What good will a home Windows 7 installation will be without useful toys on your desktop?  In Windows 7, these toys are called desktop gadgets and by default 7 comes with a handful of desktop toys that we can readily use.  The most useful widgets, err gadgets, are here. The dependable calendar, clock, CPU meter, curreny converter, feed reader, maps and others are here to use.  Unlike Vista, they don’t open automatically after a fresh install, so you have to open them manually.  To access the gadgets,   type “ desktop gadgets ” on the search bar then click “ Desktop Gadget Gallery ” under the programs list: The Desktop Gadgets Gallery will appear.  Click on any gadget that you want to run on your desktop: The gadgets will appear at the right side of your desktop.  Clearing your desktop will not minimize the gadgets – they are always open unless you close them.

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How to add gadgets to a Windows 7 desktop