incorrect character displayed

[mark]

hello. im running win98 with all the updates that i know of. my problem is
that in msn messenger and pages displayed on ie: certain characters
specifically the quotation marks and other special characters, are displayed
as a little black box. does anyone know how i can change that little black
box into the actual character that is supposed to be displayed? im assuming
that these problems stem from the same source, perhaps a windows update, or
something similar?

[Don Phillipson]

mark wrote:
> hello. im running win98 with all the updates that i know of. my problem is
> that in msn messenger and pages displayed on ie: certain characters
> specifically the quotation marks and other special characters, are displayed
> as a little black box. does anyone know how i can change that little black
> box into the actual character that is supposed to be displayed? im assuming
> that these problems stem from the same source, perhaps a windows update, or
> something similar?

Two commonest remedies:
1. Ensure folder c:\windows\fonts has
SYSTEM attribute checked. If not, do so
and reboot.
2. Reinstal MARLETT font from your instal
CD via
/ start / run / SFC.EXE
= System File Checker
set to restore a single file
c:\windows\fonts\marlett.ttf

Repost here if this does not cure your problem.
Don P

[mark]

the system attribute was already checked on the font folder(it was greyed out
anyways). and i restored the marlett.ttf file from HP recovery cd. and i
still have the same problem as before.

"Don Phillipson" wrote:

> mark wrote:
> > hello. im running win98 with all the updates that i know of. my problem is
> > that in msn messenger and pages displayed on ie: certain characters
> > specifically the quotation marks and other special characters, are displayed
> > as a little black box. does anyone know how i can change that little black
> > box into the actual character that is supposed to be displayed? im assuming
> > that these problems stem from the same source, perhaps a windows update, or
> > something similar?
>
> Two commonest remedies:
> 1. Ensure folder c:\windows\fonts has
> SYSTEM attribute checked. If not, do so
> and reboot.
> 2. Reinstal MARLETT font from your instal
> CD via
> / start / run / SFC.EXE
> = System File Checker
> set to restore a single file
> c:\windows\fonts\marlett.ttf
>
> Repost here if this does not cure your problem.
> Don P
>
>
>

[glee]

The second-to-last post, by DM, on this web page:
http://www.iidb.org/vbb/archive/index.php/t-44908.html
may address your problem.

<quote>
1) In Internet Explorer, go to "Tools," "Internet Options," "Languages," and make
sure that "English (United States) [en-us]" is selected.

2) In Internet Explorer, go to "Tools," "Internet Options," "Fonts," and make sure
that "Language Script" is set to "Latin Based" and also that you have selected a
default font for both "Web page font" and "Plain text font" which is a True Type
font which supports special characters such as so-called smart quotes and such
(e.g., Arial, Verdana, etc.).
</quote>

I have Times New Roman, and Courier New, respectively, in the Fonts settings here.
--
Glen Ventura, MS MVP Shell/User, A+
http://dts-l.org/goodpost.htm


"mark" > wrote in message
...
> hello. im running win98 with all the updates that i know of. my problem is
> that in msn messenger and pages displayed on ie: certain characters
> specifically the quotation marks and other special characters, are displayed
> as a little black box. does anyone know how i can change that little black
> box into the actual character that is supposed to be displayed? im assuming
> that these problems stem from the same source, perhaps a windows update, or
> something similar?

[Gary S. Terhune]

You can't change the System attribute in using folder Properties. That's
why it's always grayed out. If it's gray *and* checked, then it has the
System attribute. If it's gray and *not* checked, then it doesn't have
the System attribute. You have to do it from a command line in a "DOS
box (run COMMAND" in the Start\Run box..

ATTRIB +s C:\Windows\Fonts

However, I don't think this is the problem. Also, I don't think
MARLETT.TTF has anything to do with your problem. That font includes
special characters for things like the X, - and other characters that
appear at the top-right of windows and dialogues. It wouldn't be a
factor in rendering fonts inside webpages.

I have a similar effect using MSDN Library (locally stored files.) Not
sure how it happened, but it may be the same effect you're seeing. It's
a problem with Styles. My workaround (don't know of a fix) is to go into
IE Settings, General tab, Accessibility, and check "Ignore font styles
specified on Web pages." Leaving it on all the time will get you some
interesting looking pages--all there, but in rather different for than
the author intended, <s>.

Sorry I can't help with a fix, though you can be sure I'll be watching
to see if anyone else has an answer. Suggest you also try the IE
newsgroups.

--
Gary S. Terhune
MS MVP Shell/User
http://www.grystmill.com/articles/cleanboot.htm
http://www.grystmill.com/articles/security.htm

"mark" > wrote in message
...
> the system attribute was already checked on the font folder(it was
greyed out
> anyways). and i restored the marlett.ttf file from HP recovery cd. and
i
> still have the same problem as before.
>

[Gary S. Terhune]

I've done all that for a similar problem (see my reply to OP,) and it's
had no effect. But I suspect you're right that it will be helpful in
OP's situation.

I suspect my problem derived from my French-speaking daughter setting up
this machine for French support when she was staying here. Then again,
it may be a problem with my Fonts, period. I have some 3500 installed,
both TTF and Type1, and I suspect there's some confusion in there (I
need all those fonts for my design work.)

Still not sure how to repair it, and I'm going to wipe this machine in
another couple of months, anyway, and I'm not going to mess with fonts
again until then.

--
Gary S. Terhune
MS MVP Shell/User
http://www.grystmill.com/articles/cleanboot.htm
http://www.grystmill.com/articles/security.htm

"glee" > wrote in message
...
> The second-to-last post, by DM, on this web page:
> http://www.iidb.org/vbb/archive/index.php/t-44908.html
> may address your problem.
>
> <quote>
> 1) In Internet Explorer, go to "Tools," "Internet Options,"
"Languages," and make
> sure that "English (United States) [en-us]" is selected.
>
> 2) In Internet Explorer, go to "Tools," "Internet Options," "Fonts,"
and make sure
> that "Language Script" is set to "Latin Based" and also that you have
selected a
> default font for both "Web page font" and "Plain text font" which is a
True Type
> font which supports special characters such as so-called smart quotes
and such
> (e.g., Arial, Verdana, etc.).
> </quote>
>
> I have Times New Roman, and Courier New, respectively, in the Fonts
settings here.
> --
> Glen Ventura, MS MVP Shell/User, A+
> http://dts-l.org/goodpost.htm
>
>
> "mark" > wrote in message
> ...
> > hello. im running win98 with all the updates that i know of. my
problem is
> > that in msn messenger and pages displayed on ie: certain characters
> > specifically the quotation marks and other special characters, are
displayed
> > as a little black box. does anyone know how i can change that little
black
> > box into the actual character that is supposed to be displayed? im
assuming
> > that these problems stem from the same source, perhaps a windows
update, or
> > something similar?
>

[glee]

Gary,
Don't you use a Font manager so that you don't have to keep all those fonts
installed? There are some good free ones. Having that many fonts installed can
cause problems sometimes, as you know....but I am guessing your daughter setting up
French support may be involved in your particular problem, as you say. (Quite cool
that she speaks French, though!)
--
Glen Ventura, MS MVP Shell/User, A+
http://dts-l.org/goodpost.htm


"Gary S. Terhune" > wrote in message
...
> I've done all that for a similar problem (see my reply to OP,) and it's
> had no effect. But I suspect you're right that it will be helpful in
> OP's situation.
>
> I suspect my problem derived from my French-speaking daughter setting up
> this machine for French support when she was staying here. Then again,
> it may be a problem with my Fonts, period. I have some 3500 installed,
> both TTF and Type1, and I suspect there's some confusion in there (I
> need all those fonts for my design work.)
>
> Still not sure how to repair it, and I'm going to wipe this machine in
> another couple of months, anyway, and I'm not going to mess with fonts
> again until then.
>
> --
> Gary S. Terhune
> MS MVP Shell/User
> http://www.grystmill.com/articles/cleanboot.htm
> http://www.grystmill.com/articles/security.htm
>
> "glee" > wrote in message
> ...
> > The second-to-last post, by DM, on this web page:
> > http://www.iidb.org/vbb/archive/index.php/t-44908.html
> > may address your problem.
> >
> > <quote>
> > 1) In Internet Explorer, go to "Tools," "Internet Options,"
> "Languages," and make
> > sure that "English (United States) [en-us]" is selected.
> >
> > 2) In Internet Explorer, go to "Tools," "Internet Options," "Fonts,"
> and make sure
> > that "Language Script" is set to "Latin Based" and also that you have
> selected a
> > default font for both "Web page font" and "Plain text font" which is a
> True Type
> > font which supports special characters such as so-called smart quotes
> and such
> > (e.g., Arial, Verdana, etc.).
> > </quote>
> >
> > I have Times New Roman, and Courier New, respectively, in the Fonts
> settings here.
> > --
> > Glen Ventura, MS MVP Shell/User, A+
> > http://dts-l.org/goodpost.htm
> >
> >
> > "mark" > wrote in message
> > ...
> > > hello. im running win98 with all the updates that i know of. my
> problem is
> > > that in msn messenger and pages displayed on ie: certain characters
> > > specifically the quotation marks and other special characters, are
> displayed
> > > as a little black box. does anyone know how i can change that little
> black
> > > box into the actual character that is supposed to be displayed? im
> assuming
> > > that these problems stem from the same source, perhaps a windows
> update, or
> > > something similar?
> >
>

[Gary S. Terhune]

Yes, I use BitStream Font Navigator. Have bare minimum Windows fonts
actually installed. But I leave all ~3500 fonts "installed" via
shortcuts, half TTF, half TT. Plus, Adobe ATM is occasionally needed for
certain tasks. Really a trick to keep them from messing each other up,
but I prefer BitStream for reviewing samples.

I doubt they're the problem, and assume it's the French support that got
into the mix somehow. Yes, my daughter (27 yesterday) speaks French...
But then, she lived there for 8 years, after growing up in Venezuela.
So, yeah, she speaks Spanish, too. In fact, English is her third
language in fluency, even though she's been learning it off and on since
birth. She's tutoring Latin American immigrant children at the local
middle school these days--one of her jobs, anyway.

--
Gary S. Terhune
MS MVP Shell/User
http://www.grystmill.com/articles/cleanboot.htm
http://www.grystmill.com/articles/security.htm

"glee" > wrote in message
...
> Gary,
> Don't you use a Font manager so that you don't have to keep all those
fonts
> installed? There are some good free ones. Having that many fonts
installed can
> cause problems sometimes, as you know....but I am guessing your
daughter setting up
> French support may be involved in your particular problem, as you say.
(Quite cool
> that she speaks French, though!)
> --
> Glen Ventura, MS MVP Shell/User, A+
> http://dts-l.org/goodpost.htm
>
>
> "Gary S. Terhune" > wrote in message
> ...
> > I've done all that for a similar problem (see my reply to OP,) and
it's
> > had no effect. But I suspect you're right that it will be helpful in
> > OP's situation.
> >
> > I suspect my problem derived from my French-speaking daughter
setting up
> > this machine for French support when she was staying here. Then
again,
> > it may be a problem with my Fonts, period. I have some 3500
installed,
> > both TTF and Type1, and I suspect there's some confusion in there (I
> > need all those fonts for my design work.)
> >
> > Still not sure how to repair it, and I'm going to wipe this machine
in
> > another couple of months, anyway, and I'm not going to mess with
fonts
> > again until then.
> >
> > --
> > Gary S. Terhune
> > MS MVP Shell/User
> > http://www.grystmill.com/articles/cleanboot.htm
> > http://www.grystmill.com/articles/security.htm
> >
> > "glee" > wrote in message
> > ...
> > > The second-to-last post, by DM, on this web page:
> > > http://www.iidb.org/vbb/archive/index.php/t-44908.html
> > > may address your problem.
> > >
> > > <quote>
> > > 1) In Internet Explorer, go to "Tools," "Internet Options,"
> > "Languages," and make
> > > sure that "English (United States) [en-us]" is selected.
> > >
> > > 2) In Internet Explorer, go to "Tools," "Internet Options,"
"Fonts,"
> > and make sure
> > > that "Language Script" is set to "Latin Based" and also that you
have
> > selected a
> > > default font for both "Web page font" and "Plain text font" which
is a
> > True Type
> > > font which supports special characters such as so-called smart
quotes
> > and such
> > > (e.g., Arial, Verdana, etc.).
> > > </quote>
> > >
> > > I have Times New Roman, and Courier New, respectively, in the
Fonts
> > settings here.
> > > --
> > > Glen Ventura, MS MVP Shell/User, A+
> > > http://dts-l.org/goodpost.htm
> > >
> > >
> > > "mark" > wrote in message
> > > ...
> > > > hello. im running win98 with all the updates that i know of. my
> > problem is
> > > > that in msn messenger and pages displayed on ie: certain
characters
> > > > specifically the quotation marks and other special characters,
are
> > displayed
> > > > as a little black box. does anyone know how i can change that
little
> > black
> > > > box into the actual character that is supposed to be displayed?
im
> > assuming
> > > > that these problems stem from the same source, perhaps a windows
> > update, or
> > > > something similar?
> > >
> >
>

[Dan]

Wow, 3500 fonts installed you must have almost all the fonts in the entire
world, Gary.

"Gary S. Terhune" > wrote in message
...
: I've done all that for a similar problem (see my reply to OP,) and it's
: had no effect. But I suspect you're right that it will be helpful in
: OP's situation.
:
: I suspect my problem derived from my French-speaking daughter setting up
: this machine for French support when she was staying here. Then again,
: it may be a problem with my Fonts, period. I have some 3500 installed,
: both TTF and Type1, and I suspect there's some confusion in there (I
: need all those fonts for my design work.)
:
: Still not sure how to repair it, and I'm going to wipe this machine in
: another couple of months, anyway, and I'm not going to mess with fonts
: again until then.
:
: --
: Gary S. Terhune
: MS MVP Shell/User
: http://www.grystmill.com/articles/cleanboot.htm
: http://www.grystmill.com/articles/security.htm
:
: "glee" > wrote in message
: ...
: > The second-to-last post, by DM, on this web page:
: > http://www.iidb.org/vbb/archive/index.php/t-44908.html
: > may address your problem.
: >
: > <quote>
: > 1) In Internet Explorer, go to "Tools," "Internet Options,"
: "Languages," and make
: > sure that "English (United States) [en-us]" is selected.
: >
: > 2) In Internet Explorer, go to "Tools," "Internet Options," "Fonts,"
: and make sure
: > that "Language Script" is set to "Latin Based" and also that you have
: selected a
: > default font for both "Web page font" and "Plain text font" which is a
: True Type
: > font which supports special characters such as so-called smart quotes
: and such
: > (e.g., Arial, Verdana, etc.).
: > </quote>
: >
: > I have Times New Roman, and Courier New, respectively, in the Fonts
: settings here.
: > --
: > Glen Ventura, MS MVP Shell/User, A+
: > http://dts-l.org/goodpost.htm
: >
: >
: > "mark" > wrote in message
: > ...
: > > hello. im running win98 with all the updates that i know of. my
: problem is
: > > that in msn messenger and pages displayed on ie: certain characters
: > > specifically the quotation marks and other special characters, are
: displayed
: > > as a little black box. does anyone know how i can change that little
: black
: > > box into the actual character that is supposed to be displayed? im
: assuming
: > > that these problems stem from the same source, perhaps a windows
: update, or
: > > something similar?
: >
:

[Dan]

Gary, that reminds me of when my sister went to Ethiopia to teach English as
a second language to the children there in Africa. My sister ended up
meeting her future husband there but they did not know it until they met
later in N.Y.C's Central Park and ended up liking each other and getting
married. I think my brother-in-law is really cool and he is a Canadian from
British Columbia. They now have two children and may end up having as many
as three. Have a fantastic day, Gary.

"Gary S. Terhune" > wrote in message
...
: Yes, I use BitStream Font Navigator. Have bare minimum Windows fonts
: actually installed. But I leave all ~3500 fonts "installed" via
: shortcuts, half TTF, half TT. Plus, Adobe ATM is occasionally needed for
: certain tasks. Really a trick to keep them from messing each other up,
: but I prefer BitStream for reviewing samples.
:
: I doubt they're the problem, and assume it's the French support that got
: into the mix somehow. Yes, my daughter (27 yesterday) speaks French...
: But then, she lived there for 8 years, after growing up in Venezuela.
: So, yeah, she speaks Spanish, too. In fact, English is her third
: language in fluency, even though she's been learning it off and on since
: birth. She's tutoring Latin American immigrant children at the local
: middle school these days--one of her jobs, anyway.
:
: --
: Gary S. Terhune
: MS MVP Shell/User
: http://www.grystmill.com/articles/cleanboot.htm
: http://www.grystmill.com/articles/security.htm
:
: "glee" > wrote in message
: ...
: > Gary,
: > Don't you use a Font manager so that you don't have to keep all those
: fonts
: > installed? There are some good free ones. Having that many fonts
: installed can
: > cause problems sometimes, as you know....but I am guessing your
: daughter setting up
: > French support may be involved in your particular problem, as you say.
: (Quite cool
: > that she speaks French, though!)
: > --
: > Glen Ventura, MS MVP Shell/User, A+
: > http://dts-l.org/goodpost.htm
: >
: >
: > "Gary S. Terhune" > wrote in message
: > ...
: > > I've done all that for a similar problem (see my reply to OP,) and
: it's
: > > had no effect. But I suspect you're right that it will be helpful in
: > > OP's situation.
: > >
: > > I suspect my problem derived from my French-speaking daughter
: setting up
: > > this machine for French support when she was staying here. Then
: again,
: > > it may be a problem with my Fonts, period. I have some 3500
: installed,
: > > both TTF and Type1, and I suspect there's some confusion in there (I
: > > need all those fonts for my design work.)
: > >
: > > Still not sure how to repair it, and I'm going to wipe this machine
: in
: > > another couple of months, anyway, and I'm not going to mess with
: fonts
: > > again until then.
: > >
: > > --
: > > Gary S. Terhune
: > > MS MVP Shell/User
: > > http://www.grystmill.com/articles/cleanboot.htm
: > > http://www.grystmill.com/articles/security.htm
: > >
: > > "glee" > wrote in message
: > > ...
: > > > The second-to-last post, by DM, on this web page:
: > > > http://www.iidb.org/vbb/archive/index.php/t-44908.html
: > > > may address your problem.
: > > >
: > > > <quote>
: > > > 1) In Internet Explorer, go to "Tools," "Internet Options,"
: > > "Languages," and make
: > > > sure that "English (United States) [en-us]" is selected.
: > > >
: > > > 2) In Internet Explorer, go to "Tools," "Internet Options,"
: "Fonts,"
: > > and make sure
: > > > that "Language Script" is set to "Latin Based" and also that you
: have
: > > selected a
: > > > default font for both "Web page font" and "Plain text font" which
: is a
: > > True Type
: > > > font which supports special characters such as so-called smart
: quotes
: > > and such
: > > > (e.g., Arial, Verdana, etc.).
: > > > </quote>
: > > >
: > > > I have Times New Roman, and Courier New, respectively, in the
: Fonts
: > > settings here.
: > > > --
: > > > Glen Ventura, MS MVP Shell/User, A+
: > > > http://dts-l.org/goodpost.htm
: > > >
: > > >
: > > > "mark" > wrote in message
: > > > ...
: > > > > hello. im running win98 with all the updates that i know of. my
: > > problem is
: > > > > that in msn messenger and pages displayed on ie: certain
: characters
: > > > > specifically the quotation marks and other special characters,
: are
: > > displayed
: > > > > as a little black box. does anyone know how i can change that
: little
: > > black
: > > > > box into the actual character that is supposed to be displayed?
: im
: > > assuming
: > > > > that these problems stem from the same source, perhaps a windows
: > > update, or
: > > > > something similar?
: > > >
: > >
: >
:

[Gary S. Terhune]

Not even close.

--
Gary S. Terhune
MS MVP Shell/User
http://www.grystmill.com/articles/cleanboot.htm
http://www.grystmill.com/articles/security.htm

"Dan" > wrote in message
...
> Wow, 3500 fonts installed you must have almost all the fonts in the
entire
> world, Gary.
>

[Dan]

LOL!! I guess there are millions of fonts then.

"Gary S. Terhune" > wrote in message
...
: Not even close.
:
: --
: Gary S. Terhune
: MS MVP Shell/User
: http://www.grystmill.com/articles/cleanboot.htm
: http://www.grystmill.com/articles/security.htm
:
: "Dan" > wrote in message
: ...
: > Wow, 3500 fonts installed you must have almost all the fonts in the
: entire
: > world, Gary.
: >
: