Some users who upgrade to Windows 8 may miss desktop Gadgets that were available in Windows 7. Microsoft no longer provides support for Gadgets in its new operating system. But there is a workaround which you can use to run Windows 7 desktop Gadgets in Windows 8.

For this purpose, you would need to install 8Gadgetspack, which is a free utility that creates a gadget sidebar on your desktop. You may place your gadgets on this sidebar or directly on your desktop. In case you don’t like the look of this gadget sidebar, simply close it and place the gadgets on your desktop.

Microsoft has cited security reasons for stopping support for desktop Gadgets in Windows 8. However, you don’t really have to worry about it if you use a reliable antivirus tool. To keep your pc secure, it is necessary that you keep your antivirus tool up-to-date and run regular scans.

In addition to an antivirus tool, you should also consider a third-party firewall. While Windows 8, like previous Windows versions, has a built-in firewall, the default utility is not as good as some free third-party firewall tools.