Word Pad not working...

[300148]

Windows XP SP3, 5+ years old.
I have always used WordPad to open RTF documents.
Overnight, all icons have changed to "application" icons, do not open when clicked (not associated with program). WordPad is not listed in Open With drop down or browse/choose program menus. Properties identify them as RTF files. Have not installed any new programs or done any updates to existing programs.
WordPad is still in Start Menu/accessories and I can open it and open "changed" files by opening WordPad/using File/Open in top left corner
I have done complete virus check...nothing.
I have done a system restore to yesterday when all worked as usual...no change.
Do you think reinstalling WordPad would correct this OR have you other suggestions?
Thank you,
Larry

 

[looseliam]

Right click on the file and select "open with" then select "choose program". If you don't see wordpad in the list, select "Browse" and enter

"c:\program files\windows nt\accessories\wordpad.e x e"

(with quotes but remove spaces in 'e x e' as jub won't let me post the filename for some reason) and make sure to check the box for "Always use the selected program to open this kind of file"

 

[300148]

Right click on the file and select "open with" then select "choose program". If you don't see wordpad in the list, select "Browse" and enter

"c:\program files\windows nt\accessories\wordpad.e x e"

(with quotes but remove spaces in 'e x e' as jub won't let me post the filename for some reason) and make sure to check the box for "Always use the selected program to open this kind of file"

WodPad is not listed in the Open With drop down choices, nor can it be found in the browse option.
A search for WordPad***** shows 7 results...2 uninstall and 5 located in PreFetch folder....what happened? Does this mean WordPad has not been installed? I've used it for years!
Looks like uninstall-install is my only choice.
Thanks for response.

 

[looseliam]

hold the start key and hit r - when the run dialog box opens, enter "c:\program files\windows nt\accessories\" (with quote). Do you see wordpad in that folder?

 

[300148]

Not showing in the RUN command...it was there (Start/all programs/accessories) before all went amok!
Not there now because I uninstalled today and now can't find a download for just the simple WordPad file...seems to be only WordPad with extras like converter etc. I thought I had originally downloaded from CNET. For now I have to open RTF with MicrosoftWorks, then it's convert, save, and on and on!
Thanks for the suggestions and would appreciate if anyone knows where I can get the basic WordPad download.
Larry

 

[looseliam]

(be sure to have your installation media or know its location if stored locally)

navigate to c:\windows\inf
locate wordpad.inf
right-click on the file and select 'install'

 

[300148]

looseliam,
Went to INFO folder....no WordPad. There are many "wdm*" files ??/ Also tried right click on a few other files that appeared to be applications (i.e. not Notebook), but "install" was not an option.
Thanks.
Still hoping someone can direct me to a download of the basic WordPad application.

 

[300148]

Okay, figured out what I did.... DUH!
Wanted to remove OutlookExpress...went to Add\Remove Programs\remove Windows components. Thought I was removing Outlook, but it seems WordPad AND msPaint were removed. Don't see an option to reverse this. I think now I have two options:
1. Find a restore point before I tried to remove Outlook...will this work?
2. Keep searching for downloads for the two missing applications.
Anyone have suggestions/comments?
Thanks again,
Larry

 

[72-Jay]

I'd say try finding a restore point first.

You should also be able to re-install WordPad...but you may need to locate your Windows XP CD-ROM and insert that...

 

[purina]

Okay, figured out what I did.... DUH!
Wanted to remove OutlookExpress...went to Add\Remove Programs\remove Windows components. Thought I was removing Outlook, but it seems WordPad AND msPaint were removed. Don't see an option to reverse this. I think now I have two options:
1. Find a restore point before I tried to remove Outlook...will this work?
2. Keep searching for downloads for the two missing applications.
Anyone have suggestions/comments?
Thanks again,
Larry

I don't see wordpad listed in "Add\Remove Windows Components" under "Accessories and Utilities>Details>Accessories" - only Paint. Have you tried reinstalling all accessories from there?

I don't see any problem with trying a restore point.

Uninstall & re-install Wordpad? - Windows-XP-General-Discussion - Windows-XP
Go to the Control Panel/Folder Options/View tab, set it to "Show hidden
files and folders" and uncheck "Hide protected operating system files
[recommended]". Also uncheck "Hide extensions for known file types".

Then, open Windows Explorer from Start/All Programs and go to the
C:\Windows\Inf folder. Locate the wordpad.inf file, right-click it and
choose install.

You may need to either insert your WinXP CD or know where your I386 folder
is located on the hard drive. You may also need to know where the
\ServicePackFiles folder is (usually under the Windows directory).

If you have "Hide protected operating system files" and "Hide extensions for known file types" unchecked I think you should find find both wordpad,exe and wordpad.inf under "C:\WINDOWS\ServicePackFiles\i386" - that's where they are in my installation of XP Home SP3.

 

[looseliam]

Here's the uncompressed inf file from the CD. Save it as wordpad.inf and then you should be able to right-click on it and select 'install'. You will need your install media or know where it's saved on your drive. If this doesn't work, I'll figure something out to get you going.

; WORDPAD.INF
;
; This is the Setup information file to install WordPad
; as an Optional Component.
;
; Copyright (c) 1993-1997 Microsoft Corporation
;

[version]
signature="$CHICAGO$"
ClassGUID={00000000-0000-0000-0000-000000000000}
LayoutFile=layout.inf

[DestinationDirs]
WordPadCopyFiles        = 16422,%ACCESSOR% ; DIRID_PROGRAM_FILES\Program Files\Windows NT\Accessories
WordPadCopyFiles_HELP   = 18    ; LDID_HELP
WordPadFilesOld         = 16422,%ACCESSOR% ; DIRID_PROGRAM_FILES\Program Files\Windows NT\Accessories
WriteCopyFiles          = 11    ;LDID_SYSTEM
WriteFilesOld           = 11    ;LDID_SYSTEM

[Optional Components]
MSWordPad

[MSWordPad]
OptionDesc  = %MSWORDPADOPT_DESC%
Tip         = %MSWORDPADOPT_TIP%
IconIndex   = 39  ;Windows Logo mini-icon for dialogs
Parent      = AccessTop
CopyFiles   = WordPadCopyFiles, WordPadCopyFiles_HELP, WriteCopyFiles
DelFiles    = WordPadFilesOld, WriteFilesOld
AddReg      = WordPadReg
ProfileItems = WordpadInstallItems, WordpadUninstallItems
Uninstall   = MSWordPadUninstall
Modes       = 0,1,2,3
SizeApproximation      =843776


[MSWordPadUninstall]
DelFiles       = WordPadCopyFiles, WordPadCopyFiles_HELP, WordPadFilesOld, WriteCopyFiles
UpdateInis     = WordPadInis.remove
ProfileItems   = WordpadUninstallItems,WordpadUninstallCommonItems
DelReg         = WordPadReg

[DefaultInstall]
AddReg      = WordPad.install.reg, WordPadReg

[WordPadCopyFiles]
wordpad*****
mswrd6.wpc
mswrd8.wpc
write.wpc

[WordPadCopyFiles.Security]
"D:P(A;;GRGX;;;BU)(A;;GA;;;BA)(A;;GA;;;SY)"


[WordPadCopyFiles_HELP]
wordpad.chm
wordpad.hlp

[WordPadCopyFiles_HELP.Security]
"D:P(A;;GRGX;;;BU)(A;;GA;;;BA)(A;;GA;;;SY)"


[WordPadFilesOld]
mfc40u.dll
msvcrt40.dll

[WriteCopyFiles]
;copy stub program that launches wordpad***** (for compat. reasons):
write*****

[WriteCopyFiles.Security]
"D:P(A;;GRGX;;;BU)(A;;GA;;;BA)(A;;GA;;;SY)(A;;GRGX;;;WD)"


[WriteFilesOld]
write.cnt
write.hlp

[WordpadInstallItems]
Name       = %WORDPAD_LINK%
CmdLine    = 16422, %ACCESSOR%, wordpad*****
SubDir     = %APPS_DESC%
InfoTip    = "@%SystemRoot%\system32\shell32.dll,-22581"
DisplayResource="%SystemRoot%\system32\shell32.dll",22069

[WordpadUninstallItems]
Name       = %WORDPAD_LINK%,0x00000003
Subdir     = %APPS_DESC%

[WordpadUninstallCommonItems]
Name       = %WORDPAD_LINK%,0x00000002
Subdir     = %APPS_DESC%

[WordPadReg]
; Next line is in shell.inx to avoid overwriting key when making null file entry
;HKCR,.doc,,2,Wordpad.Document.1
HKCR,.doc\OpenWithList\WordPad*****,,,
HKCR,Wordpad.Document.1,,,%WORDPAD_DOC%
HKCR,Wordpad.Document.1,FriendlyTypeName,0x00020000,"@""%ProgramFiles%\%ACCESSOR%\WORDPAD*****"",-209"
HKCR,Wordpad.Document.1\Insertable,,,""
HKCR,Wordpad.Document.1\Protocol,,,
HKCR,Wordpad.Document.1\Protocol\StdFileEditing,,,
HKCR,Wordpad.Document.1\Protocol\StdFileEditing\Server,,0x00020000,"""%ProgramFiles%\%ACCESSOR%\WORDPAD*****"""
HKCR,Wordpad.Document.1\Protocol\StdFileEditing\Verb,,,
HKCR,Wordpad.Document.1\Protocol\StdFileEditing\Verb\0,,,"%EDIT%"
HKCR,Wordpad.Document.1\DefaultIcon,,0x0020000,"""%ProgramFiles%\%ACCESSOR%\WORDPAD*****"",1"
HKCR,Wordpad.Document.1\shell\open\command,,0x00020002,"""%ProgramFiles%\%ACCESSOR%\WORDPAD*****"" ""%%1"""
HKCR,Wordpad.Document.1\shell\print\command,,0x00020000,"""%ProgramFiles%\%ACCESSOR%\WORDPAD*****"" /p ""%%1"""
HKCR,Wordpad.Document.1\shell\printto\command,,0x00020000,"""%ProgramFiles%\%ACCESSOR%\WORDPAD*****"" /pt ""%%1"" ""%%2"" ""%%3"" ""%%4"""
HKCR,Wordpad.Document.1\CLSID,,,{73FDDC80-AEA9-101A-98A7-00AA00374959}

;
; Add "rtffile" section
;
HKCR,.rtf\OpenWithList\WordPad*****,,,
HKCR,rtffile,,,%RTF_DOC%
HKCR,rtffile,FriendlyTypeName,0x00020000,"@""%ProgramFiles%\%ACCESSOR%\WORDPAD*****"",-190"
HKCR,rtffile\DefaultIcon,,0x00020000,"""%ProgramFiles%\%ACCESSOR%\WORDPAD*****"",1"
; Note: Must use fully qualified path or Goldmine 4.0 pukes
HKCR,rtffile\shell\open\command,,,"""%24%\%PROGRAMF%\%ACCESSOR%\WORDPAD*****"" ""%%1"""
HKCR,rtffile\shell\print\command,,,"""%24%\%PROGRAMF%\%ACCESSOR%\WORDPAD*****"" /p ""%%1"""
HKCR,rtffile\shell\printto\command,,,"""%24%\%PROGRAMF%\%ACCESSOR%\WORDPAD*****"" /pt ""%%1"" ""%%2"" ""%%3"" ""%%4"""
HKCR,rtffile\CLSID,,,{73FDDC80-AEA9-101A-98A7-00AA00374959}

HKCR,CLSID\{73FDDC80-AEA9-101A-98A7-00AA00374959}\DefaultIcon,,0x00020000,"""%ProgramFiles%\%ACCESSOR%\WORDPAD*****"",0"

;
; update 3.x write stuff to use wordpad as server
;
HKCR,.wri\OpenWithList\WordPad*****,,,
HKCR,.wri,,,wrifile
HKCR,wrifile,FriendlyTypeName,0x00020000,"@""%ProgramFiles%\%ACCESSOR%\WORDPAD*****"",-208"
HKCR,wrifile,,,%WRITE_DOC%
HKCR,wrifile\DefaultIcon,,0x00020000,"""%ProgramFiles%\%ACCESSOR%\WORDPAD*****"",2"
HKCR,wrifile\CLSID,,,{73FDDC80-AEA9-101A-98A7-00AA00374959}
; Note: Must use fully qualified path or Goldmine 4.0 pukes
HKCR,wrifile\shell\open\command,,,"""%24%\%PROGRAMF%\%ACCESSOR%\WORDPAD*****"" ""%%1"""
HKCR,wrifile\shell\print\command,,,"""%24%\%PROGRAMF%\%ACCESSOR%\WORDPAD*****"" /p ""%%1"""
HKCR,wrifile\shell\printto\command,,,"""%24%\%PROGRAMF%\%ACCESSOR%\WORDPAD*****"" /pt ""%%1"" ""%%2"" ""%%3"" ""%%4"""

HKCR,CLSID\{73FDDC80-AEA9-101A-98A7-00AA00374959},,,%WORDPAD_DOC%
HKCR,CLSID\{73FDDC80-AEA9-101A-98A7-00AA00374959}\DefaultIcon,,0x00020000,"""%ProgramFiles%\%ACCESSOR%\WORDPAD*****"",1"
HKCR,CLSID\{73FDDC80-AEA9-101A-98A7-00AA00374959}\LocalServer32,,0x00020000,"""%ProgramFiles%\%ACCESSOR%\WORDPAD*****"""
HKCR,CLSID\{73FDDC80-AEA9-101A-98A7-00AA00374959}\ProgId,,,WordPad.Document.1
HKCR,CLSID\{73FDDC80-AEA9-101A-98A7-00AA00374959}\MiscStatus,,,0
HKCR,CLSID\{73FDDC80-AEA9-101A-98A7-00AA00374959}\AuxUserType\3,,,"%WORDPAD_LINK%"
HKCR,CLSID\{73FDDC80-AEA9-101A-98A7-00AA00374959}\AuxUserType\2,,,"%WORDPAD_DOC%"
HKCR,CLSID\{73FDDC80-AEA9-101A-98A7-00AA00374959}\Insertable,,,
HKCR,CLSID\{73FDDC80-AEA9-101A-98A7-00AA00374959}\verb\1,,,"%OPEN%,0,2"
HKCR,CLSID\{73FDDC80-AEA9-101A-98A7-00AA00374959}\verb\0,,,"%EDIT%,0,2"
HKCR,CLSID\{73FDDC80-AEA9-101A-98A7-00AA00374959}\InprocHandler32,,,ole32.dll
HKCR,CLSID\{73FDDC80-AEA9-101A-98A7-00AA00374959}\DataFormats\PriorityCacheFormats,"Rich Text Format",,""

HKCR,Applications\wordpad*****,FriendlyAppName,2,"@shell32.dll,-22069"
HKCR,Applications\wordpad*****\shell\open\command,,0x00020000,"""%ProgramFiles%\%ACCESSOR%\WORDPAD*****"" ""%%1"""
HKCR,"*\OpenWithList\WordPad*****",,,
HKCR,"SystemFileAssociations\text\OpenWithList\WordPad*****",,,

HKCR,SystemFileAssociations\.doc\shell\open\command,,0x00020000,"""%ProgramFiles%\%ACCESSOR%\WORDPAD*****"" ""%%1"""
HKCR,SystemFileAssociations\.doc\DefaultIcon,,0x0020000,"""%ProgramFiles%\%ACCESSOR%\WORDPAD*****"",1"

HKCR,SystemFileAssociations\.rtf\shell\open\command,,0x00020000,"""%ProgramFiles%\%ACCESSOR%\WORDPAD*****"" ""%%1"""
HKCR,SystemFileAssociations\.rtf\DefaultIcon,,0x0020000,"""%ProgramFiles%\%ACCESSOR%\WORDPAD*****"",1"

HKCR,SystemFileAssociations\.wri\shell\open\command,,0x00020000,"""%ProgramFiles%\%ACCESSOR%\WORDPAD*****"" ""%%1"""
HKCR,SystemFileAssociations\.wri\DefaultIcon,,0x0020000,"""%ProgramFiles%\%ACCESSOR%\WORDPAD*****"",1"


; set up the per-app path
HKLM,"SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\App Paths\WORDPAD*****",,0x00020000,"""%ProgramFiles%\%ACCESSOR%\WORDPAD*****"""
HKLM,"SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\App Paths\WRITE*****",,0x00020000,"""%ProgramFiles%\%ACCESSOR%\WORDPAD*****"""

































[Strings]
MSWORDPADOPT_DESC = "WordPad"
MSWORDPADOPT_TIP  = "Editor for creating short memos and documents"

APPS_DESC         = "Accessories"
WORDPAD_LINK      = "WordPad"
Wordpad_Infotip   = "Creates and edits text documents with complex formatting."
WORDPAD_DOC       = "WordPad Document"
RTF_DOC           = "Rich Text Document"
WRITE_DOC         = "Write Document"
EDIT              = "&Edit"
OPEN              = "&Open"

ACCESSOR          = "Windows NT\Accessories"
PROGRAMF	  = "Program Files"

 

[purina]

If you can't find it on your hard drive then I would wonder if a trojan or virus removed it. I've uploaded the exe file and the inf file If you don't have an XP CD. Download wordpad.zip from Sendspace.com - send big files the easy way

I found how to unhide wordpad in "Add\Remove Windows Components"

Word Pad
Copy/paste the following into the Start / Run box:

%systemroot%\inf\sysoc.inf

When the sysoc.inf file opens in Notepad, find the
following line:

MSWordPad=ocgen.dll,OcEntry,wordpad.inf,HIDE,7

Now take out the HIDE, so that the line reads:

MSWordPad=ocgen.dll,OcEntry,wordpad.inf,,7

Press File / Save.

Now go to Control Panel / Add\Remove Programs
Select the 'Add\Remove Windows Components' tab.
Select 'Accessories and Utilities'.
Press the 'Details' button.
Select 'Accessories'.
Press the 'Details' button.
You should now see Wordpad in the list.
Uncheck Wordpad and press OK/OK/Next.

^Uncheck is to un-install, check the box to re-install.

 

[OPHELIA_HARDIN]

Hey purina, I'd forgotten about editing the sysoc.inf file! Neat tip.