Difference between revisions of "Replace Microsoft Notepad With Something Better"

Revision as of 07:54, 8 July 2011

You might want to replace the default text editor application that is included with the Microsoft Windows operating system because it, notepad.exe, has some intentionally imposed limitations that are inhibiting as well as technical problems with the program.

Recommended Alternatives

Replacement Instructions

Brute Force Replacement in Windows 2000

If you delete notepad.exe in win2k the os will restore it, even replacing a substitute you may have used. Navigate to the C:\WINNT\System32\dllcache folder and remove notepad.exe, replacing it with the substitute. The exe and dll files in the dllcache folder are were Microsloth is getting the backups from when it restores apps such as notepad. Remove also notepad.exe from c:\WINNT\System32 and c:\WINNT to replace with your substitute. Lastly, tell the Windows File Protection to get lost, it will detect that you have just replaced one of it's "vital system files". Do not insert the Windows CD or it will restore the plain old limited notepad.exe note: hide protected operating system files must be enabled to do this.

Brute Force Replacement in Windows XP

Similar to the Windows 2000 instructions above. Keep in mind that Microsoft service packs may create an additional cache copy of the default Windows notepad.exe file.

Delete locations for notepad.exe System File Protection cache:

• For Windows XP before Service Pack 2:

C:\WINDOWS\System32\dllcache

• For Windows XP Service Pack 2 and later:

C:\WINDOWS\ServicePackFiles\i386

Batch File Method:
Crease a batch file called runme.bat and add the following (yes with Windows notepad.exe, argh!) rename your notepad replacement to notepad.exe and resides in the directory where you run the batch file.

copy /-y notepad.exe C:\WINDOWS\System32\dllcache
copy /-y notepad.exe C:\WINDOWS\ServicePackFiles\i386
copy /-y notepad.exe C:\WINDOWS\System32
copy /-y notepad.exe C:\WINDOWS

Windows Vista

Take ownership of the old notepad.exe with takeown /f c:\windows\system32\notepad.exe

takeown /f c:\windows\system32\notepad.exe
cacls c:\windows\system32\notepad.exe /G <USER ID>:F
copy /y notepad.exe C:\WINDOWS\System32

takeown /f c:\windows\notepad.exe
cacls c:\windows\notepad.exe /G <USER ID>:F
copy /y notepad.exe C:\WINDOWS

Windows 7

Open an Elevated Command Prompt by clicking All Programs (in Start Menu) and Accessories, then right-click Command Prompt and click Run as administrator. Use the takeown command as described for Windows Vista.

For Windows 7 64 bit add the following additional 3 lines to the above.

takeown /f c:\windows\SysWOW64\notepad.exe
icacls c:\windows\SysWOW64\notepad.exe /grant administrators:f
copy /y C:\notepad.exe C:\Windows\SysWOW64