If you never use Notepad, you may be less productive because Windows will force you to open it when it encounters a text document. Unfortunately, the replacement procedure is long and tedious. I think the benefits of not using Notepad outweigh the cost.
To semi-replace Notepad as the default program for certain file types, you can set it as the default program in the Set File Associations dialog.
Notepad is a great program for basic note taking, but if you want to do more advanced things, there are other programs that you can use. ..
If you decide to use a different program, be sure to check the compatibility guide on the program’s website. Some programs have been known to conflict with other software, so it’s important to test before you start. ..
Copy the Application file (EXE) to your desktop and see if you can run the program.
If the program runs without any errors from the desktop, you can use it to replace Notepad. A program like Notepad++ has a bunch of file and folder dependencies and when you copy the EXE file to the desktop, it raises a bunch of errors. So we won’t be able to use that to replace Notepad. Remember, don’t download the setup or installer program when you choose an alternative. If you’re looking for an alternative to Microsoft’s Notepad application, there are several programs available that don’t have as many dependencies. One example is Notepad++, which is available for download from the website. When you copy the EXE file to your desktop, it will not raise any errors, so you can use it as your default notepad replacement. ..
Replace Notepad in Windows
If you see two folders, Program Files and Program Files (x64), that means you have a 32-bit version of Windows.
You can find System type under the System tab on the Windows 10 Start screen.
In order to replace Notepad, we have to replace the Notepad executable file that is stored in three different locations on Windows. If you have a 32-bit Windows system, it’s just two locations. For a 64-bit Windows system, it’s three locations.
We have to delete the notepad.exe file from each location in order to start the installation process. The procedure is the same for each file, so I’ll only show you once and then you’ll have to do it yourself for the other two.
In the Properties window, scroll down to the “Location” tab and click on the “Browse” button. Navigate to C:\Windows\System32\drivers\etc and open the file “hosts”. Scroll down till you see a line that says 127.0.0.1 localhost. Delete this line and replace it with your own IP address (for example, 192.168.1.100). ..
On the Security tab, you can find a variety of options to help protect your computer from potential threats. The Advanced button at the bottom of the page will help you take steps to protect your computer from more serious threats, such as viruses and malware.
If you are running Windows 7, click on the Owner tab and then click the Edit button. If you are running Windows 8 or 10, click on the Change button next to the TrustedInstaller.
In the box that appears, type in the word administrators and then click on Check Names. It should format it properly with the computer name in front.
Administrators is now listed at the bottom of the Windows 7 screen, so just select that and click OK.
You have to exit all of the security screens by clicking OK. Make sure you don’t click Cancel. You should have to click OK twice, once to exit the Advanced Security Settings screen and once to exit Properties screen for notepad.exe. You should be back to your Explorer window.
In the Security tab, under the General tab, you’ll see a new checkbox called “Enable secure connection.” Check this box and then click on the OK button. Now you’ll need to create a new file called “notepad.exe.sec” and name it after the security setting you just changed. Now that you’ve set up your security settings, it’s time to test them out! Right-click on notepad.exe and choose Run as Administrator. This will open up notepad in an elevated window so that you can make changes without having to worry about potential security issues.
To allow administrators full control of a group or user, check the box under Allow for Full Control. ..
Now close the Notepad Properties dialog by clicking OK. You might get a popup saying you are changing permissions and this could reduce the security of your computer. Just close the Notepad Properties dialog by clicking OK again.
You can right-click on the notepad.exe file and delete it. Now take your replacement notepad application file and copy it to the C:\Windows folder.
If you have a 64-bit version of Windows, you should copy the 64-bit version of the program. ..
If you try to open a file that is not in the same folder as the application that you are trying to open it from, Windows will give you a dialog saying Folder Access Denied. Just click Continue and the file will be copied to the folder where the application is located. Now go ahead and rename the file to notepad.exe. Note that you do not have to type in notepad.exe because Windows hides application extensions by default. ..
When you rename the file to Notepad, you’ll also see that the icon gets replaced with the regular Notepad icon. Don’t worry, the program is still your Notepad alternative, but Windows changes the icon because this is a system folder and Notepad is a system program.
You have to go do this one more time in C:\Windows\System32 if you have a 32-bit version of Windows or two more times (C:\Windows\System32 and C:\Windows\SysWOW64) in you have a 64-bit version of Windows.
The first time you replace a file, it may take a bit of time. The second and third time, it will go by quickly. Once all the original files have been replaced, you can click on Start, type in Notepad and then press Enter. Instead of the normal Windows Notepad loading, you should now see your replacement program.
If you get a warning saying that the publisher of this program could not be verified the first time you ran it, just uncheck the Always ask before opening this file box and click Run.
After running the program again, it should open without any dialog. ..
That’s all there is to it! Overall, this process works well and you can choose from several different Notepad alternatives when performing these steps. If you have any questions, feel free to comment. Enjoy!
