Insufficient memory or disk space, cannot display the requested font; Outlook fonts garbled

Anonymous
2009-07-06T18:36:45+00:00

After I've been using Word and Outlook for a while, I receive the following message: there is insufficient memory or disk space. Word cannot display the requested font. Once I get this error message, my fonts are garbled in both Word and Outlook.

I am running Windows Vista 64-bit Home Premium, with Office 2007. I have 4 GB RAM, with settings set on automatic (Windows detects).

I am not a power user. I have Googled and searched Microsoft help, to no avail.

My brand new computer is becoming almost unusable! Please help.

Windows for home | Previous Windows versions | Performance and system failures

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Anonymous
2009-07-07T03:24:20+00:00

kimlife,

Thank you for visiting the Microsoft Answers community forum.

There are a couple of things that can cause this.  One is a corrupted normal.dot template, one is a corrupted printer driver, and the other would be some sort of third part add in.  So let's start witht he simplest to try and that is replacing the normal.dot template.

Click on Start, go to Search, and in the Search box type normal.dot.  There should be a search option that you can check for 'search hidden files', make sure that is checked.  If it does not find it, try searching for *.dot.  It may be hard to find because it is a hidden file.  You may have to go into folder options and be sure "show hidden files" is checked.  Whenever you find normal.dot, rename it old.dot and restart your computer.  Open Word and it will create a new normal.dot template, which is what Word uses as a default blank document.

If that does not work, read this article about a third party add in that can cause this issue:

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/906899

Let us know how that works out and if you need additional help.

Thank you,

Gloria

Microsoft Answers Support Engineer

Visit our Microsoft Answers Feedback Forum and let us know what you think.

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  1. Anonymous
    2017-08-26T01:02:29+00:00

    The directory holding the normal.dot file can be opened directly pressing the Windows logo key ![](https://learn-attachment.microsoft.com/api/attachments/581ba8fe-98d4-419e-a151-09c52b67363e?platform=QnA)+ R  to open the Run dialog box, typing in there "%APPDATA%\Microsoft\Templates", and pressing Enter.

    There is no need to instruct users to search for files, which is a highly unreliable way of locating the normal template file. 

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  2. Anonymous
    2017-08-28T10:24:38+00:00

    I had this problem after I got a new printer last week. I tried what has been suggested on the different sites and nothing worked. Finally the light went on and this may seem like a simple answer. But I did the "Go back" or "Reset" feature for windows that put my computer back to a date prior to this problem starting. Problem solved. It is working great so far.

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  3. Anonymous
    2017-09-02T23:21:08+00:00

    I have been struggling with this for the past few days. So I reached out to my Facebook friends and followers. Can't believe the answer was so easy. Two friends asked if I had emptied the recycle bin or trash. Of course I haven't - and when I did this message was gone and my font displayed correctly. 

    Hope this helps someone else.

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  4. Anonymous
    2017-09-02T23:21:52+00:00

    So this didn't work permanently. But see the my post below for what really worked.

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