If I can lose access to something as simple as Notepad, then Microsoft has probably take cloud integrations too far.
A couple of weeks ago, I found that I couldn't open Notepad on my desktop PC. It wasn't because Windows 11 had crashed, but rather, Microsoft told me it wasn't "available in (my) account". It turned out that an error (0x803f8001) with Microsoft Store's licensing service stopped me from opening a few first-party apps, including the Snipping Tool.
Yes, even the app I usually use to screenshot error messages was busted. Ironic. Now, I'm usually a fairly level-headed Windows enthusiast who can relate to users who both love and loathe Microsoft's operating system, but I couldn't open Notepad.exe — are we serious?
You've probably all seen the memes: it's called "This PC" now, and not "My Computer" anymore. It's usually easy to laugh off as a disgruntled conspiracy, but I can see why it trends when the themings of Software as a Service (SaaS) are creeping into the most basic Windows apps.
I was locked out of Notepad due to Microsoft's server bug — is this the 'Thin Client' era? - YouTube Watch On
After all, Notepad is supposed to be the absolute barebones, most ultra-basic app in the entire OS. Well, it was, before Microsoft added Copilot and users started looking for a way to disable the unusual AI addition. Sure, you can still type C:\Windows
otepad.exe into 'Run' with Windows + R for a legacy fallback, but many perhaps wouldn't know about it.
I'm still a Windows guy, and I always will be. Nevertheless, I can't ignore that Windows 11 regularly feels less like an operating system and more like a thin client; just a connection to Microsoft's cloud with fewer options for you to act as the administrator of your own PC.
This PC vs. My Computer
I was completely locked out of the modern Notepad (Image credit: Ben Wilson | Windows Central)
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