When you try to install a font on a Windows Vista-based computer, the operation fails without any error message

On a Windows Vista-based computer, you turn off the User Account Control (UAC) feature. However, if you log on to the computer as a regular user, and then you try to install a font, the operation fails without any error message.

During the installation process, a circle appears around the pointer, and then it disappears. At the same time, the CPU usage increases to 100 percent for a while. The operation seems to finish successfully. However, when you check Fonts in Control Panel, the font that you tried to install does not exist.

If you have administrative credentials, you can install or remove fonts. If you have a regular user account and if the UAC feature is turned on, Windows Vista prompts you to run in elevated mode to install or remove fonts. If you have a regular user account and if the UAC feature is turned off, Windows Vista does not let you install or remove fonts. Therefore, the font installation operation or the font removal operation fails silently.

To work around this behavior, use one of the following methods.

Method 1

Log on to the Windows Vista-based computer as a local administrator, and then reinstall the font.

Method 2

Turn on the UAC feature, and then reinstall the font. To do this, follow these steps:

1. Log on to the Windows Vista-based computer as a local administrator.
2. Click Start, and then click Control Panel.
3. Double-click User Accounts, and then click Turn User Account Control on or off.
   
   Note In some versions of Windows Vista, User Accounts and Family Safety does not appear. Instead, click User Accounts, click User Accounts, and then click Turn User Account Control on or off.
4. Click to select the Use User Account Control (UAC) to help protect your computer check box.
5. Click OK.
6. When you are prompted, restart the computer.
7. Reinstall the font.