Go to this folder C:\Windows\System32\dllcache
Click Tools/Folder Options Turn on show hidden files and folders.
Then turn OFF "hide protected operating system files".
This is your backup of windows system files which notepad is one of.
Find notepad.exe, right click and click copy. Next go to the shortcut for notepad in your start menu. Right click and choose properties.
Click "find target". This will open the containing folder.
Right click in this folder and click paste. Windows will tell you the file already exists do you want to replace it. Click yes and you have restored notepad.
Go back to Folder Options and hide the system files and hidden files again.
John
Hey, man, that was HELPFUL!!! :) :) :)
However, I would like to remind everyone where the right place for those files to go is, so that next time that thier programs or shortcuts or shell go looking for notepad.exe , then they will turn up! :cool: The correct places to copy notepad.exe in windoze are:
Windows 95: C:\WINDOWS
Windows 95/98/98SE/ME: C:\WINDOWS
Windows NT4/2000: C:\WINNT and C:\WINNT\System32
Windows XP: C:\WINDOWS and C:\WINDOWS\System32
Also, it is good to remember that in other versions of windoze, the notepad.exe file is different from others. How do I know? Because the filesizes are different! Apparently, if you put the wrong one in, you may sometimes get error messages 'Cannot find file NOTEPAD.EXE' or 'NOTEPAD.EXE' is not a valid Win32 application'. Windows 95, Windows ME, Windows NT4, Windows 2000, and even Windows XP ALL have different versions! (YES, even XP and 2000 are different!). The only 2 that have found to be the same are Windows 98 and 98SE. Smells like MiCr0$$$0fT might have done that on purpose... :mad: Anyway, be sure you get the right version!
Lastly, this problem with the disappearance of notepad.exe is often caused by viruses and trojans such as CWS.Googlems or other malware. If I were you, I would give that machine a REAL good scan with HiJack This, AdAware, and Panda Antivirus. If you do, and you keep your critical updates current, then you just might be able to get rid of the problem for good entirely! How do I know? I got it solved, but it took me ALL DAY! :mad:
By the way, when you get the file from C:\Windows\System32\dllcache, be SURE to COPY it - Don't cut and paste, or you will probably REGRET it later! :eek:
THANKS AGAIN, JOHN! :)