Absolutely desperate: Arduino IDE menus are gibberish

Be sure that a printer is installed and selected as a default printer. I am not saying this is a requirement but just do it to avoid an old Windows thing/issue.

I hope you read prior answers to this issue. Two things kept popping up.
1. Install as admin.
2. Install another version of the app.

Thanks for your time.
I reset the system font settings, made sure the font and display scaling is at 100% and chose a printer as default. Unfortunately the issue still persists.

Sorry but I didn't edit fast enough to note priors on this issue.

1. Install as admin.
2. Install another version of the app.

Done both of those. Installed both release 1.8.1 and 1.6.4 as admin and both had the issue.

I can't guess why it does that as I know nothing of your PC. The causes are many so I usually have to know a lot about the PC.

Intel GPUs seem to do that more often, can't explain why.

http://arduino.stackexchange.com/questions/23937/arduino-ide-menu-doesnt-display-properly-missing-letters writes about 1.6.8.

Try 1.6.8

I always have a spare admin account for the old corrupt profile bug plus testing things like this.

PS. Just installed 1.8.1 and to your deficit, works.

I tried 1.6.8 and I tried it on a newly added Windows User as well. Still the same issue. Here's the Speccy report:

http://speccy.piriform.com/results/xuKFQmepRYjxfdm2Pq8pZoo

1. "Generic Non-PnP Monitor (1280x1024@60Hz)"

I worry that Windows may not render on such an old thing today. While it should, this stands out as possible trouble.

For testing, remove that.

2.. DiscSoft Virtual SCSI CdRom Device
There's usually no good reason for Virtual ODDs. When I work issues these are gone.
Found DiscSoftBusServiceLite too. This is almost assuredly not a cause of troubles here. But nothing I leave on our coding machines.

3. ForceWare version is out of date.

4. Computer type: Tablet
Haven't seen that yet. Are you using W10's tablet mode? Don't do that.

5. AVAST Software
That's not so much an issue but can interfere with installing and more. I've moved back to Windows Defender and scanning. To bolster web protection I install Web Of Trust and Ublock Origin.

6. I spotted TWO registry cleaners Glary and CCLEANER.
While I've yet to find ccleaner to cause trouble, Glary use has resulted in today wipes and full reinstalls. It's bad to find this entry.

7. Bizarre entry under system folders.

Desktop:
F:\Desktop

I can't guess why the user folder is on c and the desktop is on F: This can mean a deeply tinkered with OS and could lead to very very strange issues no one has seen before.

8. VPN? FreedomeService
Not usually needed. I remove such.

9. javaw.exe was noted from TWO INSTALLS. Keep this clean. There can be only one.

10. Windows Update looks to be out of action. Any idea why?

11. Second VPN? TunnelBear

A lot of these are just items we clean up to be sure it's clean.

Sadly since the machine has GLARY my prognosis is if the above doesn't help you are looking at a system reset.

Thanks for that incredibly detailed reply.
1. "Generic Non-PnP Monitor (1280x1024@60Hz)":
That's actually just my second monitor. If I disconnect it, the issue persists and it doesn't cause any kind of other issues.

3. ForceWare version is out of date.:
I don't even know what that is. A Google search says it's some old media player from NVIDIA? I don't use it, I can't recall having ever installed it and I can't find it on my system to remove it or update it at all.

4. Computer type: Tablet
Haven't seen that yet.:
Me neither. I have no idea where Speccy is getting that from. Perhaps because I have a graphics tablet installed (but disconnected) which obviously includes a stylus?

6. I spotted TWO registry cleaners Glary and CCLEANER.:
Same thing as in point 3. I've never heard of Glary, can't remember installing it, can't find it on my system to remove either.

7. Bizarre entry under system folders.

Desktop:
F:\Desktop:
The reason for that is that I moved all of my libraries (the folders with the most media in them, including the desktop) off of my SSD to extend its life a little bit.

8. VPN? FreedomeService
Not usually needed. I remove such.:
Removed.

10. Windows Update looks to be out of action. Any idea why?:
No idea why Speccy says that. When I check the update settings, it tells me it automatically checks for updates every day and did it last yesterday at 11PM.

11. Second VPN? TunnelBear:
Removed that also.

The issue is still there after all that. I guess that leaves nothing but a complete system reset. What a shame but maybe it's for the best. Any tips on how to best do that without losing all my data?

Which is right up there as a possible cause.

The Gyazo entries are your clue Glary was in play somewhere.

Anyhow, the video drivers are best fetched and made current, reboot and hope it plays this time.

As to system reset, W10 does have options to reset and leave user files but as a seasoned PC user you know never to go without backups.

DON'T RESET YET. Update that video driver.

Hi.
Thanks again for all your time and effort.
I managed to fix the issue almost by accident by disabling a Windows feature called ClearType which is designed to make text on screen sharper and more easily legible.
Go to your Display Settings, click on Avanced display settings and under Related settings, there is a link to "ClearType text". Click that and remove the checkbox and the issue is fixed.

But troubles me as I've never found ClearType to do this. I wonder if the video setting and the display don't match. It's called native resolution and weird things can happen if it's mismatched.

Anyhow, thanks for sharing your fix.