SkypeGadget
- Features
- System requirements
- Installation
- Download
- Running on Vista x64
- Future version
- Support and feedback
- Donation
- Changelog
SkypeGadget is a Windows 7/Vista Sidebar Gadget that allows Skype users to call/chat to their contacts directly from Sidebar.
1. Features
- Contact list
- Show/hide offline, SkypeOut and/or Call Forward contacts
- Call/chat to a contact
- End call
- Open Skype
- Two display modes (8 or 16 contacts at a time)
- Double click starts a chat/call
- Displays contact status (Available, SkypeMe, Away, etc.)
2. System requirements
- Windows 7 or Windows Vista
- Skype
- Internet connection
- Administrative rights on the first run (in order to register Skype4COM)
3. Installation
- Download the gadget from one of the links below.
- Run the file
- If, on the first run, it displays a message that Skype4COM is not registered click the link on the gadget, close the gadget and reopen it.
- That’s it.
4. Download
The current stable version 1.4 can be downloaded from 
victorhurdugaci.com or gallery.live.com (The official Sidebar Gadgets page from Microsoft).
5. Running on Vista x64
Skype Gadget uses Skype4COM.dll in order to communicate with Skype. This component can only run on 32 bits so in order to use the gadget on a 64 bits OS you need to run the Sidebar as a 32 bits application.
This can be done as following:
- Go to the sidebar properties and uncheck the “Start sidebar when windows starts” checkbox.
- Open the “Program Files (x86)Windows Sidebar” folder and launch the sidebar from there. Now you have the 32 bits version running.
- Go to this new sidebar’s properties and check “Start sidebar when windows starts”.
- Add th gadget on sidebar.
Thanks to Michael for this great tip!
6. Future version
The Alpha 1 version is now available for download!
Get it from here and please provide feedback.
7. Support and feedback
If you have any problems and/or suggestions for SkypeGadget please feel free to …
- … add a comment on this page
- … send an e-mail at: skypegadget [monkey tail] victorhurdugaci {dot} com
- … follow SkypeGadget on Twitter: @SkypeGadget
8. Donation
Like this gadget and want to support it?
9. Changelog
Version 1.4 (yes, it is after 2.0 A1)
- Support for Skype 4
Version 2.0 Alpha 1
- First release of the new interface.
- New contact list.
- Hide Skype window after placing a call.
- Contacts are sorted by status and name.
Version 1.3:
- Bug fix: Long contact name wrapping
- New color for selected item
- Option to show/hide SkypeOut contacts
Version 1.2:
- Big contact list option
- Sorted contacts
- Minor bug fixes
March 7th, 2010 at 5:49 am
Thank you I will give it a try.
March 7th, 2010 at 3:08 am
For 64 bit Windows 7
1. open Task Manager and end Process sidebar.exe
2. Open the “Program Files (x86)Windows Sidebar” folder and launch the sidebar from there. Now you have the 32 bits version running
3. Add th gadget on sidebar.
March 7th, 2010 at 12:22 am
Purplepooki, are you using a 64 bit version of Windows?
March 6th, 2010 at 1:06 am
I cannot get version 1.4 to work on my laptop at all. I click the link a box flashes on the screen and I close and restart the gadget. I get the same message about registering. I am running Windows 7 and yes everything is up to date. I just bought this laptop this week.
February 6th, 2010 at 8:38 pm
@Flashfox: right click the desktop, go to gadgets and check there the version of SkypeGadget
January 25th, 2010 at 4:35 pm
The current Skype desktop widget does not auto-refresh in Windows 7 Professional. I need to right-click, select options then exit for it to update. I tried uninstalling and reinstalling with the same results. By the way, how do I check the version number?
January 22nd, 2010 at 12:18 am
@Peter Au: Yes, is working (version 1.4)
January 21st, 2010 at 11:25 pm
Is it working on Window 7?
November 21st, 2009 at 11:33 pm
@Zorgoban: change the .gadget extension to .zip
November 20th, 2009 at 9:50 am
Hi! Nice Gadget! Where can I get the source for it?