Windows cannot find c:\windows\system32\notepad.exe

Solution 1:

Got same issue after playing with replacing notepad by notepad++. In order to restore normal behaviour I have to delete one key in windows registry.

1. open windows registry editor (as administrator)

2. open

   HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Image File Execution Options
   

3. remove (if exists) notepad.exe

For me it worked like a charm. Remember to make registry backup before removing and of course you do it on your own risk.

Solution 2:

Just for your information, here's the reason why there are multiple locations for Notepad:

Windows 3.0 put Notepad in the Windows directory. Windows NT put it in the System32 directory.

Notepad is perhaps the most commonly hardcoded program in Windows. many Setup programs use it to view the Readme file, and you can use your imagination to come up with other places where a program or batch file or printed instructions will hard-code the path to Notepad.

The article is an interesting read. If you want more information, read also the comments for more insight into the matter.