Restoring Notepad in WinXP

I need help toward fully restoring Notepad in a fully updated Win XP Home with SP2. I had installed what I thought was an alternative to Notepad -- called Hesky Pad -- that proved to be a replacement rather than an alternative. Uninstalling Hesky Pad didn't restore access to Notepad. Further, the installation had changed all extant *.txt files to Hesky Pad files that could be opened only with Hesky Pad. Notepad itself is wholly functional, and I have succeeded in partially restoring access to it by finding a Hesky *.txt file, clicking on properties, clicking change and selecting Notepad for the *txt extension. That reconverted all extant *.txt files to Notepad files. The remaining problem: Prior to the Hesky installation, right-clicking on Desktop or within a folder brought a popup menu of options that included "new" for creating, among other things, a *.txt file with Notepad. The Hesky installation removed it and substituted Hesky Pad. My solution cited above removed the Hesky Pad option from the popup "new" menu. I can run Notepad manually and can create and save a *.txt file as a Notepad file, but the option of doing this through the right-click "new" menu is gone. I want to restore it; can you tell me how? My WinXP is OEM so Microsoft doesn't help me. My system is eMachine T4510 with 80g memory, 2.5g Pent4, 512 meg RAM. I am "earsz."

 

Just a small addon - you were obviously looking for an alternative to the wimpy Notepad and chose a bad one. Here's a good one - Notetab - probably available this site if not grab it from a google search. Have used it for years (the lite version is free). It is simply brilliant and has won lots of good writeups etc.
Cheers
Robert

 

Halo: Many thanks; looks like it will work but that I'm doing something wrong in the attempt. Following your instructions (I think), when I reach the pont of clicking on the Untitled.txt I've saved to Desktop and then "open," I get a notice "no application is associated with this ... Create association using Explorer." Closing that window and a right click on the blank file and looking at Properties shows "Opens With .. Notepad." Isn't that the association to which the notice refers? Anyway, the "apply" box in Tweak is never highlighted and the Notepad adition to the New menu doesn't occur. What am I missing in this effort?

 

Robert: I was intrigued by the Hesky application because it said it applies to graphic files as well as text and rich text files, and I thought I thus would be able to deal with more than one type -- handy for creating a combined file to give to someone else with whom I exchange data. It's not an important consideration, and now I'm leery of diddling with Notepad *g*. Apc your recommendation, tho.

 

Halo: Something changed since my pvs post to you. I ran Tweak yet again and followed yr instructions. This time I didn't get the notice about "no association," and "apply" highlighted when it should. The template list now includes the term "text document" and the steno-pad icon. However, the New menu still doesn't include Notepad, nor does it include "text document," the term in the templates list, nor anything else different from before this most recent effort. (I don't know what I did that changed something, other than run various cleaners and antispywares, and do a number of reboots for various unrelated reasons.) I guess I'm one step closer but no cigar.

 

Still hoping for a way to resolve this problem. I suppose it has to do with Registry changes, but I know nothing about how to alter anything in the registry and am highly leery of trying to do so. Where it stands: In Tweak UI, the "Windows will offer to create new documents of the following types when you right click and select the New menu" includes Text Document with the box checked. However, in Windows the New menu still does not include "Text Document" or Notepad. Norton's "One Button Checkup" finds no problems in registry or elsewhere. The Hesky Pad program has been uninstalled (via Add Remove Pro) though there still are Registry entries pertaining to it. I can run "regedit" and find various entries pertaining to txt and Notepad but don't understand much about what I see. This site http://www.onecomputerguy.com/registry_tips.htm
has stuff that may apply but I don't know how to use what's there, if any of it does apply. Ditto re: results of a web search for dealing with additions to the New menu -- they invole the Registry and tech stuff I don't understand. I've done all I can without getting some new input, suggestions or the like from someone.

 

Losing ground: The .txt listing has vanished from the Registry, and "text document" has vanished from the Templates list. I don't know why or what I've done, other than that I did uninstall the unwanted Hesky Pad program. Now I'm back to what I explained below that when using Tweak to "Create" a new template, i get the "no association" notice. I still can open a given *.txt file with Notepad or create and save a new one with Notepad.

 

Hello Again,
Sorry for your dilemna. Two things - Text creation programs are just that - I have yet to see a simple prog that will also allow pix etc etc - and that might be the reason that the program you originally installed and has corrupted your computer was mightily ambitious.
If you want a good text editor install Fookes Notetab. In the installation process it asks you if you want to replace notepad as the txt file guru. Say yes and it may solve your problem.
If you want a good simple pix reader there is none better than IRFAN. But the twain do not meet. If you want a program to do both then you are into CAd programs or MS Word or similar.
Hope this helps
Cheers
Robert

 

yup, Robert, IrfanView rules! *s* and it jus tkeeps getting better!

 

OK, Robert, I've got NoteTap Lite in hand .... BUT *wan smile* before I install it, given my current dilemma, will others who have only Notepad be able to open and read files created via NoteTab? I share lots of text files with others in mutual projects via email.

 

Progress of sorts, and -- I guess -- I've learned some stuff about the Registry and modifying it through the effort. I have restored TXT as a file type thru regedit, and Tweak UI no longer says there's no association. I've got Tweak UI to add "text document" in the templates list of what, according to Tweak, Windows will offer to create in the New menu. The registry shows a shell/open/command string ending with Notepad. I also created a ShellNew string with a NullFile. However, the New menu still does NOT include Notepad or Text Document. I can run Notepad thru Start/All Programs/Accessories and get an untitled new blank file which I then can use and save. I can keep a blank Notepad txt file on the Desktop and open it in order to create something new. I can keep a Notepad shortcut on Desktop and get a new blank file that way. But right-clicking to the New Menu does not give me an option there for a TXT document. Y'all got any further ideas? Or are you tired of this mnior problem. Lordy, maybe it doesn't matter since I can get to such a blank file, though not as easily, but it gripes me that what's supposed to have happened hasn't. grrrrr!!!