Gadgets and TrustedInstaller

I (foolishly) decided I would like to get my gadgets back. I followed a link here to download a file (DesktopGadgetsRevived.exe). Before doing so I Created a restore point. Then I ran the program and got a couple of gadgets. While doing so I noticed that a lot of uploading was occurring. The main gadget I wanted was CPU but it was not the original. At this point I decided that I wanted to cancel and do a System Restore. System Restore FAILED. I tried again but it still failed.
I then ran Everything and found all the gadget files. I deleted most of them but four folders (Gadgets) and files (DesktopGadgetsrevived-2.0.EXE-xxxx.pf) claim I must have permission from TrustedInstaller.

Are these Microsoft files (I'm doubtful)? The DesktopGadgetsrevivedxxx files are not on another Windows 10 computer, soI don't think they belong to Microsoft.

Does Windows need any of these Gadget files/folders? The ones I deleted are still in my Recycle Bin.

Can I safely delete files which say I need TrustedInstaller permission?

Microsoft decreed that gadgets were a system security hazard back when Windows 8 came out and stopped supporting them in favor of apps from the App Store. So I highly doubt that these gadget files are of Microsoft origin. It sounds to me like you might have picked up some malware along with your gadgets, or at the very least, installed something a little invasive.

The first thing you should do is give your system a good scan with MalwareBytes and see if there is anything active on your system.

Malwarebytes | Free Cyber Security & Anti-Malware Software

Windows needs no gadget files, as far as I know. As for the Trusted Installer problem, did you try uninstalling the gadgets from the control panel? Or did you just delete the files?

Don't delete your recycle bin contents just yet. Another member may have a better idea about getting rid of the files.

I checked on a "clean" Windows 10 installation (1607) and there are no less than 12 Gadget folders and 40 files with the word gadget. Apparently Microsoft has not done away with gadget files completely!
I had already run Malware-bytes and it found nothing.

Interesting. I had a look on my installation (1607), and you're right. There were a number of gadget related files and folders. The gadget folders were all empty, though. And most of my gadget files were in my Windows.old folder, from my upgrade from Win 8.1.

It must be a legacy holdover from older versions of Windows, or else some apps use it. I'm not sure of which. Never the less, gadgets have definitely been discontinued.

https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/...n-discontinued

Jambe said:

I (foolishly) decided I would like to get my gadgets back. I followed a link here to download a file (DesktopGadgetsRevived.exe). Before doing so I Created a restore point. Then I ran the program and got a couple of gadgets. While doing so I noticed that a lot of uploading was occurring. The main gadget I wanted was CPU but it was not the original. At this point I decided that I wanted to cancel and do a System Restore. System Restore FAILED. I tried again but it still failed.
I then ran Everything and found all the gadget files. I deleted most of them but four folders (Gadgets) and files (DesktopGadgetsrevived-2.0.EXE-xxxx.pf) claim I must have permission from TrustedInstaller.

Are these Microsoft files (I'm doubtful)? The DesktopGadgetsrevivedxxx files are not on another Windows 10 computer, soI don't think they belong to Microsoft.

Does Windows need any of these Gadget files/folders? The ones I deleted are still in my Recycle Bin.

Can I safely delete files which say I need TrustedInstaller permission?

What kind of uploading do you mean? Where did you get the gadgets from? I am also using Desktopgadgetsrevisded2.0, and have been since Windows 10 came out, and have not had any issues. I scan from time to time with Defender, SuperAntiSpyware, MB, and VirusTotal, and have never had issues. My gadgets I use are CPU (default one), and the weather from MIcrosoft, but not the one that comes with it as that doesn't work, so I used the one from the gallery (Weather | Gadgets Revived). Here is where I got the main program from: Download Sidebar | Gadgets Revived I don't know if it's standard for you, but I always run any site, and/or download through VirusTotal.com first, and then scan will all my programs before opening/installing. If you want to uninstall the entire package you need to have it fully installed, and then uninstall from the Control Panel here:

I was aware of the uploading by Bitmeter showing green. (Red is downloading, green is uploading). I'm not sure how much but it was several MB.
It was my mistake in judgement not to use the Control Panel to Uninstall.

In my original post I stated that System Restore Failed. I tried again with an earlier Restore Point and that also failed.

I now know why:

Windows 10 update KB 3213986 triggers System Restore error 0x80070091 | InfoWorld

The best Gadget app I've found to work in Win10 is 8gadgetpack. I like gadgets and continue to use them and this app works fine, and gets updates every few months to continue working under Win10.