Adding WordPad to the right-click file
As I mentioned, the first set of changes will set Notepad as the default application for any extensions that are not associated with another application. It will also add Notepad to the right-click menu for every file. If the file is too big for Notepad, you will get a prompt to open the file in WordPad instead. Here’s how to add WordPad to the right-click menu.
- Use the Start menu’s Run option to launch Regedit.
- Navigate to HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\*. (This should be the very first subtree.)
- A key called "shellex" should already be here. Add a new key called "Shell" at the same tree level as "shellex."
- Under the "Shell" key, create another key called "WordPad."
- Create another key under the "WordPad" key called "Command."
- You'll see a string value named Default when you highlight the "Command" key. Double-click Default and enter "C:\Program Files\Accessories\WORDPAD.EXE %1". (Note: Don’t enter the quotes, and make sure to use the appropriate path to the file wordpad.exe.) Click OK.
- Exit Regedit and test it out.
Note: The full path to the correct Registry key is:
HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\*\Shell\Wordpad\Command