ACC2: "Unable to Get System Fixed Font" Error Message

ID: Q132057

The information in this article applies to:

SYMPTOMS

When you start Microsoft Access, you may receive the following two error messages:

Unable to get system fixed font.
Can't start Microsoft Access. Please try again.


CAUSE

In the [boot] section of the SYSTEM.INI file, you have a missing or invalid value for the "fixedfon.fon" line. For example: 


   [boot]
   fixedfon.fon=


RESOLUTION

You can reset the "fixedfon.fon" setting in the SYSTEM.INI file. To do so, follow these steps.

NOTE: In Microsoft Windows NT version 3.51 and 4.0, you must make the changes in the registry to correct the value of fixed.fon. For the steps to do so, see the "For Microsoft Windows NT 3.51 and 4.0" section later in this article.

  1. Open the SYSTEM.INI file in a text editor, such as NOTEPAD.EXE.


  2. In the [boot] section, locate the line beginning with fixedfon.fon.


  3. Enter a valid value for the fixedfon.fon setting. The following value works on most computers: 
    
      [boot]
      fixedfon.fon=vgafix.fon

    NOTE: If there is no fixedfon.fon setting in the [boot] section, then add the entire line as shown above.


  4. Save and close the SYSTEM.INI file.


  5. Restart Windows to load your modified SYSTEM.INI file. When you start Microsoft Access, you should not receive the "Unable to get system fixed font" error message.


For Microsoft Windows NT 3.51 and 4.0

In Microsoft Windows NT version 3.51 and 4.0, you must make the changes in the registry to correct the value of fixed.fon. To do so, follow these steps:
  1. Run Regedt32.


  2. From HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE go to \Software\Microsoft\Windows NT\Current Version\WOW\Boot.


  3. Make sure the Fixedfon.fon value is vgafix.fon.


  4. You may also need to check the values of Fonts.fon, which should be vgasys.fon and Oemfonts.fon, which should be vgaoem.fon.


  5. If those are correct go to the GRE_Initialize subkey under \Current Version.


  6. Make sure the value of FIXEDFON.FON is vgafix.fon; the value of FONTS.FONis vgasys.fon; and the value of OEMFONT.FON is vgaoem.fon.


These last values may be something like 8514*.* instead of vga*.*. If that is the case, they can be changed by highlighting the value and choosing Edit, String. You can also double-click each of the values to change them.


MORE INFORMATION

Steps to Reproduce Problem


  1. Open the SYSTEM.INI file in a text editor, such as NOTEPAD.EXE.


  2. In the [boot] section, locate the line beginning with fixedfon.fon.


  3. Enter an incorrect value for the fixedfon.fon setting. For example: 
    
      [boot]
      fixedfon.fon=


  4. Save and close the SYSTEM.INI file.


  5. Restart Windows to reload the SYSTEM.INI file. When you start Microsoft Access, you should receive the two error messages listed in the "Symptoms" section.



REFERENCES

For more information about other SYSTEM.INI settings, please see the following article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

Q96109 ACC: Troubleshooting Setup & Installation Problems (1.x, 2.0) 


Keywords          : kbenv kberrmsg EvnPrfm 
Version           : 2.0
Platform          : WINDOWS 
Issue type        : kbprb

Last Reviewed: April 29, 1999