Vista System Fonts

placidarc · Posted: Thu Jan 22, 2009 11:08 pm Post subject: Vista System Fonts

Hi.
I have been told that a large number of installed fonts can slow down the PC start up. I have a lot of fonts I never use but maybe Vista does. Is there a list of fonts that must be retained for the OS to function.
Mike

goretsky · Posted: Fri Jan 23, 2009 3:26 am Post subject:

Hello,

From what I remember, this was more of an issue with older versions of Microsoft Windows, and only with a large number of fonts installed.

I believe my installation of Microsoft Windows Vista is fairly pristine with respect to the number of installed fonts. A check of the C:\WINDOWS\FONTS\ directory shows some 386 fonts across 583 files. The reason for the difference is some fonts might be spread across multiple files.

How many fonts and files are on your system?

Regards,

Aryeh Goretsky

calmclam · Joined: Jan 23, 2009 Posts: 1

I have 400+ a few fonts. So many of them look very much the same and I'm just tired of having to search a looooong list to get to my favorites. That's why I'd like to delete a bunch. Maybe even save them somewhere so they're not lost and gone for ever oh my darling Clementine - but I'd really like to have a shorter list to deal with. Is there anything I should NOT delete?? Question

placidarc

drwho07 · Joined: Nov 29, 2007 Posts: 2240 Location: Central FL, USA

A few years ago, on my old system, it seemed like FONTS were taking over my PC.
Every major program I'd install dumped another bunch of fonts on my PC.

Under a comparatively NEW install, I have 191 in the C:\windows\fonts folder and another 43 in a "Corel" sub folder.

When fonts became a problem for me in the past, I found a fonts manager program on the internet and it helped me cut down the number of fonts that were installed.
Yes, on the average PC, there are dozens of absolutely JUNK fonts, that nobody in their right mind would ever use. It sure couldn't hurt to get rid of them.
Just be careful that you don't delete a font that Windows uses. Confused

I can't find the one I downloaded, oh so long ago, but a quick Google on "fonts manager" will find you what you need.

Good Luck,
The Doctor Cool

PS: I just downloaded and ran a FREE (30 day free trial) program called the "Fontonizer" and I've used it to delete about 40 unneeded fonts. It will not delete fonts currently in use by windows. Yes, it's a 30 day free trial, but that should be long enough for you to clean up your font folder. Right?

drwho07 · Joined: Nov 29, 2007 Posts: 2240 Location: Central FL, USA

Speaking of FONT-Bloat......

I just brought up Vista and looked in the font folder, to find 518 fonts. WOW!

Doc Cool

goretsky

Hello,

That's strange; the directory exists on my computer.

If you go to the Control Panel, is there a Fonts applet inside it? If so, what happens when you double-click on it to launch it?

Regards,

Aryeh Goretsky

zlim · Joined: Mar 11, 2005 Posts: 2747

Have you enabled hidden folders and system folders? (I'm not sure if you have to do this in Vista).
That's the only way I can figure out that you are unable to "see" the C:\windows\fonts

drwho07 · Joined: Nov 29, 2007 Posts: 2240 Location: Central FL, USA

If anyone is going to WORK with their computer and not just run programs, then you definitely need to be able to view all your files. Setting Windows Explorer to "Show all files" and "Show hidden and System Files" should be the first thing you do on starting up a new OS. I do that first on every new system I have to set up.

Yes, that applies to Vista as much as XP, ME or even 98.

That's the only way Fonts could hide, , , if they are in a Hidden or System folder.

Here's a great site that deals with the subject and even offers a Script to UN-Hide hidden files.
http://www.edbott.com/weblog/?p=692

I downloaded and ran the script. It toggles hidden files each time you run it.
One time it shows them and the next time you run it, it hides them again. It took me a few times to get on to it. Pretty neat though.
It's sure easier than doing the job manually.

Good Luck,
Doc Cool

tbernstein · Joined: May 16, 2003 Posts: 1668 Location: London

I'd love to be able to get rid of all those pointless font sets for Asian languages. (Pointless to me, I don't speak any of them).
I can understand why Windows has them. I can't for the life of me understand why they can't let us delete the blasted things if we don't need them.