Please help!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Seeing Symbols

[jerseygirlx3]

Okay, Hi everyone. I need help. I recently deleted some things on my computer I thought I did not need to free up space. When I restarted my computer all the text is gone, there are no letters only weird little symbols like circles, squares, things like that. I can't read anything so I'm having trouble getting into everything. I have to guess by looking at pictures. System restore does not work and neither does safe mode and all that. I don't have the cd for microsoft xp which is what I have. If you guys can please help me I would be grateful because I have no clue. Thanks

[Carbon Dudeoxide]

It looks like you deleted your FONTS file....
Is EVERYTHING symbols, like folder names and in microsoft word?

[jerseygirlx3]

Everything is symbols. Even on here if I point to a picture all the things that are supposed yo be words are symbols so I can't read it. But if I go to my email It's fine. I can read it but on desktop under mail icon it's just symbols.

[Carbon Dudeoxide]

Ok lets have a look at Fonts folder first...
Follow these steps (yes, another piece of advice from the control panel everyone...)
1. Click Start --> Control Panel and make sure it is in Classic View
2. Find and open a folder called Fonts (the folder icon is a folder with the letter A)
3. Default font for windows xp is Tahoma. Can you find the font file called Tahoma...if you cant read the names of them, post back and let me know.
If you find that font file, also post back.

[jerseygirlx3]

Okay went to control panel found fonts(thanks for letting me know which one) and the fonts came up but it's blank. And everything is symbols so I can't read what's on top to click on it? Basically, I can't read anything

[Carbon Dudeoxide]

Perhaps you need to reinstall that font or something....
Try this first.......
Right click on desktop, click properties, go to the Appearence Tab and click Advanced.
Assuming this is all in jibberish, follow the picture i attatched below.
After you click on 'message box' there will be another drop down menu option (under where it says Desktop), those are fonts you can choose. Choose one, click ok on everything and see if there is a difference (you may need to restart computer)

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[fullbug]

This sounds alot like the problem I had and am still having that I posted about last month, except it doesnt sound as widespread as whats being said here.....
http://www.computerhope.com/forum/index.php/topic,31877.0/all.html
If you look at the screenshots I posted in that thread jerseygirlx3 are they the same ones you are seeing?

[patio]

It would be good to know what flavor of Windows you are running...but i'll assume for now it is XP.

Re-installing Windows Fonts

Note that if this procedure does not work you are looking at a repair install of XP to correct your dilemna.

Let us know...

[Carbon Dudeoxide]

She has XP.

I don't have the cd for microsoft xp which is what I have.

[GX1_Man]

Everyone needs a real Windows CD sooner or later. In this case, it is probably sooner....