PS: Replace Notepad With Notepad++

1 minute read

Description:

Run this script to replace Notepad with Notepad++

To Resolve:

  1. Save the following as a .ps1 and run it.

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    <#######<Script>#######>
<#######<Header>#######>
# Name: Replace-Notepad
# Date: 2017-03-19
# Copyright: Gerry Williams
# License: See original author
# My License: MIT License (https://opensource.org/licenses/MIT) only to be used if "license" statement is empty! Always follow the original license!
<#######</Header>#######>
<#######<Body>#######>

FUNCTION Replace-Notepad
{

<# 
Author: Bob@BobHodges.net
Date: Aug 11th, 2015
Description: Installs NotePad++ and replaces default notepad.exe with NotePad++ executable in system folders.
Note: The Install-Package cmdlet requires WMF5, install Notepad++ manually if you don't have it and comment out line 10. 
#License: http://www.bobhodges.net/home/replace-notepad-with-notepad-using-powershell
#> 

# Installs the latest version of NotePad++ from Chocolatey repo. 
# Comment out if you already have Notepad++ installed.
Install-Package -Name NotePadPlusPlus -Force

# Paths to various required files
$Notepads = "$($env:systemroot)\Notepad.exe","$($env:systemroot)\System32\Notepad.exe","$($env:systemroot)\SysWOW64\Notepad.exe"
$NotepadPlus = Resolve-Path "$($env:systemdrive)\Program Files*\Notepad++\notepad++.exe"
$NotepadPlusDLL = Resolve-Path "$($env:systemdrive)\Program Files*\Notepad++\SciLexer.dll"

# Function to take ownership of the notepad files.
Function Set-Ownership($file)
{
      # The takeown.exe file should already exist in Win7 - Win10 
      try { & takeown /f $file }
      catch { Write-Output "Failed to take ownership of $file" }
}

# This function gives us permission to change the notepad.exe files.
Function Set-Permissions($file)
{
      $ACL = Get-Acl $file
      $AccessRule= New-Object System.Security.AccessControl.FileSystemAccessRule("Everyone", "FullControl", "Allow")
      $ACL.SetAccessRule($AccessRule)
      $ACL | Set-Acl $file
}

# Loops through each notepad path.
Foreach($Notepad in $Notepads)
{
      # Checks for the required paths before attempting changes.
      if (!$(Test-Path $Notepad) -or !$(Test-Path $NotepadPlus)){continue}
         
      # Takes ownership of the file, then changes the NTFS permissions to allow us to rename it. 
      Set-Ownership $Notepad
      Set-Permissions $Notepad
         
      Write-Output "Replacing Notepad file: $Notepad `r`n"
      Rename-Item -Path $Notepad -NewName "Notepad.exe.bak" -ErrorAction SilentlyContinue
         
      # Copies the NotePad++ file and the dependant DLL file to the current path. 
      Copy-Item -Path $NotepadPlus -Destination $Notepad
      Copy-Item -Path $NotepadPlusDLL -Destination $(Split-Path $Notepad -Parent)
}
# Run Notepad++ once to avoid XML error.
& $NotepadPlus

}
Replace-Notepad

<#######</Body>#######>
<#######</Script>#######>

  2. Source is maintained under gwApplications

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