Microsoft KB Archive/160214

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PRB: 32-bit Font Files Not Recognized by Windows 95 Shell

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Q160214

4.00 WINDOWS kbprg kbgraphic kbprb

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The information in this article applies to:


 * Microsoft Win32 Application Programming Interface (API), used with:
 * Microsoft Windows 95

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SYMPTOMS
When you try to install a 32-bit Portable Executable (PE) font resource file in Windows 95 version 4.0 via the fonts folder, the installation fails and Windows 95 displays an error message indicating that the font is not a valid font file. Also, attempts to view the font file by double-clicking the file produce the same message.

CAUSE
The fonts folder in the Windows 95 shell does not recognize 32-bit PE font file resources.

STATUS
Microsoft is researching this behavior and will post new information here in the Microsoft Knowledge Base as it becomes available.

MORE INFORMATION
Although the fonts folder in the Windows 95 shell does not recognize font resources that are in the 32-bit PE format, the operating system does. A 32-bit PE font resource can be installed into Windows 95 programmatically. This is accomplished by calling the AddFontResource function, updating the Registry, and broadcasting a notification message to inform other apps that a font has been installed. These procedures are documented in the Installing Fonts section of the Guide to Programming Windows 95 in the Win32 SDK and the Knowledge Base articles in the REFERENCES section below.

Also, 32-bit PE font resources may cause a General Protection Fault in Windows 95 version 4.0 under certain circumstances. Please see The REFERENCES section in this article for further details. Microsoft recommends that Windows 95 applications that ship font resources use 16-bit font resource files. Shipping 16-bit font resources will avoid the 32-bt PE font file bugs in Windows 95 and will have the added benefit of being portable if you design your application for Win32s.