1

After checking for corrupt files (sfc /scannow in cmd returning no corrupt files detected) and rebuilding the index from index option in the control panel, notepad does not open from the Start menu.

I type 'notepad' into the search in the Start menu, and the notepad icon appears:

Notepad

However, then I click on the icon, nothing happens.

I noted that this also happens to some other apps such as Snipping Tool and Paint, and that all these apps are in the Windows Accessories folder.

However, I can open these apps if I scroll down through the Start menu and access them from the Accessories folder:

Accessories

How do I make it so that Notepad and all those other apps can open when I search for them?

Thanks,

George

Improve this question
2
  • The Windows 10 Start Menu has been a bit finicky for some people. Does the problem persist if you restart your computer?
    – wysiwyg
    Commented Jan 31, 2017 at 21:09
  • The problem still persists after restarting my computer.
    – George Tian
    Commented Feb 1, 2017 at 5:16

3 Answers 3

Reset to default
1

THIS works: https://www.reddit.com/r/Windows10/comments/64dzug/creators_update_broke_my_search_and_indexing/

How for the love of GOD... TL;DR It's only when you disable "let apps run in the background" that search breaks.

Improve this answer
2
  • Can you give more information not just a link
    – Sam
    Commented Jun 15, 2017 at 7:26
  • enable "let apps run in the background".
    – dajczu
    Commented Jun 15, 2017 at 20:53
2

I had the same problem, here is what I did, it was simple and very effective:

  1. Type the Windows Button+I to open Windows Settings
  2. Go top Apps
  3. Under Apps & Features, choose Optional Features
  4. Search for Notepad, and just uninstall it
  5. The choose Add a feature, and reinstall Notepad

This worked for me, and also for Wordpad which was also acting weird. It will probably also work for the snipping tool and paint, and all other programs in Windows accessories.

Note: before you do this, make sure you have updated your Windows!

Improve this answer
0

Ensure that the path is correct and the .exe is present in your System32 folder. You can check the path by right clicking and viewing the properties of the executable.

You can further check if this is malware by ensuring that the certificate is valid. Right click and navigate to the security tab and check the certificate validation dates, and types.

Improve this answer
9
  • Hi @upandouttherabbith0le, the app notepad.exe is present in bot C:\Windows and C:\Windows\System32. Could you please describe how to view the path and the security?
    – George Tian
    Commented Feb 1, 2017 at 5:12
  • The path simply means where on a certain drive your file/executable/etc. is located. In your case, the path is determined to be both C:\\Windows and C:\\Windows\System32 If your file was located in the Users folder, the path would then be C:\\Users
    – upandouttherabbith0le
    Commented Feb 1, 2017 at 7:43
  • In the question George stated he is able to open Notepad by navigating the start menu, so the path is most likely fine. It's the search that has issues.
    – wysiwyg
    Commented Feb 1, 2017 at 17:57
  • There may be an issue then with the .lnk or link pathing to the executable. I will try and solve the problem hands-on. The icon you are referring to is essentially a GUI for a link. You can think of it as a picture which represents a link to an executable. That icon/link that you see on your Start menu links you to where that executable is stored. If you right click on what you see (link/icon), you will go to its properties. By default, link extensions should open up to the Shortcut tab of your Notepad's properties. Ensure that the target path is correct.
    – upandouttherabbith0le
    Commented Feb 1, 2017 at 19:55
  • The target path of a link should generally be in the form %xxxx%\xxxx\xxxx.(exe/lnk/JPG..etc) The first part of that path is what is known as a string. A string in this instance serves to specify which location your file is in. In this instance, the string SHOULD be %windir%. Windir is short for Windows directory. The reason it is a variable or a string, is because your Windows directory could potentially be on a different drive, for example on your D drive. This is a design solution to minimize errors while, in a sense, pathing. Ensure that TARGET path is where Notepad is located
    – upandouttherabbith0le
    Commented Feb 1, 2017 at 20:01

You must log in to answer this question.

Not the answer you're looking for? Browse other questions tagged .