Why does my Google Desktop Sidebar look like this? (Funny Squiggles and no text)?
January 5, 2008 11:16 AM   Subscribe

Why does my Google Desktop Sidebar look like this? (Funny Squiggles and no text)?

http://www.flickr.com/photo_zoom.gne?id=2169644954&size=o

If you can tell, the problem effects both the "news" gadget and the "web clips" gadget. I had the same problem on an older computer and figured it was just too old, but now I have the same problem with my new Dell PC running Windows XP Service Pack 2.

I've uninstalled and reinstalled, downloaded the newest version and everything else I can think of. Since it's happened on two different computers, I'm guessing there is somehow a conflict with another piece of software I have installed.

Anyone seen this before? Have any ideas? Thanks very much.
posted by ssimon82 to Computers & Internet (5 answers total)
 
I'm not sure if it will help, but here is the troubleshooting page from Google regarding Google Desktop Sidebar display issues. Are you using a custom Windows Theme? It seems like it might be related to that.

There is also a Google Desktop Help group on Google Groups.
posted by burnmp3s at 12:06 PM on January 5, 2008


Response by poster: Yeah, I tried turning off the Theme and I also searched the Help group. It seems that others have had the same problem, but there's never been a response from Google or anyone else.

Thanks.
posted by ssimon82 at 12:56 PM on January 5, 2008


First thing I'd try is installing the latest version of DirectX v9.0c.
posted by tra at 8:26 PM on January 5, 2008


Rendering issues are almost always the result of bad video drivers, a crappy video card or some third party app doing things that it shouldn't (such as installing custom themes).

Did you use the same video card from your old machine in your new machine? Try hitting the manufacturer's site and checking for updated versions of the driver. Also, hit up windows update and look under "optional" installs.

Installing the latest direct-x is a good idea, as tra says.

If none of the above work, try getting a new video card? Nvidia 8800GT or equivilent ATI card.
posted by jeffamaphone at 11:18 PM on January 5, 2008


Does the Google app use direct-x? I would have thought they'd use OpenGL... but I don't know.
posted by jeffamaphone at 11:19 PM on January 5, 2008


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