NOTE: If you get "Unable to create new document" error while starting MS Paint after using this tutorial, make sure you have also replaced mspaint.exe.mui file as mentioned in steps 5 and 6. If you are using 64-bit Windows edition, make sure you read Step 7 carefully.
Recently we told you how can you get old Wordpad working in Windows 7:
How to Get the Good Old Wordpad (without Ribbons) Working in Windows 7
Now its turn of MS Paint.
Get Old Paint working in Windows 7:
If you have Windows Vista installed along with Windows 7, you can directly run the "mspaint.exe" file present in "%windir%\System32" folder and it'll run the old Paint without any problem.
You can also create a shortcut of this file at Desktop or in Startmenu so that you can easily access it.
But if you want to completely replace the new Paint in Windows 7 with the old Paint, then you can follow these simple and easy to use steps:
1. Open following folder:
%windir%\System32
You can open it by typing the path in RUN dialog box and press Enter.
2. Now take ownership of "mspaint.exe" file. To take ownership, please follow this tutorial:
Add Take Ownership Option in File / Folder Context Menu in Windows Vista and 7
3. Now rename the "mspaint.exe" file to "mspaint_backup.exe".
4. Now copy "mspaint.exe" file from Vista and paste it in "%windir%\System32" folder.
5. Now go to "en-US" folder and take ownership of "mspaint.exe.mui" file. After taking ownership rename the file to "mspaint_backup.exe.mui".
6. Now copy "mspaint.exe.mui" file from Vista and paste in "%windir%\System32\en-US" folder.
7. If you are using 64-bit Windows edition, you'll also need to replace both mspaint.exe and mspaint.exe.mui files present in "Windows\sysWOW64" and "Windows\sysWOW64\en-US" folders using the same steps as mentioned above.
That's it. Now Windows 7 will start using the old Paint.
If you want to use the new Paint later, simply delete the new "mspaint.exe" and "mspaint.exe.mui" files and then rename the backup files to their default names.
NOTE: If you don't have Windows Vista installed, you can download the required "mspaint.exe" and "mspaint.exe.mui" files from following link:
This article was posted by VG in following section: Windows 7.
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Sanctum
Never mind I just saw the link. Thanks.
Vinnie
THANK YOU!!! THANK YOU!!! THANK YOU!!! THANK YOU!!! THANK YOU!!! THANK YOU!!! THANK YOU!!! THANK YOU!!! THANK YOU!!! THANK YOU!!! THANK YOU!!! THANK YOU!!! THANK YOU!!!
Thank you Vishal, Zam478, and SCOTTBALL.
I HATED the new Paint.
It took me a while, but I got the old one working.
THANK YOU!!!!!
Zms
I am having the same problem on x64, i have copied the files to the system32 system32/us folders as well as the corresponding syswow64 folder.
But i still get the 'cannot create new document' error.
I have checked, and just for the heck of it i gave myself full permission for everything in the windows folder.. Still the same problem.
Zms
Ok, I got it to work, the problem was i put the mui files inside my version of en-us ( fr-FR if you live in France, de-DE if you live i Germany (i guess) ).
However they needed to be in the en-US folder And my fr-FR folder.
BHAUMIK
hey thank you very much....
Oakleaf
Hell, I got it to work. Thanks a lot, I can't stand the new Paint "improvement". The old one is much better.
Jay
My Gods man, you are my hero, thankyou for posting this guide.
spacerock27
i put the files in my thumb drive and now i can use it as a PORTABLE APP!!
Lee
Thank you so much for this. It was a bit of a pain to go around changing ownerships and permissions, but it was so worth it.
Joe
Thank you.