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General discussion

Question for Grif.

Jan 17, 2005 4:12AM PST

Hi Grif: I was just reading your post about the hazards of some of the Windows driver Updates, and would like to ask a question of you.
I have posted this in Window XP forum, but so far I haven't gotten good response.
Machine: Dell Latitude D800, Win XP Pro, 1.7 ghz, 512 mb ram, 40 gb hdd.
I cleaned the files with Adaware, Spybot, Mcaffee Virus, then deleted cookies and temp. files and ran disk cleanup.
Installed Sp2 from Microsoft Update site.
Smooth install, with no problems.
The machine worked perfectly until I rebooted.
Now all of the text in windows is jibberish, *&^&^%$#&#&*)_)(*, etc. I can't read anything on the destop icons, or in explorer.
All of my software programs work fine. They appear normally on the screen.
I have since un-installed SP2, but the problem persists.

Any idea what caused this?
Spyware or the update, or both?
Any suggestions how to fix this?
This is the first time I've seen this particular problem.

Thanks for any help.
Ernie

Discussion is locked

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Seems a font-problem.
Jan 17, 2005 4:21AM PST

Ernie,

Right click on your desktop, choose Properties, go to the Appearance tab and see what fonts you can change. The font used for 'desktop icons' or 'icons' seems applicable (and it could well be that that's the same a used by Explorer). With me it's MS Sans Serif 8. Arial might be a good alternative (if that works in your applications it shouldn't be corrupted); but I don't know if desktop and explorer support True Type fonts. Anyway, things can't get much worse than they are now, and it should be easy to go back. And I hope the appearance tab still is readable, or you have a problem indeed!

When up and running again, try fixing the problem.

Hope this helps, and possibly Grif comes with still better plans.

Kees

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Fonts Setting
Jan 17, 2005 4:52AM PST

Thanks Kees, for your reply.
I checked there, but the only options available, are Normal, Large, and Extra Large.
I don't find the actual fonts settings at that location in XP Pro.

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Yet another update.
Jan 17, 2005 6:09AM PST

Since uninstalling SP2, I ran System Restore and resolved the text problem. Before installing SP2 again, I would like to know the source of the problem.
If anyone has any clues to this, I would very much appreciate hearing about it.
Thanks to all.

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Ernie
Jan 17, 2005 6:36AM PST

I didn't see your particular problem on this page, I checked earlier but Microsoft updates it as they find new conflicts. It's the lastest list of programs that have known problems with SP2.)Jan 6th). Maybe there is something on the list that you have? Might be worth a look anyway.
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;884130

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Thanks Roddy
Jan 17, 2005 6:45AM PST

I checked the site, but don't find any clues there.
All of the programs seem to work just fine. All of the text appears normally.
It's seems to be confined to Windows only.
I'll run Spyware Blaster, Adaware, Spybot, and anything else I can find, to be sure that it is clean before re-installing SP2. I will also try installing from the cd, rather than the MS website.\
Thanks for your reply

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I have seen this somewhere Ernie and
Jan 17, 2005 6:52AM PST

I've been racking my brain since your post this morning trying to remember where. It was either somewhere at CNET or something in the Microsoft knowledge base but I have been unable to find it today. If I DO find it, you will be the first to know.

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I have seen this somewhere Ernie and
Jan 17, 2005 11:30AM PST

Thanks Roddy. I've let the computer go back to the owner today for work. I'll get it back tomorrow.
The first thing I plan to do is another virus scan with Trend Micro, and NAV. It must be virus related. That's the only conclusion that I can justify in my mind.

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Ernie, this is probably
Jan 17, 2005 8:12PM PST

NOT what is causing this but to be on the safe side, check add/remove programs for any kind of shopping network and/or anything with the word "Lop" in it. It's one of the newer nasties that has been coming out with new variations every day of the week. I lot of them are getting installed with a program called "Messenger Plus" which has nothing to do with Microsoft.

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Ernie, Sorry, I've Been Out For A Couple Of Days...
Jan 18, 2005 4:08AM PST

...setting up customer's computers and visitin my daughter at the beach...

Meanwhile, it seems like Kees and Roddy have taken care of most of the problem. In addition to the steps you're going to take before reinstalling SP2 (spyware and virus removal tools, I generally follow the procedures in the links below in the order I've posted them. The steps will help clean things up and optimize the hard drive before the SP2 upgrade:

How To Shut Down Unnecessary Start Up Programs

How To Clean Unwanted Files From The Hard Drive

How To Run 'Error Checking/Chkdsk' On Win2000/XP

Hope this helps.

Grif

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(NT) (NT) The BEACH??? :D
Jan 18, 2005 4:21AM PST
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Yep, I Went Surfin' And Worked On Her Computer...LOL
Jan 18, 2005 5:00AM PST

....but not at the same time..

Grif

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(NT) (NT) Good for you, Gotta relax sometimes. LOL
Jan 18, 2005 5:04AM PST