Windows 7 - Fonts will NO LONGER preview in Preview Pane

Hello,

I've screwed something up in my Windows 7, 64 Bit Version, and hope someone here can help me.

Previously I could preview .ttf Font files in the Preview Pane of Windows Explorer just by clicking on them. I could also see what the font would look like on the actual Font Icon.

However I discovered I COULD NOT view an .otf Font file so I decided to look around and find out how to get the .otf files to also preview, this is when I got into trouble.

I changed both of the file associations (.ttf and .otf) to be viewed by the Windows Font Viewer and now I can't preview any fonts. I get a generic message that they are not valid font files but they are.

Also now all the Font Icons are a blue "A" with a little magnifying glass on it instead of the previous one that looked like the actual font.

I tried reversing what I did but even though Windows 7 is still showing Font Expert as a suggested program to use, it won't let me check the little box to ALWAYS use that program.

I don't know if the previous Font Icons in Windows Explorer were due to Font Expert or if that was just something Windows Explorer showed.

I'd love to have my PREVIEW PANE back in the font display as it showed what the font would look like larger.

If someone can help me I'd be most appreciative.

Thanks so much.

Jenn

Sorry I can't actually help you with the problem that you currently have as I use a "Font Manager" called "Bitstream" (comes with CorelDraw).
I don't think this is freely available but maybe one of these free font managers might help until your problem could be resolved.

FontViewer

Free and easy fonts viewer

Thank you for the input PooMan, I have a Font Viewer called Font Expert 2009 and I can view the fonts in it ..

I just want to be able to view them again in Windows Explorer ... guess this will teach me to leave well enough alone.

I appreciate your help.

Jenn

Well, it took me all day and night but I finally found the solution to my problem.

For those who haven't had the displeasure of finding out as I did .. neither Vista or Windows 7 has a way of un-associating an incorrect file association/extension.

As I mentioned in my Help Question, I knew I had apparently assigned the incorrect file association in trying view my .otf fonts the same way my .ttf fonts viewed, as samples of the text, instead of the generic font icon.

I finally found a small program written by Ramesh Srinivasan that would Un-Associate, or Delete the offending File extension.

I simple used the un-associate part of the program on my .otf and .ttf file associations and it went back to the default and returned the panose view (sample view) back to my computer.

Btw, I also discovered that there is no way to add a program to your Default Programs with Vista or Windows 7 .. which IMHO is a really bad flaw in both versions of Windows.

Hope no one else has to go through what I did yesterday to find the solution. Since I'm new to the forum I was unsure if I was allowed to share the link to the site or not.

If someone advises me it's okay I will come back and do it .. you can bet I won't be without this tiny little program again, but then I'll be more careful with file association.

Jenn

Huh, interesting.

Thanks for posting the solution

Hi JennB213, thanks for this info! I too have had the same issue. Can you give me more info on the program you downloaded to fix this?


I finally found a small program written by Ramesh Srinivasan that would Un-Associate, or Delete the offending File extension.

An Utility to Unassociate File Types in Windows 7 and Vista

Program is here. I found it, downloaded it but I still have the problem- the new fonts I have downloaded are not viewable. Any suggestions? They are inthe folder C/windows/fonts but I can't view/use them in Word, Notepad or Photoshop.

@xform ~ I apologize for not responding for some reason I did not see or receive your message even though I am subscribed to the thread. jennymac found the program via google I'll bet, that is how I found it. Again, I'm sorry I didn't your your message.


@jennymac ~ What are the file format extensions you are having trouble viewing .. I had to RESTORE my .otf and .ttf through the registry settings (don't panic) .. it's all explained here and I'll give you the link. They've already done the hard work for you, all you have to do is follow the simple instructions, and they are simple.

Before you jump into doing it read the thread, from the top down to where they list the different file formats that can be retrieved/restored to default. It will explain a few things to you.

Default File Type Associations - Restore

I followed the instructions for .otf and .ttf fonts restore and now the view is back as long as I have OPTIONS set to view Large Icons (I like the Large Icons, you can see it better) ....

Do you also use the PREVIEW PANE ??

I think once you put the Fonts in your C > Windows > Fonts Folder they should be accessible to any program you use on your computer.

A word of caution, I wouldn't load up the Windows Font Folder with every font you find. You can OVERLOAD your Windows Fonts.

Also, if I'm correct I think that can even slow down your Windows start up. I personally have a folder elsewhere that I save all my surplus fonts and only add ones I really like and know I'll use a lot to the Windows Font Folder.

Windows 7 does have a thing where you can add a shortcut of a font to the Windows Font Folder and then you are supposed to be able to use the font as if it's installed ... without the bulk of actually installing the font.

Another little bit of information, I still have SOME (a very small few) fonts, that show only the generic blue font sign but have found those fonts WILL NOT even load into a font viewer. I get an error message. I never did find out what that was all about, have had some people tell me it has something to do with the Clear Text Setting in fonts .. I honestly don't know and have finally given up on that. I've got to when I run into that problem I just delete them, no sense in hanging onto them if you can't use them.

I hope I haven't confused you, wish I could add screen shots here to help you but I'll try and watch for any future posts you might submit.

Have a good day ~!!

Jenn

I bought a new PC and i've been adding all these fonts to my fonts folder when all of sudden they disappeared from the folder... i can't see them or view any of the fonts.. i opened MS Word to see if they're still there and the fonts are in there via MS Word but i can't see them when i view them in the fonts folder... any help... (Windows 7 64 bit)