How to Add "Open With Notepad" to Right-Click

Intro: How to Add "Open With Notepad" to Right-Click

I personally hate to use "open with" due to the time, even if its only a few seconds, and having to then remember where exactly a certain program is located in my directory.

This will show you how to add ANY program to the Right-Click (Context Menu for all of your Files).

It's Easy, you cant screw it up, and it saves a bunch of time and hassle.

Since we will be dealing with regedit, and not everyone is familiar with it, i will be breaking down the steps to very simple, easy, and concise steps that anyone can follow.

STEP 1: First

Go to Start and open Run

STEP 2: Second

Type in regedit.exe and click OK.

STEP 3: Third

Find and expand (click on the + to the left) HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT

STEP 4: Fourth

Browse down to the * key and expand it (click on the + to the left of the folder)

STEP 5: Fifth

Find the key shell

STEP 6: Sixth

Right Click on the key shell, go to New and create a new Key

STEP 7: Seventh

Name that Key "Open with Notepad"

Right click on the Open with Notepad key and make another Key

STEP 8: Eighth

Name the new Key "command"

STEP 9: Ninth

Click on the command key and double click on 'the (Default) value

STEP 10: Tenth

Type in "notepad.exe %1" There is a space between "notepad.exe" and "%1"

Click on OK

STEP 11: Finished

Close regedit and marvel at the ease of opening text documents!

Effects should occur immediately.

Remember:

This can be used for any and all programs.

In case you are just completely confused, use the following zip file (which also comes with a handy uninstall) that will change your regedit key accordingly)

Download OpenWithNotepad registry hack

Comments

[batvanio]

Cool

[OptimalS]

why oh why do u use pos windos ,and the 8bit system..oh yeah u want pos

[MackieC007]

how do you get shell?

[riyer2]

what does the %1 stand for?

[NetDex]

 Well, the program has to be in system32.

[NetDex]

 If you want no path.

[wscottc60]

I suppose I should have tried it before I posted the question... It works Great. I Have LONG HATED that waiting thing. Thank you for this VERY handy bit of hackery. Scott C

[wscottc60]

Hi there and hello. I am guessing this would work for files with no extension but just to be sure I will ask you first... Can this "hack" be used to 'Open with' files with no extension? Scott C

[goeon]

sweet it wrks

[I3uckwheat]

can u make it say open with firefox?

[I3uckwheat]

if so can u do it

[laminterious]

Yes... just have it open to firefox.exe %1

[randomguy96]

it says "cannot create key: you do not have the requisite permissions to create a new key under shell." what should i do?

[laminterious]

Ask the administrator of the computer you are using to do it for you with their account?

[Arbitror]

I have Windows XP Media Edition and there is no shell fro the 5th step! There is only "OpenWithList" and "shellex"!

[Mohamed Eltayeb]

OK no problem! you can create it your self (Shell key)and then follow the rest of the steps...and it will give you the same result... For any extra-info contact me ..

[laminterious]

Exactly.. if you dont the shell key, just make the key yourself and it will work.

[I3uckwheat]

it doesn't work for me (not to complain) maby it because i have win 98

[mrmath]

I just put it in my Send To menu. Also, I would put the %1 in quotes: notepad.exe "%1" Sometimes long filenames (C:\documents and settings\someusername\desktop\some file name.txt) get messed up, and you get error messages if you don't include the quotes. It may work without it, but I would add them because I'm like that.

[brodyf]

Thanks so much for mentioning that. I was having problems using a program in a different directory, and the quotes made it work like it was supposed to. What does that do anyway?