Question Win Update broke notepad application

[Derden]

Ever since a Windows Update about a month ago, whenever i open Notepad, its frozen as soon as it launched. Wont let me do anything except task manager to kill it, and even that is tough. Searching everywhere, cant seem to get any answers. So odd, but i really depend on it. Unless i can find an alternative solution (I don't mind paying, but it needs to read my existing notepad files, Have tried so many and they just suck). Ideally like to get this working again...thank you.

FYI, i can open existing ones already saved and the application works.

 

[AllanGH]

You should find out what is pooched on the system, since other programs may be affected. Until you get to the bottom of it, though, this will tide you over.

Notepad++

notepad-plus-plus.org

 

[Derden]

You should find out what is pooched on the system, since other programs may be affected. Until you get to the bottom of it, though, this will tide you over.

Notepad++

notepad-plus-plus.org

Thank You!!! Yep, spent alot of time investigating, can't come up with what is pooched. No other programs affected. So odd. Any advise on how to go about identifying root cause?

 

[Derden]

Thank You!!! Yep, spent alot of time investigating, can't come up with what is pooched. No other programs affected. So odd. Any advise on how to go about identifying root cause?

You should find out what is pooched on the system, since other programs may be affected. Until you get to the bottom of it, though, this will tide you over.

Notepad++

notepad-plus-plus.org

Allen. Do you know hoe to make this application default in Win10? The Win10 default configuration settings won't see the application or let me navigate to it to select it. So when i try to open an exisitng txt file, it opens Notepad (windows app), rinse/repeat with my problem. I've tried resetting default apps to not avail. Notepad++ doesnt come up as an option at all. thanks.

 

[Colif]

Fix notepad
see if this helps with notepad working
right click start button
choose powershell (admin)
type SFC /scannow and press enter
once its completed, copy/paste this command into same window:
Repair-WindowsImage -Online -RestoreHealth and press enter
SFC fixes system files, second command cleans image files, re run SFC if it failed to fix all files and restart PC

or this: https://www.thewindowsclub.com/reset-notepad-to-default-settings

defaults
Have you tried choose default applications by file type - go to settings/apps/default apps, scroll the right panel down and find link
.txt is in the list, I don't know if that app will show as an option though, it should.

 

[USAFRet]

If the built in Notepad.exe application does not work well, you have other issues.
That is a base part of Windows, and I've never actually seen it fail in a valid Windows install.

 

[Colif]

If the built in Notepad.exe application does not work well, you have other issues.
That is a base part of Windows, and I've never actually seen it fail in a valid Windows install.

True, notepad works even when windows doesn't... it can be used to retrieve documents from a broken install. Its not normal

 

[Derden]

If the built in Notepad.exe application does not work well, you have other issues.
That is a base part of Windows, and I've never actually seen it fail in a valid Windows install.

Thats what i thought. And my installation is completely valid (if that is what you mean, legitimate). My license is an end user license that has been validated. Never an issue. Only happened after some major update last month. If i open the application, freezes, wont let me type anything, hangs my computer, have to kill processes and thats hard. If i open a txt file it invoked notepad and seems to then work most of the time (but not all the time). Since its a core application, doesn't seem like i have a way to specifically address the application (uninstall, reinstall, etc.)?

 

[Derden]

Fix notepad
see if this helps with notepad working
right click start button
choose powershell (admin)
type SFC /scannow and press enter
once its completed, copy/paste this command into same window:
Repair-WindowsImage -Online -RestoreHealth and press enter
SFC fixes system files, second command cleans image files, re run SFC if it failed to fix all files and restart PC

or this: https://www.thewindowsclub.com/reset-notepad-to-default-settings

defaults
Have you tried choose default applications by file type - go to settings/apps/default apps, scroll the right panel down and find link
.txt is in the list, I don't know if that app will show as an option though, it should.

Yes. Again, Notepad++ doesnt show up (either by application type, file type, or protocol). Cant be found by any default selection option.

 

[USAFRet]

Thats what i thought. And my installation is completely valid (if that is what you mean, legitimate). My license is an end user license that has been validated. Never an issue. Only happened after some major update last month. If i open the application, freezes, wont let me type anything, hangs my computer, have to kill processes and thats hard. If i open a txt file it invoked notepad and seems to then work most of the time (but not all the time). Since its a core application, doesn't seem like i have a way to specifically address the application (uninstall, reinstall, etc.)?

In this instance, "valid" means both legitimate, and Not Borked Up. (AKA Not Broken)

 

[Colif]

Try this
go to settings/update & security/recovery
under advanced startup, click restart now
Once in windows recovery

1. test Notepad just by going into Command prompt from windows recovery
choose troubleshoot
choose advanced
choose command prompt
type notepad and press enter

does it work?

2. Try safe mode and see if it works in there
choose troubleshoot
choose advanced
choose start up options
click the restart button
choose a safe mode (it doesn't matter which) by using number associated with it.
Pc will restart and load safe mode

try open notepad

3. if it works in safe mode, it's possible it is another program messing with it.
Try doing a clean boot - can set this up from inside safe mode

Make sure to read instructions and make sure NOT to disable any microsoft services or windows won't load right - https://support.microsoft.com/en-au/help/929135/how-to-perform-a-clean-boot-in-windows

if clean boot fixes it, it shows its likely a startup program. You should, over a number of startups. restart the programs you stopped to isolate the one that is to blame.

if it doesn't work in Command Prompt or Safe mode or Clean boot...
what version of win 10 are you on?
right click start
choose run...
type winver and press enter

If you on Build 1903, try this: https://www.tenforums.com/tutorials/16397-repair-install-windows-10-place-upgrade.html - all it does is rolls windows back to a stage before the last few Cumulative updates. It doesn't touch anything else.

 

[britechguy]

Any time I start getting unusual behavior with "shipped as part of Windows" applications, and Notepad is one of those, I immediately suspect that some sort of underlying corruption has occurred in the Windows 10 installation on that machine.

In order, I do the following:

1. Using SFC (System File Checker) and DISM (Deployment Imaging Servicing and Management) to Repair Windows 8 & 10

if that doesn't fix it, then,

2. Use one of the following three sets of instructions, as all deal with doing a repair install to Windows 10.

Non-Destructive Repair of Windows 10 - Answers to commonly asked questions

Doing an In-place "Upgrade" to Reinstall Windows 10 Keeping Apps/Programs and User Files

How to: Perform a Repair Upgrade Using the Windows 10 ISO file

then, if the repair install doesn't do it, the "thermonuclear option":

3. Doing a Completely Clean Install of Windows 10

Before doing either numbers 2 or 3 one should take a full system image backup of your existing system as well as a separate user data backup. You shouldn't need it when doing number 2, but you will absolutely need your user data backup if you do a completely clean install. If you're going that route you should also use something like Belarc Advisor to get an inventory of your installed software, and collect the installers for the stuff you are going to need to reinstall.