[Kenstee]

Can't get the widgets to load. From Dashboard I drag them to desktop, they expand then evaporate.

Any clues as to what the issue might be?

I read that one cause might be that Widgets are disabled in parental controls in a non-admin account. They aren't

[adamfishercox]

Those aren't widgets. It seems that a lot of people are getting this wrong. The Reflective "shelf" at the bottom of your screen is you dock. It houses your programs. On your dock, there should be a dashboard icon. A black circle with indicators, like a dashboard. Click it, and you will enter dashboard mode.