I need some help deleting fonts. I'm using Windows ME and have about 830 installed fonts, plus some in other folders. I downloaded many and stuffed them in the folder before I knew it was a problem to have so many. But now, when I go to delete some of the ones I don't really need, I almost always get an error message that says, "Cannot delete ________(font name): access is denied. The source file may be in use." Once in a VERY great while it does allow me to delete a font, but it's very frustrating!! I also have a problem that when I install a new font I'm not able to use it (it doesn't show up in any programs). Sometimes after installing a new one I'm able to see a *different* font or two for the first time -- ones that I installed months before but hadn't been able to use yet. It's really confusing, but I'm assuming it's caused by just having too many fonts. If anyone can help me figure this out I will be VERY grateful!!! :-) Thanks so much, Abigail

See what happens in "Safe Mode"...

Are you trying to delete the fonts through the font setting in control panel? If any of the fonts are used by a program that is running on your pc, you will not be able to delete it. Same if you changed the fonts in your windows display settings. Here is an article from PC magazine listing hte fonts that should never be deleted. Hope this helps: Do not delete the following fonts: Arial (TrueType) Arial Bold (TrueType) Arial Bold Italic (TrueType) Arial Italic (TrueType) Courier 10,12,15 (VGA res) Courier New (TrueType) Courier New Bold (TrueType) Courier New Bold Italic (TrueType) Courier New Italic (TrueType) Marlett (Windows 95/98)* Modern (Plotter) MS Sans Serif 8,10,12,14,18,24 (VGA res) MS Serif 8,10,12,14,18,24 (VGA res) Roman (Plotter) Script (Plotter) Small fonts (VGA res) Symbol (TrueType) Symbol 8,10,12,14,18,24 (VGA res) Times New Roman (TrueType) - Times New Roman Bold (TrueType) Times New Roman Bold Italic (TrueType) Times New Roman Italic (TrueType) Wingdings (TrueType) Any font with a red A for its icon. Any font that begins with the letters MS. *Marlett is a hidden system file and it will not show up in a search, however, it may show up in your program font lists. Additionally, some programs have fonts that are required for that program to display properly. Those fonts that are not listed above are listed here along with the program: CorelDRAW Avant Garde Book BT (TrueType) Avant Garde Oblique BT (TrueType) Avant Garde Medium BT (TrueType) Avant Garde Medium Oblique BT (TrueType) CommonBullets (TrueType) FuturaMedcondBT (Corel's # TT0201M.TTF) Print Artist Palisade Windows Draw Swiss921 BT (Also see page 4 of the manual for Windows Draw 6 Print Studio, and page 27 of the manual for Complete Publisher '99 for a list of fonts that must be installed for the text styles and templates to appear properly.) Create-a-card Swiss721 BT (Create-a-card also has fonts that begin with CAC - these can be removed, however, some of the included projects may not display correctly.) Internet Web Browsers Webdings Office 97 (including Outlook 98) Tahoma Quickbooks Four fonts that all start with "Quicktype" MS Bookshelf Three fonts called Bookshelf Symbols 1-3 Picture It Comic Sans and Comic BD

Hi, Just had a similar problem trying to delete an image file. Had no open applications, so a bit perplexed. Ran a search, and found that a shortcut to the image appeared in my C:\WINDOWS\recent file. I deleted all the stuff in that file, and was able to delete the image. Somehow a link was forming to that file. If anyone could tell me why I will be appreciative!