NOTE: If you get "Unable to create new document" error while starting Wordpad after using this tutorial, make sure you have also replaced wordpad.exe.mui file as mentioned in steps 4 and 5.
Someone asked us how can he get the good ol' Wordpad and Paint back in Windows 7 as he can't get used to the new ribboned interface. So here we'll tell you the way to get the old Wordpad and Paint back in Windows 7.
Actually Windows 7 supports the old Wordpad and Paint.
Following tutorial will show you how to get old Paint working in Windows 7:
How to Get the Good Old MS Paint (without Ribbons) Working in Windows 7
And here is step-by-step tutorial to get old Wordpad working in Windows 7:
Get Old Wordpad working in Windows 7:
If you have Windows Vista installed along with Windows 7, you can directly run the "wordpad.exe" file present in "%Programfiles%\Windows NT\Accessories" folder and it'll run the old Wordpad without any problem.
You can also create a shortcut of this file at Desktop or in Start Menu so that you can easily access it.
But if you want to completely replace the new Wordpad in Windows 7 with the old Wordpad, then you can follow these simple and easy to use steps:
1. Open following folder:
%Programfiles%\Windows NT\Accessories
You can open it by typing the path in RUN dialog box and press Enter.
2. Now take ownership of "wordpad.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 "wordpad.exe" file to "wordpad_backup.exe".
4. Now go to "en-US" folder and take ownership of "wordpad.exe.mui" file. After taking ownership rename the file to "wordpad_backup.exe.mui".
5. Now copy "wordpad.exe" file from Vista and paste it in "%Programfiles%\Windows NT\Accessories" folder.
Do the same thing for "wordpad.exe.mui" file, copy it from Vista and paste in "%Programfiles%\Windows NT\Accessories\en-US" folder.
That's it. Now Windows 7 will start using the old Wordpad.
If you want to use the new Wordpad later, simply delete the new "wordpad.exe" and "wordpad.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 "wordpad.exe" and "wordpad.exe.mui" files from following link:
Posted by: Vishal Gupta | Categories: Windows 7
Grrrr
tried this but now ive got no wordpad at all!!!!!
how do i undo it so i can get wordpad back????
VG
^^ You can restore default file names.
GGabriel
wow, many many thanks +1
garlic_tomorrow
Thank you so much--just switched from XP to 7, and the new wordpad was driving me nuts.
One of the great things about the old wordpad is that it strips formatting--sometimes I want to paste info from, say, a bank website, without the clutter of tables. The new wordpad is too ambitious-it wants to show that it can do tables, too, just like Word!
The beauty of wordpad is its simplicity--a tool moving words around easily and quickly. Sometimes, all you need is a pair of pliers--not a pair of pliers that are also vice grips and wirestrippers and have a socket set attached. You spend more time dealing with the settings on the pliers than you spend plying.
lee terry
So far this is the 3rd thing that has really bothered me about windows 7. The first thing I noticed that I could not stand was the paint was different and I did not like it at all. So I imported paint from XP and used it. Then I noticed sound recorder was actually much worse in windows 7 (they removed most of the features from sound recorder). So I replaced that and now this. I hate having to change operating systems :(. Well thanks for the help :)
VG
^^ No problem. You can also check following article:
http://www.askvg.com/aio-how-to-get-all-good-old-classic-features-back-in-windows-7/