subject: How To Replace Notepad in Windows 7 [print this page] How To Replace Notepad in Windows 7 How To Replace Notepad in Windows 7
Do you feel really annoying of the Notepad since it started up quickly and let us catch a quick glimpse of plain text files? Today I will show you how to replace it with Notepad replacements in Windows 7.
Note: Before you read the rest of this article, make sure that you're logged into an account with Administrator access. And the following instructions involve modifying some Windows System folders. Don't mess anything up while you're in there! If you follow our instructions closely, you'll be fine.
Choose your replacement
There are pleany of great Notepad replacements you can choose from, including Notepad2, Metapad, and Notepad++...etc. The best one for you will depend on what types of text files you open and what you do with them. In this example, we're going to use Notepad++.
The first thing you need to do is find the executable file that you'll replace Notepad with. Usually this will be the only file with the .exe file extension in the folder where you installed your text editor. Copy the executable file to your desktop and try to open it, to make sure that it works when opened from a different folder. In the Notepad++ case, a special little .exe file is available in order to replace Notepad.If we run it from the desktop, it opens up Notepad++ in all its glory.
Back up Notepad
You can backup Notepad to a special location if you'd like, but we find it's easiest to just keep a backed up copy of Notepad in the folders it was originally located.
In Windows 7, Notepad resides in:
-C:Windows
-C:WindowsSystem32
-C:WindowsSysWOW64 (only in 64-bit versions)
Navigate to each of those directories and copy Notepad.
Paste it into the same folder.
If you are prompted, choose to Copy and Replace (but keep both files).
Here you can keep your backup as "notepad (2).exe", but we prefer to rename it to "notepad.exe.bak".
Note: Do this for all of the folders that have Notepad ...2 total for 32-bit Windows 7, 3 total for 64-bit.
Take control of Notepad and delete it
Alought you're on an administrator account, you can't just delete Notepad since Microsoft has made some security gains in this respect. But fortunately, it's still possible to take control of a file and delete it without resorting to nasty hacks like disabling UAC.
Firstly, navigate to one of the directories that contain Notepad. Right-click on it and select Properties.
Switch to the "Security" tab, then click on the "Advanced" button.
Note that the owner of the file is a user called "TrustedInstaller".
Now you can't do much with files owned by TrustedInstaller, so let's take control of it. Click the "Edit" button, select the desired owner (you could choose your own account, but we're going to give any Administrator control) and click "OK".
Then you'll get a message that you need to close and reopen the Properties windows to edit permissions. You should make sure the owner has changed to what you selected before you do that.
Click "OK"...then "OK" again to close the Properties window. Right-click on Notepad and click on "Properties" again. Switch to the Security tab. Click on "Edit".
At this point, select the appropriate group or user name in the list at the top, then add a checkmark in the checkbox beside Full control in the Allow column.
Click "OK"...then click "Yes" to the dialog box that pops up.
Click "OK" again to close the Properties window.
Now you can delete Notepad, by either selecting it and pressing Delete on the keyboard, or right-click on it and click Delete.
You're now free from Notepad's foul clutches!
Note: Repeat this procedure for the remaining folders (or folder, on 32-bit Windows 7).
Drop in your replacement
First copy your Notepad replacement's executable, which should still be on your desktop.
Then browse to the two or three folders listed above and copy your .exe to those locations. If prompted for Administrator permission, click "Continue".
If your executable file was named something other than "notepad.exe", rename it to "notepad.exe". Don't be alarmed if the thumbnail still shows the old Notepad icon.
Now double click on Notepad and your replacement should open.
To make doubly sure that it works, press Win+R to bring up the Run dialog box and enter "notepad" into the text field. Click "enter" or click "OK".
Now you can allow Windows to open files with Notepad by default with little to no shame! All without restarting or having to Disable UAC! Enjoy yourself!
TOKEEN: C6PDYRV5675W
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