Upgrade your Notepad
>> Are you ever little disappointed with Windows Notepad? You wish you could do a little more, maybe pickup after itself. Well, I'm Tom Merritt from CNET.com and on this edition of Insiders Secrets I'm gonna show you how to upgrade the Notepad on your PC.
^M00:00:14
[ Music ]
^M00:00:25
>> Notepad2 is a free download that's very small, entirely free and has more functions than the Notepad that comes with Windows. Here's how to add it to your computer. Download it from your favorite download site and unzip it to your desktop. Change the name from Notepad2 to Notepad. Now a little warning: You are about to mess with the system files, so be careful. Don't do it if you're not comfortable. Comfy? Okay. Open up My Computer and then the hard drive where Windows is installed. Go to the Tools, then Folder Options and find the Setting called Hide Protected Operating Systems and uncheck it. Now go to the Windows directory to System 32 Directory and rename notepad.exe to something else like notepadX.exe or notepadold.exe. That way you still have the old Notepad if you need it. However, Windows is gonna try to automatically restore its original Notepad if you just copy the new one. We can prevent that. Go into dllcache, copy the Notepad you renamed on the desktop into that folder. That replaces the copy of Notepad that Windows restores from -- clever eh? Go back up to the System 32 Directory. Copy the Notepad from the desktop into that directory too. Press Cancel on that dialogue box. If you're worried about seeing hidden files, you can go back into the tools section and re-check Hide Hidden system folders. Shout out to Omar Shahine who runs the blog where I found Shaquille Mahatel's [presumed spelling] method for doing this. It takes a village. That's it for this Insider Secret, I'm Tom Merritt for CNET.com, enjoy your new Notepad.
^M00:02:10
[ Music ]
Up Next
iPadOS 17 Revealed at WWDC 2023
Up Next
iPadOS 17 Revealed at WWDC 2023
Apple Puts an AI Twist on Accessibility
Apple Puts an AI Twist on Accessibility
Google Reveals New Magic Editor for Photos
Google Reveals New Magic Editor for Photos
Google Updates Maps With More Immersive Features
Google Updates Maps With More Immersive Features
iOS 16: Powerful Features You May Have Missed
iOS 16: Powerful Features You May Have Missed
Apple's iPhone Comes With SOS Satellite Service
Apple's iPhone Comes With SOS Satellite Service
How to Find Cheap Flights
How to Find Cheap Flights
WatchOS 9: The Best Apple Watch Features Coming This Fall
WatchOS 9: The Best Apple Watch Features Coming This Fall
Apple's Metal 3 Improves Gaming and Game Development
Apple's Metal 3 Improves Gaming and Game Development
Apple Introduces New MacOS Ventura
Apple Introduces New MacOS Ventura
Tech Shows
Latest News All latest news
Apple May Give FineWoven Accessories 1 More Season
Apple May Give FineWoven Accessories 1 More Season
US vs. TikTok: What Happens Next
US vs. TikTok: What Happens Next
Battle of the Humanoid Robots: MenteeBot Is Ready
Battle of the Humanoid Robots: MenteeBot Is Ready
What to Expect at Apple's May 7 iPad Event
What to Expect at Apple's May 7 iPad Event
Did a Week With the Apple Watch Make Me Use My iPhone Less?
Did a Week With the Apple Watch Make Me Use My iPhone Less?
How Google Tests the Cameras in Its Pixel Phones
How Google Tests the Cameras in Its Pixel Phones
Most Popular All most popular
First Look at TSA's Self-Screening Tech (in VR!)
First Look at TSA's Self-Screening Tech (in VR!)
Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra Review: More AI at a Higher Cost
Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra Review: More AI at a Higher Cost
'Circle to Search' Lets Users Google From Any Screen
'Circle to Search' Lets Users Google From Any Screen
Asus Put Two 14-inch OLEDs in a Laptop, Unleashes First OLED ROG Gaming Laptop
Asus Put Two 14-inch OLEDs in a Laptop, Unleashes First OLED ROG Gaming Laptop
Samsung Galaxy Ring: First Impressions
Samsung Galaxy Ring: First Impressions
Best of Show: The Coolest Gadgets of CES 2024
Best of Show: The Coolest Gadgets of CES 2024
Latest Products All latest products
Battle of the Humanoid Robots: MenteeBot Is Ready
Battle of the Humanoid Robots: MenteeBot Is Ready
2025 Audi Q6, SQ6 E-Tron: Audi's Newest EV Is Its Most Compelling
2025 Audi Q6, SQ6 E-Tron: Audi's Newest EV Is Its Most Compelling
Hands-On with Ford's Free Tesla Charging Adapter
Hands-On with Ford's Free Tesla Charging Adapter
Nuro R3 is an Adorable Self-Driving Snack Bar
Nuro R3 is an Adorable Self-Driving Snack Bar
First Look: The $349 Nothing Phone 2A Aims to Brighten Your Day
First Look: The $349 Nothing Phone 2A Aims to Brighten Your Day
Best of MWC 2024: Bendable Screens, AI Wearables and More
Best of MWC 2024: Bendable Screens, AI Wearables and More
Latest How To All how to videos
Tips and Tricks for the AirPods Pro 2
Tips and Tricks for the AirPods Pro 2
How to Watch the Solar Eclipse Safely From Your Phone
How to Watch the Solar Eclipse Safely From Your Phone
Windows 11 Tips and Hidden Features
Windows 11 Tips and Hidden Features
Vision Pro App Walkthrough -- VisionOS 1.0.3
Vision Pro App Walkthrough -- VisionOS 1.0.3
Tips and Tricks for the Galaxy S24 Ultra
Tips and Tricks for the Galaxy S24 Ultra
TikTok Is Now on the Apple Vision Pro