System claims all fonts are "In Use" when I try to delete them

Anonymous
2010-05-09T17:21:03+00:00

I am attempting to delete some non-system fonts that I installed.  Every time I try, no matter what the font, I am told that the font cannot be deleted because it is "in use".  It does not matter if I close every single program running and double-check that no word processors (I use Open Office) are running through Task Manager, the system will not allow me to delete any fonts.

Please help.

Windows for home | Previous Windows versions | Files, folders, and storage

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Anonymous
2012-05-07T11:35:25+00:00

Could it be this simple?  It worked for me!

http://forums.techarena.in/vista-help/1189255.htm

The Windows Font folder itself is using the font, hence why you can't delete the font - i.e. the very tool you're using to delete the font is using said font and thus locking the file!

When in the Fonts folder click:

Organize > Layout > Untick 'Details pane' > Now try deleting the font.

Worked a treat for me.

Seriously needs addressing in the next service pack.

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Anonymous
2013-10-27T19:11:27+00:00

All, 

I MIGHT JUST HAVE THE FIX FOR THIS!!

I've been struggling for 1 hour to delete a font and I've finally done it.

I renamed the font and I could delete it immediately!

Before deleting it I set all the permissions to allow. I don't know if that helped but ultimately it worked.

I was in safe mode and that didn't work until the renaming trick.

Good luck.

G

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  1. Anonymous
    2010-05-10T16:19:51+00:00

    Hi Hany Rosh,

    Step 1: Try deleting the fonts in Safe Mode and check if the issue persists.

    Safe mode starts Windows with a limited set of files and drivers. Startup programs don't run in safe mode, and only the basic drivers needed to start Windows are installed.

    Refer this link to boot into Safe Mode:

    Start your computer in safe mode**http://windows.microsoft.com/en-us/windows7/Start-your-computer-in-safe-mode**

    Step 2: Use the Windows Installer Cleanup uitility and uninstall the fonts completely.

    Download, install, and then run the Windows Installer CleanUp utility to remove the settings related to the font installation.

    Refer the following link to do the same:

    Description of the Windows Installer CleanUp Utility

    http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;290301

    Regards,

    Divya R – Microsoft Support.

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  2. Anonymous
    2011-11-17T19:25:40+00:00

    I am having the same problem, and have not been able to solve it based on the above answer, or any other suggestions I've found.

    I've got over 50 non-system fonts that I previously installed and want to delete, but which cannot be deleted by any means ( 'Font name' cannot be deleted because it's in use). I can find no explanation for why these particular fonts are uninstallable, when most other fonts in the folder are. These are definitely not system fonts, some are True Type, others are Open Type, some are old ones I transferred in a batch from a previous computer, other are new and freshly installed (such as GFS Didot Regular, which is a Google web font, therefore I'm assuming there's nothing wrong with the font itself).

    I have tried:

    • taking ownership of the fonts and granting full control, then deleting
    • deleting while in safe mode as suggested above
    • accessing the font folder directly (\machine-name\c$\Windows\Fonts)and deleting ('The action can't be completed because the file is open in another program. Close the file and try again.')
    • accessing the font folder directly and then using an unlocker app to delete the fonts. The app says it cannot find any processes locking the file, yet still refuses to delete it.
    • Using command prompt as an administrator to delete the fonts (del fontname /F /Q), which returns the message "Access is denied."
    • Uninstalling the fonts via several font managers, none of which can delete them.

    I cannot try using the Windows Installer Cleanup Utility as suggested in Step 2 above, since following the link reveals that the utility has been retired and its replacement, the "Program Install and Uninstall Troubleshooter", does not sound like it will be effective in deleting the fonts.

    Please, does anyone have new ideas? I'm getting kinda desperate. Thanks in advance!

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  3. Anonymous
    2011-11-19T19:11:43+00:00

    Hello Kass_P,

     Thank you for the response back.  Did you get the same result while trying to remove in Safe Mode? 

    Please let us know status.

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