Windows 10: Replacing the default MS Paint with an older version (Revisited)

Okay,

So I have taken a 12 y.o. SONY VAIO laptop, slapped in a new SSD and installed Windows 10 Home (updated to 20H2).

I'm trying to replace the (new) default version of MS Paint with an older version as I had one on a previous (desktop) machine and I'm trying to follow what I did earlier (documented in this thread) but I'm puzzled.

I have a copy of the old MS Paint exe file and the associated .mui file saved in C:\Program Files\Old MSPAINT

The new copy of Win 10 on the laptop points the new version of Paint (where the Tab button DOESN'T tab text in a text box but cycles around the 'handles') to a shortcut in C:\program Data\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu\Programs\Windows Accessories and the shortcut points to %windir%\System32\mspaint.exe

So, I had the brilliant idea of replacing this version of mspaint with the older version (which I'll call oldpaint for clarity).

I created a desktop shortcut to oldpaint which points to C:\Program Files\OLD MSPAINT\MSOldPaintx64.exe

Could I not simply copy this path for the shortcut in paragraph 4 above??

That way any time I open Paint (from a shortcut or from an image) the old version should run - or am I being REALLY stupid and missing something here?

As an aside, I have tried to navigate to C:\program Data\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu\Programs\Windows Accessories and the shortcut points to %windir%\System32\mspaint.exe via a Command Prompt window using DOS commands, but I can't seem to follow this path (the Windows Explorer GUI isn't replicating what I can see via Command). Can anyone explain (in simple 'Noddy' type language) please?

I hope you can follow the above ramblings and what I am attempting to do.

Art

:)

 

Replacing the default MS Paint with an older version

Mm.. Paint? This might be easier.. assuming it works with latest builds.

 

Replacing the default MS Paint with an older version

Thanks - but I like MS Paint* (at least the old version) and other image handling programs I've tried aren't to my liking.

I'd rather not try another but I appreciate the suggestion.

* I'm strange, I know

A comprehensive set of replies as always Denis. I have replaced icons before so that isn't a problem - your second and third posts will require some study (currently away from my Win 10 machine - writing this reply on a MacBook running OS X)

Hi dalchina,

That looks quite simple and straightforward - assuming that Winaero Tweaker is free - and I think I'll try this suggestion first.

Thanks

Art

 

Replacing the default MS Paint with an older version

Okay, so a bit of an odd question (in 3 parts)

Part 1

I DON'T like the new version of MS Paint - where the TAB doesn't tab text in a text box but flips around the text box 'handles', nor do I like the acceleration of a selection box when using the cursor keys to move a selected area around the screen.

So, I have a copy of old MS Paint and the shortcut in my Start Menu and
Taskbar points to that.

Thing is, if I right click on an image file and select 'Open with Paint', it defaults to the newer version because that is sitting in %windir%\System32\mspaint.exe (specifically on my PC in C:\Windows\system32\mspaint.exe)

This also means of course, that the version of Paint that is launced from Start > Windows Accessories > Paint is also the new version (I'd prefer it to be the old version)

Is it a simple matter of changing the path to point to the old version - so that when I right click on an image file and open with Paint, it is the OLD PAINT that is run and not the new?

If so, can someone detail EXACTLY how to do this please - the 'old' version of MS Paint is in W:\Documents\Computer Stuff\WINDOWS 10\OLD MSPAINT\MSOldPaintx64.exe

Part 2

I'd like to change the background on the MS Paint icon to a different colour - e.g. purple - for the Old MS paint so that I can see immediately whether it is the old or new version that I am opening.

I have found out that from Windows 10 Version 1903 (May 2019 Update), the icon is stored in C:\Windows\SystemResources\mspaint.exe.mun

This is of course, for the new version of Paint.

However - what is a MUN file and how do I (a) open it and (b) having edited the icon file save it back? and (c) get the old version of MS Paint to use the edited (purple) version of the icon file??

Hopefully some of you folks will know how to do this.

A final question.

Part 3

If there is a major OS update, will it put all the pointers back to the newer version of Paint in things like the Start Menu and Taskbar?

Cheers,

Art