MS-DOS Editor is a DOS-based text editor that comes with 32-bit Windows XP Home and Professional (As well as virtually all other versions of Windows before it.)

Since Notepad can only handle small files; Editor is sometimes used as a substitute for Notepad. It is a Text User Interface; the color scheme of which is adjustable. Editor can edit files that are up to 65,279 lines and up to approximately 5MB in size. The editor can also open files in binary mode.

The window can be split down the middle into two panes. These can be used to view two files in a single window, or different parts of the same file. Windows has retained this program, and the program file has retained its .com file extension, from its original DOS version back in MS DOS 3.1; although in reality it is an .exe file.

There are 2 ways in which to access this program: The first is by typing “edit” into a command-line. The second, and the more convenient, is by creating an icon on the Desktop. Here’s how to do that:

1. Locate the file “Edit.com” in the folder

%systemroot%\Windows\System32

Where %systemroot% is your system drive. (Usually C:)

2. Right-click on the file and click on “Create Shortcut” to create a shortcut to it.

3. Drag & drop the shortcut to your desktop.

4. Right-click the shortcut icon, select “Properties” from the drop-down box, select the “Program” tab, and ensure that the “Close on Exit” check-box has a tick in it.

5. Click OK

Any time you need to use MS-DOS editor simply click on the Desktop shortcut and the program will activate. To close it click on the X in the right-hand corner or click on “Exit” in the file menu.

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