Notepad is blocked?

DevNerds · Apr 18, 2022

Hey,
I just performed an in-place upgrade from Win10 to Win11 and can't open .TXT files by Notepad?!

[Window Title]
D:\File.txt
[Content]
Your system administrator has blocked this program. For more information, contact your system administrator.
[OK]

Generally, I found I must not perform in-place upgrade due to numerous strange behaviors!

johnlgalt · Apr 18, 2022

Right click the file and select properties - do you see an unblock at the bottom?

Check this tutorial to see if it helps. Unblock File Downloaded from Internet in Windows 11 Tutorial

It probably won't as that this just a .txt file, and I don't 8think* they get blocked like that, but who knows?

DevNerds · Apr 18, 2022

Thanks dude, not that case, I've disabled that Save Zone Info via registry, even Notepad won't open on its own!
I also tried upgrading to Win11 once again sometime ago and the same strange behaviors!
A clean install won't bring them on the table!
Shame on MS for this tragedy! ^_^

Berton · Apr 18, 2022

I have Win11 Pro Version 21H2 (OS Build 22000.613), not having any issue with .txt files on a NAS drive opening in Notepad nor with Notepad opening from Start.

DevNerds · Apr 18, 2022

Berton said:
I have Win11 Pro Version 21H2 (OS Build 22000.613), not having any issue with .txt files on a NAS drive opening in Notepad nor with Notepad opening from Start.

Yeah, a clean install won't bring those bugs! Just in-place upgrade from within an existing Win10 setup will cause them for me! If I had enough free time, I would report them to MS...

jaree1961 · Apr 18, 2022

Hmmm, that is very strange. I did an inplace upgrade from Win 10 and now running Win11 Pro Version 21H2 (OS Build 22000.613) and Notepad is running just fine. I have had no other strange issues after the upgrade either. :think:

Dirtyflash · Apr 18, 2022

DevNerds said:
Hey,
I just performed an in-place upgrade from Win10 to Win11 and can't open .TXT files by Notepad?!

[Window Title]
D:\File.txt
[Content]
Your system administrator has blocked this program. For more information, contact your system administrator.
[OK]

Generally, I found I must not perform in-place upgrade due to numerous strange behaviors!

Try resetting the app. Settings > Apps > Installed Apps > Notepad, look for the 3 dots ... on the right side and click on it > Advanced Options > Repair. Not saying it will fix your problem, it only takes a minute of your time.

glasskuter · Apr 18, 2022

DevNerds said:
Generally, I found I must not perform in-place upgrade due to numerous strange behaviors

I am one of the few here who would agree with you about that...to a point. IMO an upgrade is never as good as a clean install. A lot of times this strange behavior you mention is the result of not so much the upgrade process as it is conditions in the OS being upgraded. Junk can and does carry over into the new OS. Even with my own system that I struggle to keep 100% clean, I always bite the bullet and do a clean install. A repair install (same process as an upgrade) can and does fix problems at times but will not always. The better solution for fixing problems that jump up and bite us is to have a good backup plan in place.

johnlgalt · Apr 19, 2022

DevNerds said:
Yeah, a clean install won't bring those bugs! Just in-place upgrade from within an existing Win10 setup will cause them for me! If I had enough free time, I would report them to MS...

I just clean installed 3 instances in VMs - Release Preview channel, Beta Channel, and Dev Channel - 0 issues running Notepad.

Try opening the Microsoft Store and updating it, may help. Across all 3 VMs, I had anywhere from 38 - 44 updates waiting to be installed in the Store.