Windows displaying symbols instead of legible text.

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  1. pi314
    Posts : 5
    windows 7 home premium
       New #1

    Windows displaying symbols instead of legible text.


    Hi there,

    I have this problem with my computer after updating windows 7 (Home Premium 64bits)
    After the update is installed and my computer restarted, the text are replaced with symbols, triangles, and other characters instead of legible text. This occurs as windows starts up and at the log in screen and after logging in.

    I search the net for similar problems and tried the suggested remedies of sfc /scannow in command prompt and also sfc /verifyonly (this states no problems with the integrity of the system).
    I also checked the location setting to be US English and this is not the issue.
    And I also tried to do the following instructions found on the following link: Windows 7 Symbols Instead Of Text? but could not find \FontAssoc\....in the
    [HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\FontAssoc\Associated Charset]

    Please help because the only way to get my computer back is to restore to a previous point when this happens after updating windows. I would like to avoid doing this when windows updates and restarts.

    Thank you in advance.
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  3. NoelDP
    Posts : 21,482
    Win 7 x64 Home Premium (and x86 VirtualBox VM)/Win10
       New #2

    look at the second-to-last response in that thread - it may help....
    <quote>
    I had a similar problem today after restarting Win7 on my laptop. When I checked the fonts (Start button --> type "fonts"), I realized that all of my fonts were missing besides unicode. I transfered all of my fonts from my old laptop to my new laptop that had the problem, and everything went back to normal.
    </quote>

    (FWIW, my registry doesn't have the stated Key either, in Regedit)
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  4. pi314
    Posts : 5
    windows 7 home premium
    Thread Starter
       New #3

    Fonts looked up in start button


    Hello Noel,

    I followed the instructions on the 2nd to last reply and when I typed in 'fonts' at the start button, I have a listing of many fonts. However, I do notice many foreign characters fonts (asian, arabic and other fonts.) Also, under MS gothic font are foreign characters. I do not need the foreign characters so do I delete them one by one.

    Could you provide me with instructions to copy fonts from another computer to mine if I am to do this (e.g. where to place the fonts when I copied it) Sorry for this trivial request but I am not good with computers and do not want to do something else to further make things worse.

    I've also attached a couple of screen captures of the fonts I mentioned above.

    Thank you again
    Attached Thumbnails Attached Thumbnails Windows displaying symbols instead of legible text.-fontsimage1.jpg   Windows displaying symbols instead of legible text.-fontsimage2.jpg   Windows displaying symbols instead of legible text.-fontsimage3.jpg  
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  6. NoelDP
    Posts : 21,482
    Win 7 x64 Home Premium (and x86 VirtualBox VM)/Win10
       New #4

    There is NO NEED to delete anything!
    The post I directed you at said that their fonts had already been deleted, and they had to reinstall them - as far as I can see your installed fonts are correct, no NO ACTION is required.

    I suspect that your System Font has been changed somehow -

    Go to the Desktop, and right-click on it.
    select Personalise (the bottom entry)
    Select a theme (any theme - it doesn't matter for the moment which)
    Then click on the Window Colour icon at the bottom of the window (2nd from the left)
    This should bring up the Windows Colour and Appearance window - in the top selection-box on the left, select "Selected Items" and click Apply, then change the Font there to 'Segoe UI' (or at least change the setting, and click Apply - hopefully it'll then show something readable!)
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  7. pi314
    Posts : 5
    windows 7 home premium
    Thread Starter
       New #5

    Not deleting fonts


    Hello again,

    I went through your latest instructions and realized at the end of your instructions, you mentioned that hopefully this makes it legible. These instructions are under the assumptions that I am working with a screen with illegible text (e.g. symbols, etc.)
    I have already did a system restore to a point without the problem so I would not know if this had the desired effects.

    I would like to find out what is causing my laptop to display these symbols whenever I either update windows or on occasions when I restart or boot up the machine.

    I apologize if I did not mention this earlier. I am getting very frustrated with this issue because it has happened about 4 times now.

    Please help in any way possible and thank you again.

    --Phil
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  8. NoelDP
    Posts : 21,482
    Win 7 x64 Home Premium (and x86 VirtualBox VM)/Win10
       New #6

    Ah - that does make a difference :)

    OK - since you managed to use System Restore to go back to a usable system, it's likely that there is one corrupted file in your WU tree that is causing the problem, and that the repeated reinstall of this results in the repeated error.
    What updates are listed if you go to WU? Do NOT install any of them yet!
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  10. pi314
    Posts : 5
    windows 7 home premium
    Thread Starter
       New #7

    WU information


    I checked my windows update settings and the lists of updates already installed.
    My computer is set to check for, download and install updates when available automatically so it looks like the last update was on 10/25/2011.

    I've included a screen capture of the update listings (most recent) and just in case the capture is hard to see, I will list them below:


    1) Definition Update for Windows Defender - KB915597 (Definition 1.115.502.0)

    Installation date: ‎10/‎25/‎2011 4:17 PM

    Installation status: Successful

    Update type: Important


    2) Update for Windows 7 for x64-based Systems (KB2603229)

    Installation date: ‎10/‎25/‎2011 4:16 PM

    Installation status: Successful

    Update type: Recommended


    3) Definition Update for Windows Defender - KB915597 (Definition 1.115.250.0)

    Installation date: ‎10/‎21/‎2011 3:20 PM

    Installation status: Successful

    Update type: Important


    4) Windows Malicious Software Removal Tool x64 - October 2011 (KB890830)

    Installation date: ‎10/‎19/‎2011 1:38 PM

    Installation status: Successful

    Update type: Important


    5) Security Update for Windows 7 for x64-based Systems (KB2567053)

    Installation date: ‎10/‎19/‎2011 1:35 PM

    Installation status: Successful

    Update type: Important


    END....I will list the first five for now.

    If it is an update that caused this problem and the settings for WU was automatic, how do you want me to proceed. I changed the WU settings to check for updates but to ask to download and install for now.
    Attached Thumbnails Attached Thumbnails Windows displaying symbols instead of legible text.-wu_image1.jpg  
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  11. NoelDP
    Posts : 21,482
    Win 7 x64 Home Premium (and x86 VirtualBox VM)/Win10
       New #8

    You have a number of 'repeating' updates
    You need to run the CheckSUR tool, and attach the log to your response - hopefully someone more expert than I will pick up on the thread and assist if necessary.
    Description of the System Update Readiness Tool for Windows Vista, for Windows Server 2008, for Windows 7, and for Windows Server 2008 R2
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  12. pi314
    Posts : 5
    windows 7 home premium
    Thread Starter
       New #9

    Okay, I will download the software and run it.

    If I need to post any issue that may result of the system ready tool, do I just start a new post in this subject forum along with log?

    thanks for you help.
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  13. NoelDP
    Posts : 21,482
    Win 7 x64 Home Premium (and x86 VirtualBox VM)/Win10
       New #10

    No need for a new thread - If someone doesn't jump in. I'll ping them.
    Just post the results, and attach the log.
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