Fonts have changed

[Guest]

I have used control panel to remove software. I removed a number of progrms
because my disk was nearly full and i was aware that System Restore would not
work. On Reboot the font has changed so all user accounts come up in a
language i dont understand, its like Wing Dings. All icon names on the
desktop come up with the same useless names as do the file names in the
folders.
I have tried using system restore and then Last Known Good Configeration but
no joy

Th pc is second hane loaded oem with ME, upgraded to XP I dont have either
OS on disk but need to get the PC back up and running

Can you help

 

[Guest]

when you get to the list of fonts, scroll to the very top and try the 4th or
5th one down this should be aerial font if you have it, pete

 

[Mike Hall \(MS-MVP\)]

Paul

I think that you will find that it is a font called Martlett, which makes it
as good as impossible to navigate through to correct the problem.

The only way to get over it is to 'repair' or clean install because of the
confusion it causes, and without an XP CD, this is not possible.

 

[Malke]

Paul

I think that you will find that it is a font called Martlett, which
makes it as good as impossible to navigate through to correct the
problem.

The only way to get over it is to 'repair' or clean install because of
the confusion it causes, and without an XP CD, this is not possible.

Actually, repair is possible but it isn't easy and one may not be able
to do this without an XP CD. As you say, Mike, it's quite hard without
having a second computer to refer to. I've done it like this (per Kelly
Theriot):

Make a work folder - say C:\Tempfont. Put the CD in the drive and exit
from the auto-run. Now, obviously you need an XP CD or to have a full
i386 folder on the hard drive.

Start>Run>cmd [enter]

(letter of the CD drive, ex. E so at the command prompt:
E: (or you will have to navigate to the i386 folder on the hard drive)
cd i386
EXPAND *.TT_ C:\TEMPFONT
EXPAND *.FO_ C:\TEMPFONT
C:
cd \TEMPFONT
ren *.TT_ *.TTF
ren *.FO_ *.FON
exit

That will extract all 298 fonts to C:\TEMPFONT. Browse to C:\Tempfont,
and Ctrl-A to select All. Check the 'Copy to fonts folder' box before
OK. So now you've copied all the good fonts to the Windows Fonts
folder. When you're done, you can delete the TEMPFONT folder.

Here's another method (I think I got this from Kelly, too):

Move the contents of the Fonts folder to an empty folder. By opening the
Fonts folder, select all the fonts, copy them, and paste them to a new
folder. Open your registry and find the key below:

HKEY LOCAL MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Fonts

(note: I often find this is completely missing. Export it from a working
registry. Afterwards, go in and remove non-working fonts because they
aren't really installed in there.)

Highlight the key and press DELETE. Once the key has been deleted create
a new key to replace it, by selecting Edit -> New -> Key and name the
new key [Fonts].

Restart the computer, then re-install the fonts by opening the Control
Panel, double-click on 'Fonts'. And from the File menu select 'Install
New Fonts...' adding the fonts that were previously copied to the
temporary directory.

Fonts Supplied with Windows XP -
http://www.microsoft.com/typography/fonts/winxp.htm
How to Determine the Default Windows Fonts -
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;EN-US;Q254768
TrueType Fonts Shipped with Microsoft Applications -
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;EN-US;Q123084
Fonts that are installed with Microsoft Office -
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;837463
HOW TO: Install or Remove a Font in Windows XP -
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;314960
Fonts - Replace All (Kelly Theriot) -
http://www.kellys-korner-xp.com/xp_f.htm

Malke

 

[Mike Hall \(MS-MVP\)]

Malke

Interesting stuff.. I will keep a note of it.. also noted is that an XP CD
is required.. the last time that I saw a meaningful i386 folder on anything
was an IBM laptop.. one does not often come across i386 folders, so the CD
becomes ever more important.. either way, in this case, I suspect that the
OP is going to have to appropriate a CD of the right type

It happened to me just the one time, and I had nothing to compare side by
side.. so I just did a repair install, and all was well after.. talk about
frustrating.. as good as you think you know Windows, when all you get is one
font for all, and not even a font that you can read?.. and why is the
Martlett font the only one working?.. why can't it be Arial or TNR?

--
Mike Hall
MVP - Windows Shell/User

Paul

I think that you will find that it is a font called Martlett, which
makes it as good as impossible to navigate through to correct the
problem.

The only way to get over it is to 'repair' or clean install because of
the confusion it causes, and without an XP CD, this is not possible.

Actually, repair is possible but it isn't easy and one may not be able
to do this without an XP CD. As you say, Mike, it's quite hard without
having a second computer to refer to. I've done it like this (per Kelly
Theriot):

Make a work folder - say C:\Tempfont. Put the CD in the drive and exit
from the auto-run. Now, obviously you need an XP CD or to have a full
i386 folder on the hard drive.

Start>Run>cmd [enter]

(letter of the CD drive, ex. E so at the command prompt:
E: (or you will have to navigate to the i386 folder on the hard drive)
cd i386
EXPAND *.TT_ C:\TEMPFONT
EXPAND *.FO_ C:\TEMPFONT
C:
cd \TEMPFONT
ren *.TT_ *.TTF
ren *.FO_ *.FON
exit

That will extract all 298 fonts to C:\TEMPFONT. Browse to C:\Tempfont,
and Ctrl-A to select All. Check the 'Copy to fonts folder' box before
OK. So now you've copied all the good fonts to the Windows Fonts
folder. When you're done, you can delete the TEMPFONT folder.

Here's another method (I think I got this from Kelly, too):

Move the contents of the Fonts folder to an empty folder. By opening the
Fonts folder, select all the fonts, copy them, and paste them to a new
folder. Open your registry and find the key below:

HKEY LOCAL MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Fonts

(note: I often find this is completely missing. Export it from a working
registry. Afterwards, go in and remove non-working fonts because they
aren't really installed in there.)

Highlight the key and press DELETE. Once the key has been deleted create
a new key to replace it, by selecting Edit -> New -> Key and name the
new key [Fonts].

Restart the computer, then re-install the fonts by opening the Control
Panel, double-click on 'Fonts'. And from the File menu select 'Install
New Fonts...' adding the fonts that were previously copied to the
temporary directory.

Fonts Supplied with Windows XP -
http://www.microsoft.com/typography/fonts/winxp.htm
How to Determine the Default Windows Fonts -
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;EN-US;Q254768
TrueType Fonts Shipped with Microsoft Applications -
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;EN-US;Q123084
Fonts that are installed with Microsoft Office -
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;837463
HOW TO: Install or Remove a Font in Windows XP -
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;314960
Fonts - Replace All (Kelly Theriot) -
http://www.kellys-korner-xp.com/xp_f.htm

Malke
--
Elephant Boy Computers
www.elephantboycomputers.com
"Don't Panic!"
MS-MVP Windows - Shell/User

 

[Malke]

Mike Hall (MS-MVP) wrote:
and why is the Martlett font the only one working?.. why can't

it be Arial or TNR?

Because that would be too easy. ;-)

Malke

 

[logan]

Yes, and your welcome...


I choose Polesoft Lockspam to fight spam, and you?
http://www.polesoft.com/refer.html

 

[Tom [Pepper] Willett]

Troll Boy is back: NNTP-Posting-Host: d14-69-147-213.try.wideopenwest.com
69.14.213.147

 

[Guest]

Hi, I found the CD and did a repair of XP.

thanks for the help