Default system font is too light! Please help!

Several weeks ago my system font changed for some reason, and now it's very light and hard for me to read. I have low vision and I need for the font to be darker and bolder. I've tried everything I can think of to restore the font to its default, including running SFC /SCANNOW. I've enlarged and bolded fonts in Personalization and have changed themes. Nothing works. Can anyone out there help me? Here are some screen shots with examples of what I'm seeing on my screen. Thanks so much! (My system specs are listed. Basically I'm running Vista Home Premium, SP2, 64 bit. Thanks!)

faint_font1.jpg picture by philnlin - Photobucket

faint_font2.jpg picture by philnlin - Photobucket

faint_font3.jpg picture by philnlin - Photobucket

faint_font3.jpg picture by philnlin - Photobucket

See if this tutorial does it:

http://www.vistax64.com/tutorials/106279-fonts-change-default.html

MilesAhead, thank you for your reply. I have already tried using this option in Vista, and it does allow me to change the fonts for some items. However, you will notice that it does not allow you to change the fonts in the buttons in dialog boxes, or in many other areas. For an idea of what I'm talking about, please compare the screenshots in the tutorial in your post to my screenshot here: faint_font1.jpg picture by philnlin - Photobucket
You will notice that the "OK" button in the tutorial is nice and dark and easy to read (it's the system default), whereas in my screenshot it is faint and hard to read. Somehow, the font for this particular display area has been changed in my system, and that's what I'm trying to restore. I can't find an option anywhere in Vista that will allow me to change the fonts that show up in dialog boxes and on buttons like this. If I could just get the fonts back to "store bought" status, I'm sure that would fix the problem. Any more ideas?!

The fonts they allow you to change via the settings are only a few. There are settings in themes that have to do with font and size. I'm no expert. I would try
Customization - Windows 7 Forums

as there's no dedicated customization forum here. Also the seven board gets more traffic.
Or you can ask on DeviantArt.com

Unless you changed the theme I have no clue where to go from here. But those customization enthusiasts know where all those fonts are buried. Your best bet is probably the windows seven customization. Ask for Bongo to help. He's very knowledgeable.

Welcome
May I also suggest that you visit our affiliated forum Seven
There is a custimization subforum, where you can find some great help. Bongo is there too.
Windows 7 Forums

Just registered to try to help with this - so hello everyone

Looks to me like you've disabled font smoothing at some point - using bold fonts for some fonts masks that to a large extent but the un-altered SergioUI fonts look very ragged to me.

There are two ways to switch font-smoothing on (or off)

1>... Right click on the "Computer" icon. In the window that opens, click on the "Advanced System Settings" in the list on the left-hand side. In the "System Properties" window that opens, click on the "Settings" button in the "Performance" section (the top one in the list). In the "performance options" window that opens, scroll down the list and near the bottom, make sure that the option is ticked for "Smooth edges of screen fonts" then click the "Apply" button. (If it is already ticked, un-tick it, click "Apply" - then tick it again and press "apply"). You may need to force any open windows to refresh by changing their size or closing and re-opening them.

2>...Right-click on the desktop and select "Personalisation" from the pop-up menu. In the window that opens, select "Window colour and appearance". In the window that opens, click on "Open classic appearance properties..." option near the bottom of the window. In the "Appearance settings" window that opens, click on the "Effects" button - and in the window that opens, make sure that "use the following method to smooth the edges of screen fonts" is ticked and that the option below it is set to "Clear-type" - then click "okay" - then click "okay" in the main window". Again, you may need to refresh any already open windows.

Font smoothing is system-wide so it may make the fonts you've already changed to bold ones look "fat" at small sizes - if so, just go back into the personalisation settings and swap them back to regular versions.

For the record - font smoothing works by adding mid-tone (grey - ish) pixels between the dark edges of the font and the paler background colours - this makes them appear a bit fatter and very slightly blurred - your system fonts appear to be "black and white" - no blurring at the edges - hence my thinking that font-smoothing is switched off.

Hope that helps.

Pete

Thanks for helping pengipete and welcome to the board. Stick around. I'm sure there's still a bunch of Vista users out there somewhere. I don't think it's taxable so please don't be ashamed to admit it!!

Hiya

Never mind Vista - I'm still using Amiga OS3.9.

As for being taxable - I'm in the UK so it probably will be taxed soon

The only tax I wouldn't mind paying is a luxury tax. That, at least, would imply I'm living in luxury and could afford it.