FAQ    TrueType FAQ


Removing fonts in Windows 95

Q In my previous version of Microsoft Windows I could remove TrueType fonts without deleting the font files. But when I remove a TrueType font in Windows 95, the font file is deleted from the hard disk. Is there a way to remove a TrueType font in Windows 95 without deleting the font file?
A Yes, but in order to remove TrueType fonts without deleting the font files you must maintain two copies of each font file on the hard disk. The fonts in the \Fonts folder are the installed fonts, while the fonts in the other folder are available for installation but may not be active.
   Follow these steps to remove a font without deleting the font file:

  1. Use Windows Explorer to create a folder to store a copy of the TrueType font files.
  2. Copy the fonts you want to remove from the Windows\Fonts folder to the folder you created in step 1.
  3. Use the Fonts tool in Control Panel to remove the TrueType fonts.

If you decide to re-install a font that you have removed, you can install the font from the folder containing the font file copies. Make sure to select the "Copy fonts to the Fonts folder" option so that the font file is copied. If you do not select this option, the font file is located in only one folder and is deleted the next time you remove the font.

Q Having just upgraded from Windows 3.1 to Windows 95, I've found duplicate .fon files in the Windows\Fonts and Windows\System folders. Do I need these .fon files? Will I need to reinstall them if I ever reformat my hard drive?
A No. Setup does not delete the .fon files in the Windows\System folder because they are in use when you are upgrading from Windows 3.1 to Windows 95. Once Windows 95 is installed, these files are no longer needed. Setup copies the necessary font files into the Windows\Fonts folder.
   Since the .fon files are no longer necessary, you can delete the .fon files in the Windows\System folder. To do so, follow the steps detailed below.

  1. Restart your computer. When you see the "Starting Windows 95" message, press the F8 key, and then choose Safe Mode Command Prompt Only from the Startup menu.
  2. Change to the Windows\System folder by typing the following line:
    cd windows\system
  3. Delete the .fon files by typing the following line:
    del *.fon
  4. Restart your computer normally.




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this document last updated 22 March 1996
© 1996 Microsoft Corporation. all rights reserved.