Peculiar Web Browser Font Bug

Just recently, my computer began changing the font formatting (bold, italics) on almost all web pages, on all browsers; IE, Firefox, and Chrome. I did a complete Ccleaner scan, temp and registry, then cold-booted. The error persists. So, I figured I'd just use system restore - only to find that the last restore point was last year (and that's an entirely separate problem). I'm running a Spybot scan now, but as far as I know cleaning out your temporary files should eliminate any such malware. So far, I haven't noticed this issue anywhere other than web browsers, and the only thing I've changed about my computer today is installing some windows sidebar gadgets but, upon deactivating the sidebar service, there is no change. I found an old installer for Yahoo widgets, but, after I found there was nowhere to download any widgets, I uninstalled it again, along with several other programs - a change I've explained I cannot roll back.

That said, the only programs likely to do something like this would be prepackaged. As far as I can recall - and I am quite sure of this - the only prepackaged programs I removed were Kobo, an e-book reader, and PressFeed, which I can only guess is an RSS feed reader or something like that. While it is conceivable such programs could make wider changes, somehow I doubt they're responsible. Still, I thought I'd specify in case these guys are known troublemakers. Come to think, there must be a reason I hadn't removed them before today. The other programs were just a bunch of games I don't play and no longer work on my system anyway; Age of Mythology w/ the Titans Expansion, Microids' Fargate, and Civilization III.

In any case, I'm terribly afraid I've done something rather reckless with my system and may have now turned it a bit inside-out. I'm hoping someone out there knows a registry entry somewhere that could resolve this. I have seen this bug a number of times before, but, either I simply loaded a restore point, or I cannot recall what fixed it. Please, this is a very annoying little error, and I'd like to get this fixed ASAP.

I think the attatched screencap from facebook should explain it all.

Note the inappropriate bolding in the main body of the post, and the bolding and italicization on the article title.

Oh, and a grab of the forum, note the italics

In areas where italics are erroneously appearing, applying italics to the text has no further effect.

Additionally, some areas revert to times new roman:

Weird, isn't it? Well, I hope amongst you is one genius - or just an informed individual - who has just the thing. Maybe a 3rd party program for editing text defaults, or a registry bat, or just tips on where to look for problems in the registry - I don't care. This has no impact on functionality, but it does muss up formatting and ruin the visual design and layout of some of my favorite websites. Just makes everything look weird.

Sounds like you have corrupted your fonts. Try these steps but back up your registry first. Found these at Weird problem with fonts being italic or bold - Forums - CNET


The problem is due to the fact that the font registry entries have got corrupted. The fonts affected are Arial, Courier, Times New Roman, Marlett, Terminal etc.

The programs like IE, Outlook (in mails) and Firefox fail when they try to locate these fonts. The beauty is that these fonts still exist in the <OS drive>\windows\fonts folder.

To fix this issue follow these steps:
1. Click Start -> Run. If you cannot locate the 'Run' item, then click 'Window Key' + 'R'.
2. In the run box, type: c:\windows\fonts (Replace c: with the drive letter where the OS is installed)
3. The fonts window will open. Click 'Alt' + 'F' to activate the menu. Click 'Install New Font' in the menu.
4. In the folders dialog, browse to c:\windows\fonts where c: is the OS drive letter.
5. All fonts would now appear under 'List all fonts'.
6. Click 'Select All' and then click 'Install'.
7. Confirm the windows permission dialog.
8. A replace file dialog would appear. Click on 'Yes' to each and every dialog that appears. This will ensure that fresh entries for fonts are written in the registry. To avoid clicking, press and hold 'Alt' key - then press 'Y' key for every dialog that appears.

I'v had this issue my self and this is what fixed it for me before.

Slight problem; "Install New Font" isn't anywhere in the menus. Even tried the control panel interface. And, I've got a LOT of fonts. Tons.
Maybe a command prompt action to open up the "install new font" dialogue?

Took a little finnagling - had to copy the whole folder to another location and install the fonts, but that did the trick! I'll have to keep this in my bookmarks in case the little gremlin comes back.

Thank you, kindly!

Glad you got it sorted was driving me insane for months one time when skype did that to them.

The font was so unclear and difficult to read, it was really inhibiting my productivity while working. I spent half a day following the advice of folks across multiple forums, PC/AV mode..(make sure PC), native resolutions set, reinstalled windows 7 fonts. Then when it came down to it, all i did was adjust the sharpness on my connected monitor. I hope if anyone finds this, they start with this most simple solution.

Yeah monitor settings will always bite you in the butt. Good advice.