Replacing Default MS Notepad with Notepad++
Microsoft Notepad that is available in Windows is a tool that I frequently use to take short notes. Notepad is a common text-only (also referred to as plain text) editor. The resulting files are typically saved with the .txt extension with no format tags or styles, making the program suitable for editing system files that are to be used in a DOS environment.
Installing Notepad++ doesn’t replace the original Microsoft Notepad. It only gives you an extra text editor which you can run from Start Menu or Desktop shortcut icon. To replace the original Microsoft Notepad with Notepad++, just follow the few simple steps below ::
- Go to C:\Windows and backup notepad.exe. Just copy it to another location.
- Download Notepad++ v5.5.1 setup and install.
- Download Notepad++ launcher and extract.
- Copy notepad.exe which comes with this package into 3 directories (in given order) ::
- c:\windows\system32\dllcache
- c:\windows\system32
- c:\windows
When you replace notepad.exe in c:\windows\system32 and c:\windows, a “Windows File Protection” message box appears, click Cancel. Then another message box appears, click OK.
Notepad++ v5.5.1 is now your default notepad. I suggest that you try out Notepad++ first, get used to it and then only decide whether to replace your Windows Notepad with Notepad++ or not.
Oct-23rd-2009
I suggest using my version of Notepad++ launcher, which is better in many ways. Unfortunately built-in installer doesn't work with Vista&7.
Notepad Replacement - Notepad++ launcher (@ Notepad++ Sourceforge forum)