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Problems Installing Fonts into Windows

If you have tried to follow the instructions for installing fonts into Windows, but you are still having problems, these solutions may help.


Problem
  • In Windows 95, when you try to install a font into the Fonts folder, you get a message that the font file is corrupt or damaged.
  • In Window 98, when you try to install a font, you see the hourglass for a while, and then the font is no longer selected, but it is not installed.

Solution
You may have exceeded the Windows 95/98 installed font limit. This limit is based on the amount of space allocated for font names and path names to font files in the Windows Registry. The longer your font names and files paths to the fonts are, the fewer fonts you can install at one time before reaching the limit.

In general, you can install between 800 and 1000 fonts. This number can vary for individual systems, so use this number as a guideline, not a rule. To fix the problem, remove some fonts before installing new ones.

Do not remove the following fonts from the Fonts folder:

  • Arial
  • Courier New
  • Lucida
  • Symbol
  • Tahoma
  • Times New Roman
  • WingDings

If you are trying to manage over 500 fonts, you may want to invest in a font management utility such as Font Reserve to help you install and remove fonts quickly.


Problem
On the Windows Fonts folder, the command "Install New Font" does not appear on the File menu (or any other menu.)

Solution
If the Fonts folder loses its System attribute, the "Install New Font" option disappears from the File menu, and you can not add new fonts. Microsoft describes this problem and the solutions in Article ID: Q133725. You can see the solution to this problem on Microsoft's Web pages.

OR

Call Microsoft Windows Technical Support and ask for article ID Q133725.
Microsoft Support phone numbers: USA (425)635-7000
Canada (905)568-4494

To restore the correct commands for the Fonts folder, following these steps, as suggested by Microsoft:

  1. Open the MSDOS command prompt
  2. Switch to the Windows folder by typing the following command: cd\windows, and then press the ENTER key.

    NOTE: If Windows is installed in a folder other than the Windows folder, adjust these instructions accordingly.

  3. Type this command: attrib fonts +s, and press ENTER.
  4. Exit the DOS prompt by typing: EXIT, and then press ENTER. If you are running Windows 95, shut down and restart Windows.
  5. Open the Fonts folder.
    • Choose Start > Settings > Control Panel.
    • In Control Panel, double-click the Fonts folder.
  6. On the File menu, Install New Font should appear as a choice.

    NOTE: You cannot set the System attribute for the Fonts folder within the Windows user interface. You must use the commands in DOS.

If the Install New Font command for the Fonts folder is not restored by changing the System attribute of the Windows/Fonts folder, the Fontext.dll file may be missing or damaged. To replace the Fontext.dll file, follow the steps in the appropriate section of Microsoft Article ID: Q133725.


Problem
When I install a font, I get a message saying the font is already installed.

Solution
This message can appear when you are installing a new version of the same font.

  1. Check the Windows Fonts folder to see if the font is already installed.
    • To open the Fonts folder, choose Start > Settings > Control Panel.
    • Double-click the Fonts folder.
    • Scroll through the list of fonts to see if the font you are trying to install is already installed.
  2. If the font is already installed, remove the font from the Fonts folder. To remove a font, select it and choose File > Delete.
  3. If the font is not installed, restart Windows, and try installing the font again.

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