diff --git a/cairoEng.py b/cairoEng.py
index ddff855..e2bc3e8 100755
--- a/cairoEng.py
+++ b/cairoEng.py
@@ -26,7 +26,7 @@
 
 import pygtk
 pygtk.require('2.0')
-import gtk, gobject, cairo
+import gtk, gobject, cairo, os
 from time import time, sleep
 import threading
 
@@ -52,10 +52,13 @@ def mkMatrix(p0, p1, p2, size):
                         x0 , y0 )
 
 def toShapeMap(surface):
-    width = surface.get_width()
-    height = surface.get_height()
-
-    bitmap = gtk.gdk.Pixmap(None, width, height, 1)
+    if not os.name=="nt":
+	#surface.getwidth() doesn't work on windows
+        width = surface.get_width()
+        height = surface.get_height()
+        bitmap = gtk.gdk.Pixmap(None, width, height, 1)
+    else:
+        bitmap = gtk.gdk.Pixmap(None, 200, 200, 1)
     bmpCr = bitmap.cairo_create()
 
     patt = cairo.SurfacePattern(surface)
@@ -83,13 +86,16 @@ def __init__(self, animation, texture, getFrameRect, offset):
 
     # Handle the expose-event by drawing
     def do_expose_event(self, event):
-        if not hasattr(self, 'bg') :
-            if self.is_composited():
-                print("Composite! \o/")
-                self.bg = None
-            else:
-                self.bg = capt_screen(self)
-        
+        if not hasattr(self, 'bg'):
+			if self.is_composited():
+				print("Composite! \o/")
+				self.bg = None
+			else:
+				#capt_screen doesn't work properly on windows and only slows everything down
+				if os.name=="nt":
+					self.bg = None
+				else:
+					self.bg = capt_screen(self)
         # Create the cairo context
         cr = self.window.cairo_create()
 
@@ -206,9 +212,14 @@ def on_size_allocate(wind, rect):
     window.set_skip_pager_hint(True)
     window.set_keep_above(True)
     window.stick()
-    window.set_default_size(*size)
-
-    colormap = window.get_screen().get_rgba_colormap()
+    window.set_default_size(*size)	
+	
+	#the other function doesn't work on windows
+	#which sadly means that transparency doesn't work on windows
+    if os.name=="nt":
+      colormap = gtk.gdk.colormap_get_system()
+    else:
+      colormap = window.get_screen().get_rgba_colormap()
     gtk.widget_set_default_colormap(colormap)
 
     window.present()
diff --git a/cairoFidget.py b/cairoFidget.py
index 69ad8ea..84cdbc9 100755
--- a/cairoFidget.py
+++ b/cairoFidget.py
@@ -26,6 +26,12 @@
 
 import fidget
 import cairoEng
+import os
 
 if __name__ == "__main__":
-    cairoEng.run(fidget.Fidget(), "fidget-sprites.png", fidget.getFrameRect, (171, 151), (-28, -2))
+		spritefilename = 'fidget-sprites.png'
+		#if user is running windows then make sure python knows the exact folder where the sprite file is
+		#which by default is the script's folder, otherwise python can't see the file in windows
+		if os.name=="nt":
+				spritefilename = os.path.dirname(__file__) + "\\" + 'fidget-sprites.png'
+		cairoEng.run(fidget.Fidget(), spritefilename, fidget.getFrameRect, (171, 151), (-28, -2))