Recommend a lighweight word processor please

[skykiii]

I used to like wordpad on Windows 98 and XP, then Microsoft ruined it. On Windows 10 I often stick to just typing text files because trying to load rtf leads to whatever is on this machine taking like a million years--rtfs legit load faster on my Windows 98 machine.

But yeah, all I need it to do is rtf files and be something that will load quick. Preferably something that isn't part of some office suite that will ask me to install tons of programs I don't need.

I do NOT need dictionaries, spellcheck, or anything like that. Anything beyond just basic rtf functionality is a bonus.

Any suggestions welcome.

Thanks in advance.

 

[herefortheactualthreads]

isnt libreoffice or openoffice enough?

 

[BigfrodChungusington9000X]

Can't you do a quick Google search or ask chatGPT? Any suggestion I give would just be me doing that for you.

 

[skykiii]

isnt libreoffice or openoffice enough?

Any sort of "office" thing tends to be bloat, and the main thing is I want a program where I can just double-click an RTF and the program starts right up.... any time I've used something-office it's always a thing where it has to show you the splash screen while its loading everything up.

Wordpad on Windows 98 is faster.

 

[herefortheactualthreads]

Any sort of "office" thing tends to be bloat, and the main thing is I want a program where I can just double-click an RTF and the program starts right up.... any time I've used something-office it's always a thing where it has to show you the splash screen while its loading everything up.

Wordpad on Windows 98 is faster.

here some googoogaagaa from chat gpt

You're absolutely not alone—many users have been frustrated by the gradual bloat in modern office software, especially when they just want a simple, lightweight way to open and edit RTF files quickly. Here are some programs that stick to the minimal philosophy you're after—simple, fast, no bloat, and capable of opening/editing RTF files:

---

​

1.​

• Supports RTF.
• Fast and minimal, portable.
• Requires Java Runtime Environment (JRE), so not truly native.
• https://wordrider.net

2.​

• Based on WordPad engine.
• RTF support, tabbed interface.
• Extremely fast to launch.
• No Office suite dependencies.
• Some versions have minor nags about “upgrade to Plus.”
• https://www.jarte.com

3.​

• Simple GUI, very lightweight.
• Loads instantly.
• True RTF editing and saving.
• No fancy formatting or extended features.
• http://www.nllgg.nl/Ted

4.​

• Extremely lightweight Notepad replacement.
• Plugin-based: you can enable just what you want.
• RTF support via plugin.
• Plugin setup isn’t automatic; requires minimal config.
• http://akelpad.sourceforge.net/en/

5.​

• Not for RTF by default but worth mentioning.
• Super-fast text editor, Notepad replacement.
• No RTF support out of the box, but perfect for .txt files.
• https://liquidninja.com/metapad/

---

BONUS: "Strip the Extras" Approach​

If you really miss WordPad from older versions:

• Copy wordpad.exe and wordpadfilter.dll from a Windows XP or 7 install.
• It often still runs on modern systems (Windows 10), just as a standalone file.
• Tip: Run it in compatibility mode if it misbehaves.

---

Final Thoughts​

You’re absolutely right—modern machines with bloated software often feel slower than older ones running lean apps. For RTF, Jarte and Ted are probably your best bets: fast, free, portable, and designed with low overhead.


Let me know if you want help setting one of these up or if you’re looking for portable/no-install options specifically.

 

[XYZpdq Jr.]

can you just grab an old wordpad exe?
tbh I've thought about digging up an old Word95 or something for a while but I rarely need more than google docs and my job gets me Current Word for work shit so I've never bothered

 

[Migraine Box]

can you just grab an old wordpad exe?
tbh I've thought about digging up an old Word95 or something for a while but I rarely need more than google docs and my job gets me Current Word for work shit so I've never bothered

Office 97 will still install and run absolutely perfectly on every version of Windows up to 11 so far, lol. I think Office 2000 does as well but iirc that was the first one that required internet activation instead of a simple CD key

 

[Margo Martindale]

Office 97 will still install and run absolutely perfectly on every version of Windows up to 11 so far, lol. I think Office 2000 does as well but iirc that was the first one that required internet activation instead of a simple CD key

I would be surprised if the activation infrastructure for Office 2000 was even still up and running

 

[$5.3 Million Dollars]

I use LibreOffice, if you don't want it to load up the whole suite you just pin or shortcut the Writer part of it specifically. It goes right to a text document. It loads quick for me but I've got no clue if that'd be the same on your machine.

If not that I'd try out FocusWriter, its free and only includes a word processor. I've got friends who swear by it for writing for long periods of time without getting distracted by a bunch of windows.

Most of the other stand alone ones I know of require a license fee or you deal with Winrar type reminders, I'm not sure if that's a deal breaker for you.

 

[skykiii]

Thanks guys, I've got enough suggestions to sort through now.

It seems like Jarte is gonna be the winner.

 

[BradeRunna]

Wordpad. It comes free with Windows, and it still works the same way it did on the older version of Windows. There is also Notepad. If you want to edit a config file for a game. That's all I use it for.

If you need to be an absolute total hipster I guess you can look around with Google for some other free programs like Wordpad.

 

[Major Discord]

Just use neovim/neovide.

 

[Migraine Box]

I would be surprised if the activation infrastructure for Office 2000 was even still up and running

The activation servers are long, long gone, but at least with Office XP (and Windows XP itself lol) the activation phone hotline still works for some reason

 

[Billy Bob Dick]

Thanks guys, I've got enough suggestions to sort through now.

It seems like Jarte is gonna be the winner.

pardon a stupid question, but why rtf? I just use Notepad for everything.

If I need actual formatting options then I open Word. What does rtf offer that txt doesn't? I haven't used Wordpad in ages.

Wordpad. It comes free with Windows, and it still works the same way it did on the older version of Windows. There is also Notepad. If you want to edit a config file for a game. That's all I use it for.

...I'll be damned. I just searched Wordpad on my machine and it opened right up. I didn't know it was still part of W10

 

[spacko]

wordperfect 5.0

 

[Gorton Colu]

Jarte

 

[skykiii]

pardon a stupid question, but why rtf? I just use Notepad for everything.

Essentially, there's a few situations where I want to have options like boldface and italics. You can't do those in txt.

Like for example:

Chapter Title

Pre-chapter entry from some in-universe historical text, Dune style -- So-and-So the Historian

This is the kind of thing you can't do in plain text, you need rtf at the very least.

In plain text, you'd have to do it like:

CHAPTER TITLE
Pre-chapter entry from some in-universe historical text, Dune style -- So-and-So the Historian

I could possibly surround that with tildes or something so it stands out, but its kind of a clunky workaround and there's plenty of situations where I may want that formatting.

I also sometimes use colored text, usually for notes to myself in drafts saying things like "note to self: the above is a placeholder, come up with something better later."

...I'll be damned. I just searched Wordpad on my machine and it opened right up. I didn't know it was still part of W10

It is, but they changed the interface and made a lot of tweaks that made Wordpad annoying. I can't remember which version of Windows it was that introduced a Wordpad I hated.... I want to say it was Vista, but it might have even been XP. Whichever one totally changed the interface.

Anyway, once again, it seems like Jarte is what I'm looking for.

 

[EllenDrawsRapeOfHerHaters]

Go to Linux retard.

 

[the rat]

It is, but they changed the interface and made a lot of tweaks that made Wordpad annoying. I can't remember which version of Windows it was that introduced a Wordpad I hated.... I want to say it was Vista, but it might have even been XP. Whichever one totally changed the interface.

Anyway, once again, it seems like Jarte is what I'm looking for.

It was updated to the ribbon interface version we see today in Windows 7. The one from Vista will probably be your best bet if you want old WordPad working on modern Windows.

 

[Kamway]

If you don't mind paying, I can't say enough good things about Atlantis. One-time payment of $50 for the lifetime version, feature rich & IT FUCKING WORKS OFFLINE.