Tuesday, January 30th 2024

Windows 11 Preview Build Removes WordPad

Microsoft quietly added WordPad to its "Deprecated features for Windows client" list last September—a short message stated that the popular bundled-in word processing application will: "no longer be updated and will be removed in a future release of Windows. We recommend Microsoft Word for rich text documents like.doc and.rtf and Windows Notepad for plain text documents like.txt." The aforementioned "future" version of their mainstream operating system appears to be the recently issued Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 26040 (through Canary Channel). Microsoft is pushing an AI feature enriched user experience—last week's Insider blog reveals that Voice Clarity is escaping its Surface family confines; the application no longer relies on NPU hardware.

According to Preview 26040's accompanying notes: "Starting with this build, the WordPad and People apps will no longer be installed after doing a clean install of the OS. In a future flight, WordPad will be removed in an upgrade. WordPad will not be reinstallable. WordPad is a deprecated Windows feature." Many journalists have pointed out that protest efforts could save WordPad from its deprecated fate—enough fuss was generated over Microsoft's proposed axing of MS Paint, to warrant a reversal and eventual AI-enrichment. A segment of the Windows userbase will welcome the upcoming dismissal of Cortana (already effective in the latest W11 preview)—their older personal productivity assistant is being pushed aside in favor of Windows Copilot.
Sources: Tom's Hardware, PC World, TechRadar
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72 Comments on Windows 11 Preview Build Removes WordPad

#51
Unregistered
lexluthermiesterThis statement proves you are missing context and failing to understand a big-picture problem. And no, I'm not going to explain it.
Microsoft uninstalled a basic app from Windows - which it no longer supports (with updates) - since it made a replacement for it for quite some time - which it actively supports/improves/etc. A replacement which is conveniently commercial - but also optionally free. NOT TO MENTION... all the free alternatives - some even premium level of quality. Last but not least - Wordpad can be reinstalled and still used as it always was. Yet, some complain - as if Microsoft removed a major core feature - a change that could mean Windows's downfall??!! That's called entitlement (the belief that one is inherently deserving of privileges or special treatment). Making a huge thing (humongous even) - out of nothing. Where's the inconvenience? The pressure - of making couple of extra clicks - just to have it your way (by reinstalling it).

Kept saying Microsoft is a billions $ corporation - which is far from accurate. Did earn over $70 Billion last year alone - but as of January 2024 it's Net-worth is valued at $3.04 trillion! It's impossible to reach such a high wealth - by making moral choices and having your costumer's best interest in mind. It's quite naive to have this expectations from Microsoft. Takes a high level of entitlement. And then there's the irony... when someone actually recommends an OS which values morals (Linux based) - the same self-righteous individuals - mock the ones who dared to recommend Linux over Windows. I could talk about the bigger picture all day - but would be a complete waste of time on my par (and... time is the most valuable currency).
Posted on Edit | Reply
#52
Dr. Dro
WMP is not the core issue, it's just one of the many applications that Microsoft butchered over the years. Compounded all of these negatively affect the Windows experience.

I'm willing to bet that Windows Vista Ultimate is more feature complete than Windows 11 Pro if you do a straight feature comparison. Vista Ultimate in fact even had support for video wallpapers. It's nuts to think how bad Windows has actually got since then. Even 7 was in many ways a step backwards, it was a hit just because it wasn't called Vista and had some quality of life improvements.
Posted on Reply
#53
ThrashZone
Hi,
I never understood where MS pulled libraries out of their asses for 7 :laugh:

Now it's thumbtack bs lol
Posted on Reply
#54
lexluthermiester
XSAlliNwhich it no longer supports (with updates)
It doesn't NEED to. Wordpad works perfectly and has for a VERY long time. When something works it does not require fixing. It also does NOT require removal. How do you not understand that simple fact?
Dr. DroI'm willing to bet that Windows Vista Ultimate is more feature complete than Windows 11 Pro if you do a straight feature comparison.
I've done that examination. You're not wrong.
Posted on Reply
#55
R-T-B
lexluthermiesterStatutes and case law define that ANY contract required or agreed upon must be available for examination at ALL times by all parties while the terms of such are in effect.
Yes, I'm sure you can request a copy by mail too to avoid using a printer or computer at all. Fun fact this is actually stated in the installer EULA.

No I am not being ironic. It's silly to act like being forced to open the EULA with a freely available app (wordpad is even on the install media as an optional) is a legal impediment to reading it.
Posted on Reply
#56
ThrashZone
Hi,
About the only thing MS has done "as new" is create a more dull interface with silly ass icons and more scrolling and clicks and of course more sharing nonsense.

It's been like this every release, one step forward but two/ three/.. steps backwards.

Oops now more AI crapola :slap:
Posted on Reply
#57
lexluthermiester
R-T-BYes, I'm sure you can request a copy by mail too to avoid using a printer or computer at all. Fun fact this is actually stated in the installer EULA.
Yeah on page 26(IIRC). No one reads that far into the document unless they need to and certainly not during install. Also, that argument will not stand up in a court battle as the contract is being provided in digital form directly. Removing the only way to readily examine/read that provided document beyond the commencement of the terms, without supplying at replacement, is a technical breach of contract.
R-T-BNo I am not being ironic.
Maybe. A bit pedantic, certainly.. :laugh:
R-T-BIt's silly to act like being forced to open the EULA with a freely available app (wordpad is even on the install media as an optional) is a legal impediment to reading it.
If it is the only way to readily read it post commencement, then yes it is impediment.

Removing Wordpad is a mistake for many reasons.
Posted on Reply
#58
xorbe
R-T-BWhat bug is that exactly? If you are talking about it inserting a CRLF at the end of every document, it's done that since forever AFAIK. I guess you could consider it a bug sure, but by now I think it's more expected behavior.
Ooh, I can't seem to replicate it currently, maybe it got fixed. Basically, if you went to the end of the line on the next-to-last line, it would go one beyond the last character, and then you couldn't navigate to the last empty line from there. You could hit home and down to get there though.

The text file I initially used actually had no newline at the end, so looks like that's fixed too.
Posted on Reply
#59
R-T-B
lexluthermiesterYeah on page 26(IIRC). No one reads that far into the document unless they need to and certainly not during install. Also, that argument will not stand up in a court battle as the contract is being provided in digital form directly. Removing the only way to readily examine/read that provided document beyond the commencement of the terms, without supplying at replacement, is a technical breach of contract.

Maybe. A bit pedantic, certainly.. :laugh:

If it is the only way to readily read it post commencement, then yes it is impediment.

Removing Wordpad is a mistake for many reasons.
Rather than get into semantics here I will try to find some common ground and state that the EULA probably should be a .txt file in complete honesty.
Posted on Reply
#60
lexluthermiester
R-T-BRather than get into semantics here I will try to find some common ground and state that the EULA probably should be a .txt file in complete honesty.
There we go. Perfectly reasonable solution. This is what microsoft needs to do.
Posted on Reply
#61
Unregistered
lexluthermiesterIt doesn't NEED to. Wordpad works perfectly and has for a VERY long time. When something works it does not require fixing. It also does NOT require removal. How do you not understand that simple fact?


I've done that examination. You're not wrong.
I see... so "entitled expectations (how dares this company make changes - which don't align with my personal tastes/expectations)" - is what you meant by... the bigger picture. Even tho, i can agree with those tastes (since i prefer simple/lite things that just work as well) - i can at least be objective - and thus understand the desire of a big company like M$ to keep in touch with the times "as well (same as Apple and all the other major corporations from the tech industry)". I can understand - the greed of this big corporation - who makes changes meant to promote the apps (which they invested in) intended as replacement. And that is the bigger picture - the objective reality. Not some entitles views inspired by personal/subjective tastes.

Windows 11 is supposedly installed on 400 million devices - while 71.62% of Windows users still prefer Windows 10 (that's over 1 billion). And yet, Windows 10 will reach EOL next year on 14 October. Since the views of the majority of this users on Linux (be it gamers, windows fanatics or people who struggle even the idea of changing a Windows OS for another) - are pretty clear by now. Despite of all the venting and complaining - it's pretty obvious that most of that billion - will still lean towards Windows.

PS.Already posted a picture in above post - which clearly shows Wordpad can even be reinstalled - if it's to much hassle to try one of the alternatives (to bad their parents are to old and might struggle with tech - so they can't count on them to wipe their ass again: Mommy the bad people removed Wordpad! :cry: I don't like this Mommy!:cry: Fix it momy, like you always do!:cry:).
Posted on Edit | Reply
#62
lexluthermiester
XSAlliNI see... so "entitled expectations (how dares this company make changes - which don't align with my personal tastes/expectations)" - is what you meant by... the bigger picture. Even tho, i can agree with those tastes (since i prefer simple/lite things that just work as well) - i can at least be objective - and thus understand the desire of a big company like M$ to keep in touch with the times "as well (same as Apple and all the other major corporations from the tech industry)". I can understand - the greed of this big corporation - who makes changes meant to promote the apps (which they invested in) intended as replacement. And that is the bigger picture - the objective reality. Not some entitles views inspired by personal/subjective tastes.

Windows 11 is supposedly installed on 400 million devices - while 71.62% of Windows users still prefer Windows 10 (that's over 1 billion). And yet, Windows 10 will reach EOL next year on 14 October. Since the views of the majority of this users on Linux (be it gamers, windows fanatics or people who struggle even the idea of changing a Windows OS for another) - are pretty clear by now. Despite of all the venting and complaining - it's pretty obvious that most of that billion - will still lean towards Windows.

PS.Already posted a picture in above post - which clearly shows Wordpad can even be reinstalled - if it's to much hassle to try one of the alternatives (to bad their parents are to old and might struggle with tech - so they can't count on them to wipe their ass again: Mommy the bad people removed Wordpad! :cry: I don't like this Mommy!:cry: Fix it momy, like you always do!:cry:).
Oh great, more drivel showing you have missed the context and big picture.. :slap:
Posted on Reply
#63
Unregistered
lexluthermiesterOh great, more drivel showing you have missed the context and big picture: Messages 25,080 (6.49/day)
Since you couldn't give a single valid counter-argument, just posting for the sake of posting - be it evasive like above or repeating stuff that was already proven to be false (even with pictures: Wordpad was uninstalled - but can still be reinstalled from Optional Features - not completely removed). I'm done. I'm only interested in genuine conversations/debates (proper exchange of valid arguments) - not i can typing answers...


Cheers.
Posted on Edit | Reply
#64
lexluthermiester
XSAlliNSince you couldn't give a single valid counter-argument, just posting for the sake of posting - be it evasive like above or repeating stuff that was already proven to be false (even with pictures: Wordpad was uninstalled - but can still be reinstalled from Optional Features - not completely removed). I'm done. I'm only interested in genuine conversations/debates (proper exchange of valid arguments) - not i can typing answers...


Cheers.
Now THIS is irony. :roll:
Posted on Reply
#65
ThrashZone
XSAlliNSince you couldn't give a single valid counter-argument, just posting for the sake of posting - be it evasive like above or repeating stuff that was already proven to be false (even with pictures: Wordpad was uninstalled - but can still be reinstalled from Optional Features - not completely removed). I'm done. I'm only interested in genuine conversations/debates (proper exchange of valid arguments) - not i can typing answers...


Cheers.
Hi,
I for one can not see wordpad

Posted on Reply
#66
Unregistered
ThrashZoneHi,
I for one can not see wordpad

Would be surprising if you did - in the list of installed System Components.

Use windows search and look for Optional Features - click on View Features (Add an Optional Feature) - and you should be able to find it there.
Posted on Edit | Reply
#67
Wirko
XSAlliNI see... so "entitled expectations (how dares this company make changes - which don't align with my personal tastes/expectations)" - is what you meant by... the bigger picture. Even tho, i can agree with those tastes (since i prefer simple/lite things that just work as well) - i can at least be objective - and thus understand the desire of a big company like M$ to keep in touch with the times "as well (same as Apple and all the other major corporations from the tech industry)". I can understand - the greed of this big corporation - who makes changes meant to promote the apps (which they invested in) intended as replacement. And that is the bigger picture - the objective reality. Not some entitles views inspired by personal/subjective tastes.

Windows 11 is supposedly installed on 400 million devices - while 71.62% of Windows users still prefer Windows 10 (that's over 1 billion). And yet, Windows 10 will reach EOL next year on 14 October. Since the views of the majority of this users on Linux (be it gamers, windows fanatics or people who struggle even the idea of changing a Windows OS for another) - are pretty clear by now. Despite of all the venting and complaining - it's pretty obvious that most of that billion - will still lean towards Windows.

PS.Already posted a picture in above post - which clearly shows Wordpad can even be reinstalled - if it's to much hassle to try one of the alternatives (to bad their parents are to old and might struggle with tech - so they can't count on them to wipe their ass again: Mommy the bad people removed Wordpad! :cry: I don't like this Mommy!:cry: Fix it momy, like you always do!:cry:).
While I agree with most of what you're saying about WordPad, why are individuals (including paying customers) so easily and so often accused of "entitlement", but corporations (along with their CEOs and large individual owners) never are?
lexluthermiesterWordpad works perfectly and has for a VERY long time. When something works it does not require fixing.
Security could be a very good reason, or at least a very plausible excuse. Remember Adobe Acrobat Reader Player, a program whose job basically was to display formatted pages according to long-established standards? It sometimes had longer CVE lists than entire operating systems.
Posted on Reply
#68
R-T-B
WirkoAdobe Acrobat Player,
Think you mean acrobat reader, or flash player.
Posted on Reply
#69
Unregistered
WirkoWhile I agree with most of what you're saying about WordPad, why are individuals (including paying customers) so easily and so often accused of "entitlement", but corporations (along with their CEOs and large individual owners) never are?
Actually, corporations (including CEOs) - are accused of almost every negative connotation invented by men - including entitlement (among the weakest/lightest accusation - compared to being exploitative, pedophiles, actual demons or the devil itself in a suit). Which is true to some extent - but not entirely accurate. By definition - entitled individuals tend to have the attitude of a spoiled brat (surrounded by benefits - even some of the best - but still play the victim card - still complain as if mistreated or having less than nothing).

A Corporation on the other hand - is more of a predator (sometimes even the type you'd see on Jeffrey Epstein list of guests - but i meant this in a more literal sense) and clients are their pray/victims. Not to mention - it's quite common for CEOs to be psychopaths (regarding people as something to use and abuse/exploit - while climbing the Corporate ladder). It's usually what it takes to reach that position, to be this guy:


So, yes - you can call them entitled but that's saying to little. This are not the type of people who would cry for their mom (while waiting to be served on a silver platter) - but the type - who would sell their mom if the price is right.
Posted on Edit | Reply
#70
lexluthermiester
ThrashZoneHi,
I for one can not see wordpad

It's not listed there. Search for Wordpad, you'll find it. It's located in the C:\Windows folder if you want to run it directly.
WirkoSecurity could be a very good reason
No it isn't. Wordpad is not coded for internet access. If a link is present in a document and you click it, Wordpad will pass off that link to whatever default web-browser is installed. Which means it's actually MORE secure than everything else that tried to access the internet directly.
Wirkowhy are individuals (including paying customers) so easily and so often accused of "entitlement", but corporations (along with their CEOs and large individual owners) never are?
Ding Ding Ding!!
Posted on Reply
#71
ThrashZone
lexluthermiesterIt's not listed there. Search for Wordpad, you'll find it. It's located in the C:\Windows folder if you want to run it directly.
Hi,
I did use winkey+s search came up with donuts
But i did find it finally with the other users info.

Way at the bottom of system page....
Posted on Reply
#72
AleXXX666
xorbeBecause they prefer you use cloud services. They would remove Notepad if they thought they could get away with it.
then it will be 1st time I'll install such hyped Notepad++ or.. just use win10 lol

wow, I used wordpad when Notepad wasn't enough for big system files editing, but, I don't care lol
Posted on Reply
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