Can't save on notepad

Question

I can't seem to save on notepad.  This just started happening recently.  I was able to save on notepad about 5 days ago, but now all of a sudden when I click on the save or the save as button, my computer stops and a window pops up saying that the program has a problem.  When i wait for it to respond, it says that notepad has gone unresponsive and must close.  I've tried looking for solutions but none of them seem work.

Whats weirder though is that I made another user account on my computer and I can save on notepad fine.  What's wrong?

Answer 1

Hi Hanul,

Welcome to Microsoft Answers.

• Do you remember any changes done to the computer recently?

Since you are able to save notepad in the new user account, it looks like the old user account has gone corrupt, files missing or any software conflict.Try running the system file checker tool in the old user account. If that does not help, do Clean Boot.

A) System File Checker tool scans system files and replaces incorrect versions of the system files by using the correct versions.  Run the System File checker tool To run the System File Checker tool, follow these steps:

i) Click Start, and then type cmd in the Start Search box.

ii) Right-click cmd in the Programs list, and then click Run as administrator. If you are prompted for an administrator password or confirmation, type your password or click Continue

iii)  At the command prompt, the following line, and then press ENTER:sfc /scannow

 Check the article http://support.microsoft.com/kb/936212   “How to repair the operating system and how to restore the operating system configuration to an earlier point in time in Windows Vista”

B) Clean boot

To help troubleshoot error messages and other issues, you can start Windows Vista by using a minimal set of drivers and startup programs. This kind of startup is known as a "clean boot." A clean boot helps eliminate software conflicts.

The following link has steps showing how to perform clean boot.http://support.microsoft.com/kb/929135 

 1) Perform clean boot

     i. Click Start, type msconfig in the Start Search box, and then press ENTER.

        If you are prompted for an administrator password or for a confirmation, type the password, or click Continue.

    ii. On the General tab, click Selective Startup.

    iii. Under Selective Startup, click to clear the Load Startup Items check box.

    iv. Click the Services tab, click to select the Hide All Microsoft Services check box, and then click Disable All.

    v. Click OK.

    vi. When you are prompted, click Restart.

    vii. After the computer starts, check whether the problem is resolved.

2)  Enable half of the services

3)  Determine whether the problem returns

4)  Enable half of the startup items

5)  Determine whether the problem returns

6)   Repeat the above steps until you find out which service or program is causing the issue

After you determine the startup item or the service that causes the problem, contact the program manufacturer to determine whether the problem can be resolved. Or, run the System Configuration Utility, and then click to clear the check box for the problem item.

Note: Please ensure that the computer is set to start as usual by following the step 7 from the article http://support.microsoft.com/kb/929135 .

Reset the computer to start as usual

After you have finished troubleshooting, follow these steps to reset the computer to start as usual:

i) Click Start, type msconfig.exe in the Start Search box, and then press ENTER. If you are prompted for an administrator password or for confirmation, type your password, or click Continue.

ii) On the General tab, click the Normal Startup option, and then click OK.

Diana

Microsoft Answers Support Engineer

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