How to Open a .exe File in Notepad!

Intro: How to Open a .exe File in Notepad!

FINALLY, THE FIRST TIME I PUBLISHED WITH NO CODING SKILLS NEEDED! (For Ages 5+)

(NOTE: It Will Just Show GIBBERISH)

STEP 1: Open Notepad

Press Windows Logo Button + R Then "Run" Should Come Up

Type In "notepad" And Hit Enter

STEP 2: Opening Part 1

Go to File Then Click Open

After That Type In "*.exe" and Hit Enter

STEP 3: Opening Part 2

After That Select A Program That You Want To Open Then Click Open

STEP 4: Finished

After You Clicked Open Just Wait Then... Well... Will Just Show Gibberish

BUT BANG YOUR DONE!

Comments

[TrishaXuk]

It's a fun thing to try when starting out, but please bear in mind that the EXE file that you open, can't be displayed correctly, and if ANY change is made in notepad, if you save the file, it will destroy (corrupt) the EXE program and it won't work anymore. This is because Notepad doesn't understand the structure of EXE program files.

Remember - even if you add or remove something and then put it back, it will still corrupt the file. That's why doing this opening in Notepad is not usually wise.

The advice of some of the other commenters is right; it's better to use a hex editor instead of a text editor, because those are designed to handle every type of file, and won't corrupt the file because it misunderstands how to handle it. That said; editing it when you don't know what you're doing, will also mess it up.

To learn more; Google about understanding the structure of Windows executables or exe files. Also search for open source hex editors. The safest place to find one is going to be on Source Forge or GitHub, but there may be other free ones out there, but please check out reviews on a well known and reputable site if doing that.

Good Luck!

[jkimball]

Sounds like you are ready to explore a hex editor. You should try that next.

[MrBuggles]

You're better off downloading a hex editor and opening the .exe or any other file that way.

[Geeks with lasers]

better of using linux and forgetting .exe all together ;)

In serious though, knowing how to open diffrent file types in notepad is a useful skill... I'd have gone for a bitmap myself since it acutally contains meaningful data... but still worth knowing