Summary of the problem: Microsoft removed winword from Windows 11, so there is now no lightweight viewer for viewing the RTF release notes file with MCEBuddy.
Users now need to load up a full-featured word processor application like Microsoft Word or Google Docs, all of which are forcing users to use online-cloud-based applications (along with forcing you into using AI “assistants” and such). One of the few remaining free local application options is to install and use LIbreOffice or equivalent (Apache Word, OpenOffice, etc.).
It seems to me that this file can easily be created as a PDF or HTML (viewable natively in nearly all popular browsers), or revert back to plaintext for use with ye trusty ole notepad which is still included with Windows.
Thanks.
And boos and hisses to Microsoft for continuing to force users to have no alternatives than to “consent” to using ever more bloated applications that require ever more resources and are overloaded with questionable features just to deal with simple tasks using simple tools that were already part of the platform.
As a fix for this, I copied the Wordpad program out of the folder Windows.old immediately after updating to the version that deleted it. There were 2 items, wordpad.exe and wordpadFilter.dll needed. I put them in a folder and put a shortcut to them on my desktop. Apparently, Microsoft Windows 11 deletes the windows.old folder later, as I note it’s now gone too.
The Libre office is also a good solution, however.
You’re correct the 24H2 Win 11 doesn’t have Wordpad or any other program to open .rtf, .doc or .docx files - however it does still contain the support files required to render them through the windows installer.
I did a fresh install of Win11 24H2 with nothing else installed. When I try to install MCEBuddy it shows the release notes without any issues in the Setup screen through windows installer (however you can see on the desktop the RTF and DOCX files are unassociated).
This is my exact use case. I’m subscribed for the beta releases, and I read the release notes to see what’s in the new update before installing. So I am not reading the release notes while I’m installing, I’m reading them before installing, and not using the installer.
It seems to me that this is a file that does not have fancy formatting, and can be easily created as a PDF to start with, which has native support in all modern browsers (like the one used to view this site or to download MCE Buddy), or if that’s too fancy, plain old text or simple HTML.
All of us should be peeved at Microsoft for creating a problem that didn’t exist just so they could shove their AI surveillance agents, er, assistants down everyone’s throats. So I’m not upset at MCE Buddy, but you all could ease everyone’s pain by switching to a non-Microsoft proprietary file format for the release notes. I’m pretty sure the installer can display simple HTML files, or worst case, plain text. This feature is not going to come back without forcing your users to give up whatever it is that the “new” AI cloud-powered WinWord decides to upload behind the scenes.
Fair enough, the installer is restricted to using .rtf files so that will have to remain (for now) but added a html version of the release notes along with the build files.
to Microsoft for continuing to force users to have no alternatives than to “consent” to using ever more bloated applications that require ever more resources and are overloaded with questionable features just to deal with simple tasks using simple tools that were already part of the platform.
