Note Pad - Files are lost

O/S Windows Home Basic. Had Word Pad. It is lost now. Do not know what I did to lose it. Tried all I knew (Nothing much) to get it back. But failed.
Now am using the Note Pad. Saving files and getting them back is a problem with ANSI, Unicode, UTF - 8.
Is there a sensible way to save files and get them back in NotePad please ?
Downloaded Sub Pad. It is of not much of use to me.
Downloaded Open Office Org, but it is too large for my small writings.
Kindly recommend a free to use pad that would work on English and foreign language too.
Thank you.