Cannot Add or View Fonts, Windows Reports an Incorrect Number of Installed Fonts (312459)


The information in this article applies to:

  • Microsoft Windows 98 Second Edition
  • Microsoft Windows 98
This article was previously published under Q312459

SYMPTOMS

When you attempt to manage fonts on your computer, you may see the following behaviors:
  • When you attempt to add fonts, you may receive an error message similar to the following:
    Windows cannot install the fontname (TrueType) font. There may be too many fonts installed, or the font file may be damaged.

    Uninstall some fonts before installing new ones, or check with your font vendor about obtaining a new file.
    You receive this error message even though you have fewer than 800 fonts installed.
  • When you attempt to view a font, the font viewer does not open. You are unable to preview the font. (To view a font, double-click the font in the Fonts tool in Control Panel.)
  • After you remove fonts, Windows reports an incorrect number of installed fonts. For example, if you reduce the number of installed fonts to 600, Windows may report that you have 800.

CAUSE

This issue can occur because of an incompatible or corrupted font file on the computer.

RESOLUTION

To resolve this issue, follow these steps:
  1. Insert a Windows 98 Startup disk, and then restart the computer to a command prompt with CD-ROM support.

    For additional information about how to create a Windows 98 Startup disk, click the article number below to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

    187632 How to Create a Windows 98 Startup Disk that Supports FAT32

  2. Make a note of the drive letter that is assigned to the CD-ROM drive.
  3. Insert the Windows 98 compact disc (CD) into the CD-ROM drive.
  4. Change to the C:\Windows directory. To do this, follow these steps:
    1. Type c:, and then press ENTER.
    2. Type cd\windows, and then press ENTER.
  5. Type rename fonts oldfonts, and then press ENTER.

    NOTE: The Oldfonts folder contains all of your previous fonts.
  6. Type md fonts, and then press ENTER.
  7. Type attrib +s c:\windows\fonts, and then press ENTER.
  8. Type a:\, and then press ENTER.
  9. Type ext, and then press ENTER.

    Microsoft Extract Command Line Helper starts.
  10. Type drive:\win98, where drive is the drive letter of your CD-ROM drive, and then press ENTER. For example, type d:\win98, and then press ENTER.

    NOTE: If you have an original equipment manufacturer (OEM) installation of Windows 98, the Windows installation files may also be stored in the following folder:

    C:\WINDOWS\OPTIONS\CABS

  11. Type *.ttf *.fon, and then press ENTER.

    NOTE: There is a space between *.ttf and *.fon.
  12. Type c:\windows\fonts, and then press ENTER.
  13. Type y, and then press ENTER.

    The font files are extracted.
  14. Change to the C:\Windows\Oldfonts directory. To do this, follow these steps:
    1. Type c:, and then press ENTER.
    2. Type cd\windows\oldfonts, and then press ENTER.
  15. Type copy desktop.ini c:\windows\fonts, and then press ENTER.
  16. Type rename desktop.ini desktop.old, and then press ENTER.
  17. Type cd\windows, and then press ENTER.
  18. Type attrib -h -r -s ttfcache, and then press ENTER.
  19. Type del ttfcache, and then press ENTER.
  20. Remove the Windows 98 Startup disk, and then restart the computer.
  21. Click Start, and then click Run.
  22. In the Open box, type C:\Windows\Fonts, and then click OK.
  23. In the Fonts dialog box, click Close on the File menu.

MORE INFORMATION

For additional information about restoring Windows default fonts, click the article number below to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

234749 How to Restore the Windows Default Fonts

For additional information about extracting Windows files, click the article number below to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

129605 How to Extract Original Compressed Windows Files

Modification Type:MinorLast Reviewed:12/20/2004
Keywords:kberrmsg kbprb KB312459
©2004 Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved.