Well, I'll try again...

[AlCamp]

I've posted this question to 2 XP groups, and still no reponses. I can't
believe that no one can give me a hand with this very basic question. I've
web searched and K/B searched, and can not find any documentation on this
problem.

Somehow... in Windows XP Pro my Properties/Appearance/Advanced - "Windows
Text" font has changed to what appears to be MS San Serif 8pt. bold. As far
as I
know, it has always been Arial 8pt normal.

The Sans Serif causes many of my application dialog boxes to not display
properly, and to chop off text in some cases. (font
is a bit too long).
I have always had "Windows Classic" defined as my theme, but regardless
of what
theme I choose, none of them allow Font and FontSize change via the
Appearance/Advanced dialog box.

On Appearance - "Windows Text", I can only chose a foreground and background
color... the options for Font and FontSize are defeated!

Why is that??
and...
How can I change the "Windows Text" font and size??

Thanks for any assistance...
Al Camp

 

[Guest]

Make sure the attributes on %windir%\fonts is set to read only and system.

 

[Michael Solomon \(MS-MVP\)]

First, be sure your antivirus software has the latest definitions and run a
virus scan.

Second, download, install and run Ad Aware:
www.lavasoftusa.com

If this is a relatively recent issue, you might try using System Restore to
take you back to a time when this worked properly. Start\All
Programs\Accessories\System Tools\System Restore. If that doesn't resolve
it, try the information below.

The following assumes you have an actual XP CD as opposed to a restore CD or
restore partition supplied by your PC manufacturer.

Go to Start, type sfc /scannow in the run box and press enter. Note, there
is a space between sfc and the forward slash. You will be asked for your XP
CD. Be aware, upon inserting the CD the XP setup screen may appear, this is
not a part of sfc /scannow, rather it is being invoked by autorun. Simply
minimize the screen and allow sfc to continue.

If the above fails to resolve the issue, try a repair install as follows:

Be sure you are well backed up in case there is a problem from which you are
unable to recover. NOTE, while a repair install should leave your data
files intact, if something goes wrong during the repair install, you may be
forced to start over and do a clean install of XP. If you don't have your
data backed up, you would lose your data should that eventuality occur.

Assuming your system is set to boot from the CD-ROM drive, boot with the XP
CD in the drive. If it isn't or you are not sure, you need to enter the
system's BIOS. When you boot the system, the first screen usually has
instructions that if you wish to enter setup press a specific key, when you
see that, do so. Then you will have to navigate to the boot sequence, if
the CD-ROM drive is not first line, set it first in the boot sequence. Save
your settings and exit with the XP CD in the drive. The system will reboot.

Boot from the CD. If your system is set to be able to boot from the CD, it
should detect the disk and give a brief message, during the boot up, if you
wish to boot from the CD press any key.

Once you have pressed a key, setup should begin. You will see a reference
asking if you need to load special drivers and another notice that if you
wish to begin the ASR (Automatic Recovery Console) depress F2. Just let
setup run past all of that. It will continue to load files and drivers.

Then it will bring you to a screen. Eventually, you will come to a screen
with the option to (1) setup Windows or (2) Repair Windows Installation
using the Recovery console.

The first option, to setup Windows is the one you want and requires you to
press enter. When asked, press F8 to accept the end user agreement. Setup
will then search for previous versions of Windows. Upon finding your
version, it will ask if you wish to Repair your current installation or
install fresh. Press R, that will run a repair installation. From there
on, follow the screens.

 

[Steve N.]

I've posted this question to 2 XP groups, and still no reponses. I can't
believe that no one can give me a hand with this very basic question. I've
web searched and K/B searched, and can not find any documentation on this
problem.

Somehow... in Windows XP Pro my Properties/Appearance/Advanced - "Windows
Text" font has changed to what appears to be MS San Serif 8pt. bold. As far
as I
know, it has always been Arial 8pt normal.

The Sans Serif causes many of my application dialog boxes to not display
properly, and to chop off text in some cases. (font
is a bit too long).
I have always had "Windows Classic" defined as my theme, but regardless
of what
theme I choose, none of them allow Font and FontSize change via the
Appearance/Advanced dialog box.

On Appearance - "Windows Text", I can only chose a foreground and background
color... the options for Font and FontSize are defeated!

Why is that??
and...
How can I change the "Windows Text" font and size??

Thanks for any assistance...
Al Camp

You may have a missing or corrupted font.

See if this KB article helps:

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/314960

Steve

 

[AlCamp]

Duhvidson,
The ReadOnly is checked... (the checkbox is "muted" but checked). As for
"system", I'm not sure how to determine that. I checked the properties, and
all the property tabs for the Font directory, but couldn't find any choice
for "System".
On the Sharing Tab, there is an informational statement that says... in
effect... "All the options on this tab are disabled because this folder used
by the Operating System." Is that the "system" designation?

What happens when you select Properties/Appearance/Advanced - Windows
Text?
Does your dialog box allow you to change the Font or FontSize for "Window
Text"?

Thanks for your help.
Al Camp

 

[AlCamp]

Michael,
1. Have already run AVG version 7 (latest version), with latest
definitions, and it ran clean.
2. Have already run AdAware and Spybot with latest updates, and they ran
clean.
3. Ran sfc /scannow per your instructions...
BINGO!!
My Windows Text font is no longer bolded, and appears to be Arial
(or at least Arial-like) again. Dialog boxes are fine.

Thanks a lot Mike... this was really getting to me! Just to be on the
safe side, I'll dump a couple of small apps that may have caused the problem
in the first place.
And, I'll study up on sfc... I've never used it before.
As we say up here... "Wicked Good!"... and thanks again,

Al Camp

 

[AlCamp]

Steve,
Thanks for that info. I ran sfc /scannow per Michael Solomon, and that
fixed the problem.
However, I was just about to try what you suggested, and this article
would have been a real help. I'll bookmark that article.
Thanks again,
Al Camp

 

[Michael Solomon \(MS-MVP\)]

You're welcome, Al, good luck.

 

[Guest]

Seems that you don't need this information, but just FYI, open a cmd window.
get to the %windir% directory (I assume something like cd\windows).

Type "Attrib fonts"\

The response should show:
S R c:\windows\fonts.

The S is for System, the R for read only. (other options are A for Archive
and H for hidden).

For more information on attrib, type Attrib /? it will show you how to reset
fiiles and folders.

 

[Steve N.]

Steve,
Thanks for that info. I ran sfc /scannow per Michael Solomon, and that
fixed the problem.
However, I was just about to try what you suggested, and this article
would have been a real help. I'll bookmark that article.
Thanks again,
Al Camp

You're welcome Al and I'm glad you got it fixed. I was going to suggest
sfc /scannow at first but wasn't sure it would fix the fonts issue so I
looked further.

BTW, the link to the article was in the first 10 hits of a Google search
for Windows Default Fonts. Using Google is often better than searching
the MS KB directly.

Steve

 

[AlCamp]

Duhvidson,
Didn't realize you were referring to DOS (you call it cmd) when
determining the Attributes for C:\Windows\Fonts . No problem... I go back
to DOS 2.1!
I dropped the "\" in your command... and "attrib fonts" yielded S R.
Thanks for all the help...
Alk Camp

 

[AlCamp]

Steve,
I did try Google right off the bat, but I searched on "Windows XP"
"Appearance" "Window Text" "Fonts" in various combinations. All I got was
"normally" changing Window font articles.
I only tried K/B as a last shot, and used the same terms as I did in
Google.
A miss is as good as a mile!'
Thanks,
Al Camp

 

[Steve N.]

Steve,
I did try Google right off the bat, but I searched on "Windows XP"
"Appearance" "Window Text" "Fonts" in various combinations. All I got was
"normally" changing Window font articles.
I only tried K/B as a last shot, and used the same terms as I did in
Google.
A miss is as good as a mile!'
Thanks,
Al Camp

Yeah, it is often difficult to figure out exactly what keywords to
search for. I frequently have the same difficulty, but Google has been
more rewarding than searching the KB directly, in my experience anyway.
I know MS has revamped it a time or two but it is still in the kludgy
stage as far as I'm concerned.

Steve

 

[PA Bear]

<applause>

Michael,
1. Have already run AVG version 7 (latest version), with latest
definitions, and it ran clean.
2. Have already run AdAware and Spybot with latest updates, and they
ran
clean.
3. Ran sfc /scannow per your instructions...
BINGO!!
My Windows Text font is no longer bolded, and appears to be Arial
(or at least Arial-like) again. Dialog boxes are fine.

Thanks a lot Mike... this was really getting to me! Just to be on the
safe side, I'll dump a couple of small apps that may have caused the
problem
in the first place.
And, I'll study up on sfc... I've never used it before.
As we say up here... "Wicked Good!"... and thanks again,

Al Camp