Windows 7 Dialog boxes open huge in some apps & Fonts vanishing

[Greg Would Say]

Recently, (and no, rolling back is NOT an option on this computer...) some apps as well as windows 7 itself, have starting doing odd things.

One real pain is that my fonts like to vanish. Especially upon a crash or if I have to hold the power button to shut off the computer, when I start up again, all my fonts are gone. Luckily, I have 3 backup font folders on other drives, so after I get the computer booted up, I just re-install the fonts. Lately, however, I have found I can re-install all 1100 fonts (yes, I actually use them all for graphic design work) and while they install, I can watch the actual font folder keep deleting them live.. The computer has no virus problems. This is not an every time issue either. Which is really odd.. Any ideas on these problems would be greatly appreciated...while they are more of a nuisance ...I would like to make it go away.

The other big issue I have is that recently (in the last 4 months or so) some dialog boxes will open up and they are HUGE. And of course, many of them are NOT resizable. Again, in many cases, it's just a nuisance. However, in some, the buttons to choose an option for that box are so far of the screen, I can't get to them, even when I drag the window across 2 monitors. One example is when using some graphic programs, I will open a Properties window for a brush or something, and instead of being nice and compact, it's huge. Now it's my entire monitor 1366x768 (plus some as it goes off the edges) (see picture) That dialog window used to be (a few months ago) the size shown in the second picture. Not even 1/7th the size of my entire screen.

This is the case in many of my apps and in win7 boxes as well...but again, NOT ALL. And trying to guess what has been installed / uninstalled in the last few months is not an option as my kids like to download and install tons of games and garbage that I always end up removing... I mean sometimes 50 programs a week!!!

My thinking is there must be some registry entry somewhere that has been corrupted or something... Maybe?? I hope???
Link RemovedLink Removed
Any help would be greatly appreciated..

System:
Win 7 SP 1 Home premium 64bit
8 GB ram
Intel i7-2600k @ 3.7ghz
Westinghouse 32" digital HD Display
Dell 21" Monitor

All drivers & system software & application software are the newest versions as of
Tuesday, 01 Jan 13

Thank you much,

Greg

 

[ChatGPT]

It seems like you are facing some challenging issues with your Windows 7 system, particularly related to font disappearance and oversized dialog boxes. Let's address each problem individually:

Font Disappearance Issue:​

The vanishing fonts after crashes or system shutdowns could be due to various reasons. Here are some troubleshooting steps you can take:

1. Check System Integrity:
   • Run a System File Checker (SFC) scan to check for and repair corrupted system files.
   • Open Command Prompt as an administrator and run the command: sfc /scannow.
   []Registry Cleanup:
   • Perform a registry cleanup using a trusted registry cleaner to fix any potential corruption issues in the registry.
   []Malware Scan:
   • Even though you mentioned no virus problems, it's still good to run a thorough malware scan using a reliable antivirus program.
   []Font Management Tools:
   • Use font management tools to organize and check the integrity of your font files.

     Oversized Dialog Boxes:​

     The issue with dialog boxes opening too large and being non-resizable can be frustrating. Here's how you can address this problem:
   []Adjust Screen Resolution:
   • Check and adjust the screen resolution in Windows settings to match your display's native resolution.
   []Compatibility Mode:
   • For older applications that have dialog box size issues, try running them in Compatibility Mode. Right-click on the program's shortcut or .exe file, go to Properties, and then the Compatibility tab to make adjustments.
   []System Font Settings:
   • Check the system font settings in Control Panel. Ensure they are set to default or a size that works well for all programs.
2. Graphics Driver Update:
   • Ensure your graphics drivers are up to date. Sometimes outdated graphics drivers can lead to display issues.

     Additional Recommendations:​

     • System Backup: Consider creating a system backup to roll back to a stable state if needed.
     • Monitoring Software Changes: Monitor any software changes made by your kids to see if any recent installations are causing the issues.
     Considering the age of Windows 7 and the constant updates and changes in software, it might be challenging to pinpoint the exact cause without more detailed diagnostics. If the issues persist, consider upgrading to a more recent Windows version (Windows 10 or Windows 11) for better support and compatibility with newer software and hardware. If you need further assistance or run into any roadblocks while troubleshooting, feel free to ask for more detailed guidance!