Missing Menu Commands in the Fonts Folder

• Microsoft Windows 95
• Microsoft Windows 98
• Microsoft Windows NT Server version 4.0
• Microsoft Windows NT Workstation version 4.0

SYMPTOMS

When you open the Fonts folder in Windows Explorer, the following commands may be missing from the Fonts folder menus:

• From the File menu:



• Open



• Print



• Install New Font



• From the View Menu:



• List Fonts By Similarity



• Hide Variations (Bold, Italics, Etc.)

CAUSE

This behavior can occur for any of the following reasons:

• The System and/or Read Only attributes are no longer set for the Fonts folder. The Fonts folder must have its System and Read Only attributes set to work correctly.



• The Fontext.dll file may be missing or damaged, causing the menus to contain only the commands for a generic folder.



• The Desktop.ini file may be missing or damaged. Note that you do not see the Desktop.ini file when you view the Fonts folder. To see the file, open an MS-DOS session and view the Windows\Fonts folder.

RESOLUTION

To restore the correct commands for the Fonts folder, follow these steps:

1. At a command prompt, switch to the Windows folder by typing the following command:

   cd\windows

   NOTE: If Windows is installed in a folder other than the Windows folder, adjust these instructions accordingly.



2. Type the following command:




attrib +s +r fonts

3. Shut down and restart Windows.

Windows 95/98

1. Restart Windows in MS-DOS mode.



2. Change to the Windows\System folder.



3. If the Fontext.dll file exists, rename it Fontext.old.



4. Extract a new copy of the Fontext.dll file from the original Windows disks or CD-ROM to the Windows\System folder.
   
   For information about using the Extract tool, please see the following article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

   ARTICLE-ID: Q129605
   TITLE : How to Extract Original Compressed Windows Files




5. Restart Windows normally.

1. Restart Windows in MS-DOS mode.



2. Change to the Windows\Fonts folder.



3. If the Desktop.ini file exists, rename it Desktop.old.



4. Extract a new copy of the Desktop.ini file from the original Windows disks or CD-ROM to the Windows\Fonts folder.
   
   For information about using the Extract tool, please see the following article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

   ARTICLE-ID: Q129605
   TITLE : How to Extract Original Compressed Windows Files




5. Restart Windows normally.

Windows NT 4.0

1. At a command prompt, delete the Desktop.ini file in the Winnt\Fonts folder.



2. Delete the Fontext.dll file in the Winnt\System32 folder.



3. Expand a new Desktop.ini file from the I386 folder on your original Windows NT 4.0 CD-ROM to the Fonts folder on your hard disk.



4. Expand a new Fontext.dll file from the I386 folder on your original Windows NT 4.0 CD-ROM to the Winnt\System32 folder on your hard disk. For example, use the following command:
   
   expand d:\i386\fontext.dl_ c:\winnt\system32\fontext.dll
   



5. Restart the computer.

MORE INFORMATION

The resolution listed in this article may also resolve the following symptoms:

• The TrueType tab is missing when you open the Fonts folder and then click Options on the View menu.



• Fonts that are listed in the Fonts folder are not available to be selected within programs.

Additional query words: 4.0

Keywords : kbui winttf win95 win98 winnt
Version : WINDOWS:95; winnt:4.0
Platform : WINDOWS winnt
Issue type : kbprb