Windows 8.1 Text Showing Up as Random Artifacts

I had this very random and very debilitating bug occur in Windows 8.1 today and wanted to document it so others can learn how to fix it and maybe someone knows how to prevent it that can provide some advice.

Upon starting my PC, all of my text looked like this picture: Windows 8.1 text artifacts

The only thing I know that happened before this is that I tried to install a ttc (Avenir Next Condensed.ttc) font to be used with a Photoshop design file that upon clicking "Install", windows said "this file does not appear to be a valid font". It should be noted that this font was installed on another computer before being transferred to mine (ie it works on another computer, not Windows 8.1, though.)

It also appears this could be a bug related to Visual Studio 2013. (My entire project was missing. - Fortunately, I checked in my code before turning it off... Thank god...)

http://social.technet.microsoft.com/Forums/windows/en-US/d77274a2-bb0a-4dfa-b4ab-a83d195940d6/windows-7-symbols-instead-of-text?forum=w7itprogeneral Shows a solution of copying over fonts from another computer as well as others experience this issue seemingly at random.

To see this bug in action: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=525yPBGEfjU

teynon

Posted 2014-02-09T01:48:09.640

Reputation: 133

Have you tried uninstalling the font that you put on your computer? – HelpingHand – 2014-02-11T18:37:20.283

@HelpingHand: The font isn't installed. Windows failed during the installation. However, when I go to the fonts folder, there are only three listings of font files. Although I have no idea what they are since it's all gibberish. I could try to post the font file online later, but I don't know if that would be some form of illegal distribution of copyrighted material. – teynon – 2014-02-11T18:38:08.443

Yeah, that would be illegal. Just link to the file if you must. Are you sure that it was not a virus? – HelpingHand – 2014-02-11T18:47:26.923

@HelpingHand: I've scanned it with a variety of software and it was taken from the installed fonts on another computer. Which I know doesn't mean it isn't a virus, but it seems much more like a bug. – teynon – 2014-02-11T18:48:37.900

The thread Windows 8.1 missing font files after restart contains a few ideas that you could try.

– harrymc – 2014-02-11T19:25:29.623

@harrymc This looks promising, I will have a look at this tonight. – teynon – 2014-02-11T19:45:02.750

@harrymc The link you posted to did in fact solve the problem. I can't give bounty to a comment and I apparently can't upvote since I bounty'd all my user reputation away. Perhaps you can post it as an answer. – teynon – 2014-02-12T03:09:58.997

Done as requested. – harrymc – 2014-02-12T06:52:59.583

Windows 8.1 - Legend of Zelda Edition – Derek 朕會功夫 – 2014-02-12T06:56:48.817

Thanks for the duplicate flag. I removed the bounty since it was only a few hours old and closed it accordingly – note that there's no benefit from having the answer duplicated again. – slhck – 2014-02-12T18:00:45.467

Answers

For the case where Windows destroyed its own font data, you could :

Get the contents of C:\Windows\Fonts from another PC
Copy these fonts into a temporary folder
Use regedit to delete (after saving) the contents of
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Fonts
Reboot
Copy the fonts into C:\Windows\Fonts
Re-install the fonts by opening Control Panel / Fonts, and from the File menu select 'Install New Fonts...' and add the fonts from the temporary folder.

harrymc

Posted 2014-02-09T01:48:09.640

Reputation: 306 093

4 hours till I can award bounty. – teynon – 2014-02-12T14:22:47.680

Your best solution for this problem is probably Windows Refresh.

To 'Refresh' your computer, follow the instructions below quoted from http://windows.microsoft.com/en-us/windows-8/restore-refresh-reset-pc.

To refresh your PC

Swipe in from the right edge of the screen, tap Settings, and then tap Change PC settings.
(If you're using a mouse, point to the upper-right corner of the screen, move the mouse pointer down, click Settings, and then click Change PC settings.)

Tap or click Update and recovery, and then tap or click Recovery.

Under Refresh your PC without affecting your files, tap or click Get started.

Follow the instructions on the screen

Your files and everything SHOULD still be there, but any programs installed may vanish (but windows says that there will be a list of all programs removed on your computer).

Good luck with your computer. Hope this helps! (if it does, don't forget to accept it as an answer)

HelpingHand

Posted 2014-02-09T01:48:09.640

Reputation: 351

This was one of the first things I thought to try. I apparently didn't have System restore on. I did try to do a "Refresh" (Not sure what that is yet.) However, the "refresh" failed. I'd have to try again to see what the error message was. (Sorry I didn't put that I tried that in the question.) – teynon – 2014-02-11T19:54:37.637

That's alright. Have you turned System Restore on and tried again? This may save you a lot of time and trouble if you try the simplest solution first (System Restore). – HelpingHand – 2014-02-11T20:04:54.963

Turning now System Restore on is too late. But as Refresh cannot fail, better specify in your post what you did. – harrymc – 2014-02-11T20:13:18.790

@harrymc I misunderstood how System Restore worked on Windows 8.1 and changed it to Refresh in my answer. – HelpingHand – 2014-02-11T20:30:31.767

Sorry bout that. – HelpingHand – 2014-02-11T20:31:36.570

Attention: Refresh will wipe out all non-Metro installed applications. – harrymc – 2014-02-11T20:35:16.550

@harrymc I put that in my answer already (before you said it). – HelpingHand – 2014-02-11T20:39:51.763

Nope, it's my comment that predates your edit by 4 minutes (good idea of yours to add this warning in). – harrymc – 2014-02-11T21:06:47.070

@harrymc My edit put it in bold. Quote: Emboldifyed important things – HelpingHand – 2014-02-11T22:59:25.243