp. Pack.

    Hi Anders,

    You're welcome.

    BTW. Do jou know if it is possible to back up the entire PC/Laptop onto a USB drive (16GB), so you later can restore your PC/Laptop from the very same recovery USB Stick?

    Best,

    Anders

    A 16 GB disk may not be sufficient. Moreover, USB sticks are not as reliable as external HDDs/SSDs. You may buy an external HDD/SSD and store the OS image backups on that drive.

    The built-in Windows Backup tool (in the Control Panel) hasn't been updated in years, and Microsoft has deprecated it. For greater reliability, a third-party backup solution, such as Hasleo, AOMEI Backupper, EaseUS, or Macrium Reflect, is recommended. Except for Macrium, all of them are freeware.

    Additionally, you can enable the built-in File History backup if you want. I have two WD portable external drives, one of which stores the regular Macrium Image backups, and a NAS (for monthly backups using robocopy). Additionally, File History automatically backs up to the WD Elements drive every 24 hours.

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