Abnormal Characters Displayed in help indexes

I just bought a used computer from a guy who rebuilds computers in my
neighborhood. A week after I brought it home (It has Windows Me installed on
it) I started noticing little square boxes in stead of letters in my Windows
Media Player 7 menu (left sidebar links where it has "Find Media on the
Internet" "Copy Audio CD Music to Computer" etc.) I reinstalled the player
but no change. Closest I could describe the look of the font is "Map Symbols
Font". Then I happened to randomly open up the help file for Internet
Explorer and the contents index did not have letters but little boxes.
Outlook express and just about every other .CHM help file I have have on my
computer now have the little square boxes instead of letters in the contents
index.

Some fixes I tried:

1- Someone suggested that I delete the c:\windows\ttfcache which I did and
Windows rebuilt it but this did not fix the problem.

2- Then they referred me to the Microsoft article
http://support.microsoft.com/default...b;en-us;254773 which talks
about a corrupt marlett.ttf file. I extracted the file from
Windows\Options|Install but could not install it because the original Marlett
file is Windows Protected. I followed the instructions for deleting a
Windows Protected file but I could not delete the marlett font even in safe
mode. And could not find the file to extract it using the startup disk
instructions in DOS mode.

Any other suggestions?
Thanks for your help,
Angie

Regarding the issue with the Marlett font in DOS, you may have to reset its
attributes as it is a 'hidden, system' file.

See this alternative KB article for further advice :-
"Description of and Troubleshooting the Marlett TrueType Font"
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;[LN];134861

However, from your description of the problem you are experiencing, I'm not
too sure that the Marlett font is the underlying cause - it usually affects
various buttons. I suspect that other font(s?) may have been removed/deleted
at sometime by the previous owner. From past experience in trying to resolve
'incorrect font' issues, it can be a long, fruitless exercise.

If you think that the "Map Symbols Font" (not part of WinMe and therefore
could be quite significant g) is the offender, then you could try
substituting it with a 'more conventional' one. Good luck in your quest.

Mart


"Angie" wrote in message
...
I just bought a used computer from a guy who rebuilds computers in my
neighborhood. A week after I brought it home (It has Windows Me installed
on
it) I started noticing little square boxes in stead of letters in my
Windows
Media Player 7 menu (left sidebar links where it has "Find Media on the
Internet" "Copy Audio CD Music to Computer" etc.) I reinstalled the
player
but no change. Closest I could describe the look of the font is "Map
Symbols
Font". Then I happened to randomly open up the help file for Internet
Explorer and the contents index did not have letters but little boxes.
Outlook express and just about every other .CHM help file I have have on
my
computer now have the little square boxes instead of letters in the
contents
index.

Some fixes I tried:

1- Someone suggested that I delete the c:\windows\ttfcache which I did and
Windows rebuilt it but this did not fix the problem.

2- Then they referred me to the Microsoft article
http://support.microsoft.com/default...b;en-us;254773 which talks
about a corrupt marlett.ttf file. I extracted the file from
Windows\Options|Install but could not install it because the original
Marlett
file is Windows Protected. I followed the instructions for deleting a
Windows Protected file but I could not delete the marlett font even in
safe
mode. And could not find the file to extract it using the startup disk
instructions in DOS mode.

Any other suggestions?
Thanks for your help,
Angie

Angie,

... Then I happened to randomly open up the help file for Internet
Explorer and the contents index did not have letters but little boxes.
Outlook express and just about every other .CHM help file I have have on
my computer now have the little square boxes instead of letters in the
contents index ...

Perhaps you've lost or corrupted the font MS Sans Serif (sserife.fon), as
this is the font that Microsoft uses in the left pane of its help files. If
you have access to another machine, you could try copying sserife.fon from
the \Windows\Fonts directory on that machine to the Fonts directory on
yours.

--
Pete (Microsoft Help MVP)

Following on from Pete's response, if access to another machine is not
available, then a 'fresh' copy of "sserife.fon" can be extracted from
WIN_17.CAB (or mini.cab) on the WinMe CD in the \win9x folder. You might
also find a copy of the WIN_17.CAB (or mini.cab) in the widows\options\...
folder on your C: drive.

You can use msconfig.exe to extract it.

"HOW TO: Extract Original Compressed Windows Files"
http://support.microsoft.com/default...b;en-us;129605

"Unable to Extract Files Using the System Configuration Utility"
http://support.microsoft.com/default...b;en-us;259687

The correct location for "sserife.fon" is in the windows\fonts folder - and
you *may* have to reinstall it again using the font installer.

Mart


"Pete Lees [MVP]" wrote in message
...
Angie,

... Then I happened to randomly open up the help file for Internet
Explorer and the contents index did not have letters but little boxes.
Outlook express and just about every other .CHM help file I have have on
my computer now have the little square boxes instead of letters in the
contents index ...

Perhaps you've lost or corrupted the font MS Sans Serif (sserife.fon), as
this is the font that Microsoft uses in the left pane of its help files.
If
you have access to another machine, you could try copying sserife.fon from
the \Windows\Fonts directory on that machine to the Fonts directory on
yours.

--
Pete (Microsoft Help MVP)

Thank you both for the info. I extracted the file to the font folder and it
replaced the original one but unfortunately it hasn't corrected the problem
One thing I did notice is that in the left pane of one of my chm help files
there is a selection which reads the numbers "128" but the letters following
are replaced with the little square boxes. When I select it, the top box
indicates what it is: "128 bit ...etc." Don't know if this helps that
numbers are not replaced by the squares but only letters.
Also I extraced hh.exe on a whim, hoping that there was a problem with this
file which Windows uses to open up CHM files but it didn't help either.
Anyhow, if you can think of anything else...
Angie

P.S. I recently installed Grisoft AVG 7 free. An anti-virus program. I
scananed the computer for a virus but they said there was none but I was
wondering, could this program possibly be blocking it as malicious script???
I'm grasping here I know
Angie

7.Check this article on the use of the Fontreg tool:

Missing TrueType Fonts in Fonts Folder or Programs
http://support.microsoft.com/support.../Q133/7/32.asp


....Alan
--
Alan Edwards, MS MVP W95/98 Systems

--
Jack E. Martinelli 2002-05 MS MVP for Shell/User / DTS
Help us help you: http://www.dts-L.org/goodpost.htm

http://www.microsoft.com/athome/secu...t/default.aspx
In Memorium: Alex Nichol
http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/e...ts/nichol.mspx
Your cooperation is very appreciated.
------
"Angie" wrote in message
...
Thank you both for the info. I extracted the file to the font folder and
it
replaced the original one but unfortunately it hasn't corrected the
problem
One thing I did notice is that in the left pane of one of my chm help
files
there is a selection which reads the numbers "128" but the letters
following
are replaced with the little square boxes. When I select it, the top box
indicates what it is: "128 bit ...etc." Don't know if this helps that
numbers are not replaced by the squares but only letters.
Also I extraced hh.exe on a whim, hoping that there was a problem with
this
file which Windows uses to open up CHM files but it didn't help either.
Anyhow, if you can think of anything else...
Angie

And maybe this will help:

Fonts installed by Windows

Win95, Win98, WinME

http://www.kayskreations.net/fonts/fonttb.html
----

Frequently encountered problems with fonts:
http://www.mvps.org/word/FAQs/AppErr...nFontProbs.htm

--
Jack E. Martinelli 2002-05 MS MVP for Shell/User / DTS
Help us help you: http://www.dts-L.org/goodpost.htm

http://www.microsoft.com/athome/secu...t/default.aspx
In Memorium: Alex Nichol
http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/e...ts/nichol.mspx
Your cooperation is very appreciated.
------
"Mart" wrote in message
...
Regarding the issue with the Marlett font in DOS, you may have to reset
its
attributes as it is a 'hidden, system' file.

See this alternative KB article for further advice :-
"Description of and Troubleshooting the Marlett TrueType Font"
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;[LN];134861

However, from your description of the problem you are experiencing, I'm
not
too sure that the Marlett font is the underlying cause - it usually
affects
various buttons. I suspect that other font(s?) may have been
removed/deleted
at sometime by the previous owner. From past experience in trying to
resolve
'incorrect font' issues, it can be a long, fruitless exercise.

If you think that the "Map Symbols Font" (not part of WinMe and therefore
could be quite significant g) is the offender, then you could try
substituting it with a 'more conventional' one. Good luck in your quest.

Mart


"Angie" wrote in message
...
I just bought a used computer from a guy who rebuilds computers in my
neighborhood. A week after I brought it home (It has Windows Me
installed
on
it) I started noticing little square boxes in stead of letters in my
Windows
Media Player 7 menu (left sidebar links where it has "Find Media on the
Internet" "Copy Audio CD Music to Computer" etc.) I reinstalled the
player
but no change. Closest I could describe the look of the font is "Map
Symbols
Font". Then I happened to randomly open up the help file for Internet
Explorer and the contents index did not have letters but little boxes.
Outlook express and just about every other .CHM help file I have have on
my
computer now have the little square boxes instead of letters in the
contents
index.

Some fixes I tried:

1- Someone suggested that I delete the c:\windows\ttfcache which I did
and
Windows rebuilt it but this did not fix the problem.

2- Then they referred me to the Microsoft article
http://support.microsoft.com/default...b;en-us;254773 which
talks
about a corrupt marlett.ttf file. I extracted the file from
Windows\Options|Install but could not install it because the original
Marlett
file is Windows Protected. I followed the instructions for deleting a
Windows Protected file but I could not delete the marlett font even in
safe
mode. And could not find the file to extract it using the startup disk
instructions in DOS mode.

Any other suggestions?
Thanks for your help,
Angie

Thankyou for the information. I will check it out.
Angie

"Jack E Martinelli" wrote:

7.Check this article on the use of the Fontreg tool:

Missing TrueType Fonts in Fonts Folder or Programs
http://support.microsoft.com/support.../Q133/7/32.asp


....Alan
--
Alan Edwards, MS MVP W95/98 Systems

--
Jack E. Martinelli 2002-05 MS MVP for Shell/User / DTS
Help us help you: http://www.dts-L.org/goodpost.htm

http://www.microsoft.com/athome/secu...t/default.aspx
In Memorium: Alex Nichol
http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/e...ts/nichol.mspx
Your cooperation is very appreciated.
------
"Angie" wrote in message
...
Thank you both for the info. I extracted the file to the font folder and
it
replaced the original one but unfortunately it hasn't corrected the
problem
One thing I did notice is that in the left pane of one of my chm help
files
there is a selection which reads the numbers "128" but the letters
following
are replaced with the little square boxes. When I select it, the top box
indicates what it is: "128 bit ...etc." Don't know if this helps that
numbers are not replaced by the squares but only letters.
Also I extraced hh.exe on a whim, hoping that there was a problem with
this
file which Windows uses to open up CHM files but it didn't help either.
Anyhow, if you can think of anything else...
Angie

This all consuming problem I hope is finally coming to an end. I finally
brought the computer back to the computer guy who sold it to me and he is
gonna clean install Windows me. Seems the only solution even though I have
to reinstall all my programs. Gonna have to be more selective with what I
put back on the hard drive. He seemed to think it was one of the installed
programs I originally downloaded from the internet that did it. I don't
know. I did a Spybot check, Ad aware check and an anti virus check which all
came up negative. (He pointed to Atomic clock, Google toolbar, Audacity audio
editing program etc) I don't know though. I had these same programs
(which were installed from the same install file) on my other computer for
years with no problem.
Anyhow, Thank you all for your help.
Hopefully.... Angie