Windows 7: Cannot create a new txt file in explorer - please help

anykey · 25 Mar 2009

I used to be able to do a right click in Explorer and create a new txt file.
I found this feature very handy for quick txt notes.
This option is not available on the context menu in Seven.
What's happened to it?
Thanks,

Dwarf · 25 Mar 2009

Hi anykey,

This option is still available on my system. The following image shows the right click menu from the folder Libraries > Documents.

Cannot create a new txt file in explorer - please help-capture.png

What do you get from the same location on yours?

anykey · 25 Mar 2009

Hello Dwarf, righto I have done as requested and gone to the same location Libraries > Documents. (I am using build 7000)

Everything is the same as your image, with the exception of the menu item Text Document.
Instead I have the item Rich Text Document.
Which means that a MSWord Rich Text Document is created, whereas I require a straightforward Text Document like in your menu.
Any ideas please...

limneos · 25 Mar 2009

Perhaps the default program for .txt extensions has been changed on your system.

Try creating any document, renaming it to .txt

(go to Organize - Folder Options and View , uncheck Hide Extensions for known file types )

, then right-click it , select Open With - Choose Default Program and select Notepad.

Then see if its fixed

myzr7 · 25 Mar 2009

I'm running 7000 and I have both options Rich text and text ?

Attachment 6477

anykey · 25 Mar 2009

Quote: Originally Posted by limneos

Perhaps the default program for .txt extensions has been changed on your system.

Yes. I use Notepad++. I have done for a long time. I prefer it to MSNotepad.

Quote: Originally Posted by limneos

Try creating any document, renaming it to .txt
(go to Organize - Folder Options and View , uncheck Hide Extensions for known file types )
, then right-click it , select Open With - Choose Default Program and select Notepad.
Then see if its fixed

Thanks limneos.
Righto, I have done what you said and re assigned the association to MSNotepad.
To test it. I clicked on a txt file and it opened in Notepad. (yuk

)

Howvever, on the right click context menu, I still have no option to create new txt doc.
Poo.

I have changed my associate back to Notepad++.
Is that it then. Am I stuck without this option

limneos · 25 Mar 2009

Try running this registry file I created for you.

It should add New - Text Document to your context menu and fix your problem.

anykey · 25 Mar 2009

Umm, I am sorry to say it did not work.
Nothing is different.
The context menu is unchanged.

I even re-booted and still nothing had changed.
I then ran the reg file again.
Sorry nothing has been added nor changed.
Thanks for trying

limneos · 25 Mar 2009

hmm...

Try this reg file too.

Let me know of what happens.

No need to restart, if it works, it should work at once.

anykey · 25 Mar 2009

Hooray hooray hooray.
I think you may has guessed that this time it worked, ha ha.
I ran the reg file and did a right click. I could not see any change.
No, I thought.
Right clicked again and the text document option is there.
Dunno if it was there first time and I missed it. I hardly think so.
Prolly getting too excited.

Umm, now something has happened.
I have WinPatrol running - you may know the Scotty Watchdog.
Now here's a funny thing.
WinPatrol is telling me that it has detected a change in file type associations.
And get this: from Notepad++ to MSNotepad.
Would your reg file have caused that...

Windows 7: Cannot create a new txt file in explorer - please help

Cannot create a new txt file in explorer - please help problems?