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_Thomas_C_Rogers_
Participating Frequently
August 7, 2008
Question

Unable to install Type 1 fonts in Windows XP

  • August 7, 2008
  • 69 replies
  • 44519 views
I'm having problems loading Type 1 fonts into Windows XP. I loaded ATM 4.1 light and get the following error message when trying to load the fonts through it: 'Cannot activate font <fontname>. The font files are invalid.'<br /><br />I've removed ATM 4.1 from my computer and ran the ATM 4.1 light updater to fix the registry problem, but now get the following error message when trying to load the fonts through the windows font folder: 'Unable to install the <fontname> font. File "D:\fontname___.pfm is either invalid or damaged"' <br /><br />So I'm thinking that the registry is not completely fixed as it seems the .pfm files are not being associated properly. I've tried re installing windows and that did nothing. I would really prefer not to have to re format the hard drive and start from scratch as I already had to do that with this brand new Dell laptop due to issues with MS Office. I guess that's my worst case scenario. I also have Adobe Photoshop CS2, Illustrator CS2, and Acrobat Pro 8.0 on the computer. I don't think any of those would be causing my problems, but I mention it in case might. <br /><br />Does anyone have any ideas of how I can fix this problem? Thanks, Tom
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    _dave_ingraham_
    Participating Frequently
    November 14, 2008
    Thanks for the info Herb. You learn something new every day.
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    _dave_ingraham_
    Participating Frequently
    November 14, 2008
    Hi everyone,
    I just wanted to chime in and say that I'm having the same problem with a new HP EliteBook 8730w with an NVidia FX 2700M card. I sent a Type 1 font over to an HP support person (who has been very responsive and understanding) and he had the same problem. He said they would be contacting NVidia to see if they have a new driver. I was told they had recently had a user with a similar problem (but with OpenType fonts) so hopefully something is in the works.

    On a hunch, I uninstalled the video driver and attempted to install the type 1 fonts in VGA mode. I was able to install the fonts without a problem when the video driver was not installed.

    I then installed an older version driver and left the fonts on, to see if any of my programs would be able to use these fonts. It was a mixed bag. Some programs recognized them, some didn't, and some only recognized the base version (but not the bold, extended, light, oblique, etc versions).

    Programs that recognized the full font family:
    Photoshop
    Illustrator
    InDesign

    Programs that didn't recognized any of the fonts:
    Flash

    Programs that only recognized the base version font:
    Word
    PowerPoint

    I then uninstalled the older version and re-installed the newest version and the results were the same.

    I doubt any of the info will actually help anyone, but I thought it was interesting how the different programs were affected by the video driver.
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    _Herb_V_B_
    Participating Frequently
    November 14, 2008
    Dave -

    When a font family has the four specific styles regular, bold, italic,
    and bold italic, MS Office and most other non-Adobe application
    products display ONLY the regular (or normal or base) name in a font
    list. The bold and italic versions are accessed by applying the "B"
    and/or "I" or changing the text attributes (properties).

    A downside of that approach is that there's no way to tell if the font
    has the alternate styles available - because if it DOESN'T, a faux
    bold or faux italic will be created.

    Adobe products list each font file separately in their font lists.

    Some font families don't use the font and style naming conventions in
    a way compatible with the MS/Windows approach - for example, a font
    with a style "Light", will confuse Windows unless it's given a unique
    FAMILY name. That's an oversimplification; there are some excellent
    texts available on the subject.

    All of which has little or nothing to do with the inability to install
    the fonts in the first place. They're two separate and distinct issues!

    - Herb
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    _Martha_MacPhail_
    Participant
    November 4, 2008
    Hello, I have spent nearly a week trying to figure out this type 1 fonts problem. Just wanted to say how helpful this post was to finally solve my problem. I actually had IT bring back my old machine to be able to do my work. I really appreciate the help everyone shares here. I wish I had looked for this sooner. I've learned my lesson, check the Adobe forum first!!
    Thanks to you all.
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    _Toby_Gadd_
    Participant
    October 31, 2008
    SOLVED!

    I found new Nvidia drivers at: http://laptopvideo2go.com

    The 178.15 driver works with my Dell E6500 (Nvidia Quadro NVS 160M) running Windows XP Professional! Yeah!

    I did need to download the specialized INF file before the driver would recognize my video card.

    Photoshop's GPU feature works now too. With the older Dell driver, selecting the GPU drawing feature didn't seem to make much difference with speed. With the new driver, re-draws and zooming are FAST!
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    _Piotr_Przybylski_
    Participant
    October 31, 2008
    Dell Latitude E6500
    nVidia Quadro NVS 160M
    Windows XP Pro SP3

    I installed drivers from http://download.laptopvideo2go.com/nvidia/175series/17808.exe (mobile driver 178.08), helped me with fonts but broke GPU in Photoshop. Anyway, for me it's better than the official driver.

    As Dell uses 176.26, the problem should disappear as soon as an updated driver becomes available.
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    _Alistair_Wearring_
    Participant
    October 30, 2008
    Hi Ben,

    Did you get this solved?
    I have the same/similar problem on a Dell Precision MM4400 with nVidia Quadro FX 770M Running WinXP Pro SP3

    Thanks

    Alistair
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    _nevermind2001_
    Participant
    October 28, 2008
    Hi Ben,

    did you get new information from dell support? i have the same
    problem with my latitude e6500.

    thx

    jenlau
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    _Ben_M_Ahlquist_
    Participant
    October 22, 2008
    ***UPDATE on my process***
    The Dell support tech I spoke with was very informative and appreciative of this problem. While they do not have anything relating to this issue in their knowledgebase, he is going to give this a serious look. I expect to hear back from Dell later today.

    While waiting, I wanted to try something. I installed a dual boot with Vista Business running. After initial tests, it looks like the different nVidia drivers made for Vista fix this problem. I'm going to continue to test this in Vista before I do a full-blown wipe + reinstall, but things are looking up so far!

    -ben
    M
    Adobe Employee
    MatthewLaun
    Adobe Employee
    October 26, 2009

    @Ben,

    You might simply try booting XP with VGA mode enabled. See this MS doc on how to do that:

    http://support.microsoft.com/kb/323786

    If that enables you to install the fonts, you can simply do that when needed, then go back to normal.

    Also, I just worked with a customer who dit the above, but then also got an updated (older?) driver from their PC manufacturer, and that also solved the problem.

    Matt

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    _Ben_M_Ahlquist_
    Participant
    October 22, 2008
    Greetings everyone...I am sure glad I came across this post. This has been very informative and helpful and I was able to diagnose exactly what is going on with my Adobe Font Folio fonts after a new computer purchase.

    I'm having the same issue as you all...damned if I thought a new laptop was going to give me LESS problems =)

    Here's my info:
    Dell Latitude E6500
    Windows XPSP3
    nVidia Quadro NVS160M

    I'm experiencing the same issues/symptoms as the rest of you...Type 1 fonts won't preview/activate in Suitcase, the Windows System Fonts folder, or a variety of other applications I attempted (I originally was thinking this was software-related).

    I'm on hold now, waiting to speak to a Dell Tech Support Person and will let you all know what, if anything I can find out.

    IMO, this is ridiculous that nVidia/Dell/whoever made an oversight of this magnitude...my workflow is at a standstill right now until I a.) fix the problem, b.) use my old machine, or c.) scrap everything and buy something new.

    -ben
    Dov Isaacs
    Dov Isaacs
    Legend
    September 25, 2008
    Nonetheless, given the symptoms, it is entirely likely that the module cited is not at all involved. Again, you need to contact Microsoft and the video driver supplier.

    - Dov
    - Dov Isaacs, former Adobe Principal Scientist (April 30, 1990 - May 30, 2021)
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