Solved Replace native Notepad in Win 8.1

Archimede

Member
Member
Messages
58
Has anybody been successful in replacing the native Notepad in Win 8.1 Pro 64 bit without wasting an hour fighting with permissions?

Any other text editor out there is definitely better than the native Notepad, and that's a given, now I am curious to see if the resourceful friends on this forum can suggest a headache-free solution to accomplish this simple task :)

Thanks
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Win 8.1 Core 64 bit
Notepad++ is one of my favorite replacements for the stock notepad. It has every feature you could ever want, plus the ability to use plug-ins.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8.1 Enterprise
Sorry guys I must have misexpressed myself, I am not asking you to suggest me an application to replace the native Notepad (I already know which one to use), but I am rather asking here on the forum to share knowledge and (possibly) a straightforward procedure to actually replace the native Notepad.

So far I have used this method:

1) Rename metapad.exe (or any other notepad clone) to notepad.exe, then copy it to the root of drive C (not inside a folder)

2) For Windows 8.1 64-bit copy the text below and paste it into an Elevated Command Prompt (it will run automatically). When finished close the Command Prompt and delete C:\notepad.exe.

takeown /f c:\windows\system32\notepad.exe
icacls c:\windows\system32\notepad.exe /grant administrators:f
copy /y C:\notepad.exe C:\Windows\System32
takeown /f c:\windows\SysWOW64\notepad.exe
icacls c:\windows\SysWOW64\notepad.exe /grant administrators:f
copy /y C:\notepad.exe C:\Windows\SysWOW64
takeown /f c:\windows\notepad.exe
icacls c:\windows\notepad.exe /grant administrators:f
copy /y C:\notepad.exe C:\Windows

Feel free to suggest any easier/faster alternative.

Hope all is clear now :D
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Win 8.1 Core 64 bit
Clear as mud to me-lol. So with what do you end up?
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8.1
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    Other Info
    Use several different computers during a day, so specs are irrelevant.
HKLM\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Image File Execution Options\notepad.exe.
string (REG_SZ) name "Debugger".
value "path_to_replacementnotepad.exe" /z
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    7/8/ubuntu/Linux Deepin
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
HKLM\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Image File Execution Options\notepad.exe.
string (REG_SZ) name "Debugger".
value "path_to_replacementnotepad.exe" /z
That's also a nice method :) So basically you don't physically replace the executable, you just "hijack" the path ;)

Are you using this yourself? If so, does it run smoothly? On which OS?
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Win 8.1 Core 64 bit
The easiest is to just replace the file type association for .txt files and whatever other file types you want to open with the other notepad program.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Vista and Win7
    System Manufacturer/Model
    2xHP, 2xGateway, 1xDell, 1xSony
    Hard Drives
    5 SSDs and 12 HDs
Yes, it works great on 7 and 8x.


HKLM\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Image File Execution Options\notepad.exe.
string (REG_SZ) name "Debugger".
value "path_to_replacementnotepad.exe" /z
That's also a nice method :) So basically you don't physically replace the executable, you just "hijack" the path ;)

Are you using this yourself? If so, does it run smoothly? On which OS?
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    7/8/ubuntu/Linux Deepin
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
The easiest is to just replace the file type association for .txt files and whatever other file types you want to open with the other notepad program.
This appears indeed to be quite an easy solution.

Are you using this method yourself? If so, does it run smoothly? On which OS?
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Win 8.1 Core 64 bit
I use this method all the time on 7 and 8.1. If the program you want is not automatically presented, you have to navigate to the program files or programs files x86 and pick the .exe of the program you want. Make sure you get the right .exe and not e.g. the uninstaller .exe which some program files also have, LOL.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Vista and Win7
    System Manufacturer/Model
    2xHP, 2xGateway, 1xDell, 1xSony
    Hard Drives
    5 SSDs and 12 HDs
I use this method all the time on 7 and 8.1. If the program you want is not automatically presented, you have to navigate to the program files or programs files x86 and pick the .exe of the program you want. Make sure you get the right .exe and not e.g. the uninstaller .exe which some program files also have, LOL.

Yes, I know how to create associations :geek: I do that very frequently for some apps that I virtualize and that (for obvious reasons) do not appear among the suitable "open with" options.

I am very happy to hear that you are satisfied with this solution on Win 8.1 (I am rather new with this OS since I only started using it less than a month ago) and I might very well adopt it... But (no offense) I am rather curious to hear some more comments before making up my mind.

Thanks for sharing your valuable experience :D
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Win 8.1 Core 64 bit
No problem, but the scheme is exactly the same as in Windows 7. In 8.1 I use it mainly to get rid of those new apps. I have my own programs for pictures, music, videos, etc.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Vista and Win7
    System Manufacturer/Model
    2xHP, 2xGateway, 1xDell, 1xSony
    Hard Drives
    5 SSDs and 12 HDs
The easiest is to just replace the file type association for .txt files and whatever other file types you want to open with the other notepad program.

Exactly. Quote "You mean which notepad replacement I am currently using or how was the outcome of my procedure to replace the native notepad?"

I guess I couldn't quite follow the procedure and, in the end, after that input, what you finally used instead of notepad. I have, from time to time, used different "note" pads, and have always used WHS's method. That is possibly why I couldn't understand the hoop jumping - but I probably missed an important consideration?

It came up recently in another thread:
http://www.eightforums.com/customiz...hell-add-wordpad-context-menu.html#post330543
 
Last edited:

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8.1
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    Other Info
    Use several different computers during a day, so specs are irrelevant.
No problem, but the scheme is exactly the same as in Windows 7. In 8.1
Thanks for the additional clarification, friend.

I use it mainly to get rid of those new apps. I have my own programs for pictures, music, videos, etc.
I am sooooooooooo toooooooooooootally doing the same as you :D

As a matter of fact you might have just convinced me to simply create a set of reg files (just as I have for my virtualized video/audio player or picture viewer) also for Notepad and keep somewhere on the local disk a customized Notepad twin-folder that I can easily switch, say Notepad Lite (and use something like Metapad) and Notepad Pro (and use something like Notepad++).

Thanks for the inspiration!
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Win 8.1 Core 64 bit
Editpad Lite
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8.1.1
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Dell 8100 XPS Studio
    CPU
    i7 Quad Core 2.93ghz
    Memory
    12GB
    Graphics Card(s)
    nVidia GTS240 1GB
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Dell 24" HD
    Screen Resolution
    1920x1080
    Keyboard
    Dell Wireless
    Mouse
    Dell Wireless
    Internet Speed
    6/1
    Browser
    Firefox
    Antivirus
    Bitdefender Total Security 2015
Editpad Lite

EXCELLENT tip, buddy :)

Going to play a bit with this interesting tool... Yet another notepad! I guess software developers thrive out of Micro$oft's week points (Notepad being clearly one of them)... I am amazed that Win 8 still sports the same (lousy) Notepad featured in Win 95 (if not earlier)!
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Win 8.1 Core 64 bit
It might be a point of view.
Notepad, unadulterated, is about 100% perfect for its purpose. Microsoft probably saw no real reason the change it. For those who wanted something a little quicker, or handier, they did introduce Sticky notes.
If there were those who wanted a little more out of a quick note program, there is Wordpad, of course. With its now enhanced interface, it is almost a complete Word processor. Certainly offers as much as Editpad.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8.1
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    Other Info
    Use several different computers during a day, so specs are irrelevant.
Back
Top