Solved Metro Icon Glitch, Please Help

JasonD

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I did a clean install of Windows 8 like 2 days ago and since yesterday I have noticed that when I am in "Metro" that some icons show up as just squares. For example if I right click on a tile that menu at the bottom will come up and all the icons above the actions are squares or half squares. The mute icon from the charms bar is also a square. Does anyone know how to fix this problem? I've put 2 pics up.
 

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My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8 Pro
    CPU
    Intel Core 2 Quad Q9550 @3.49Ghz
    Motherboard
    ASUS Stiker II Extreme
    Memory
    7GB Corsair
    Graphics Card(s)
    nVidia 660Ti
    Hard Drives
    Corsair 240GB Force 3 SSD
    Case
    Coller Master Cosmos S
    Antivirus
    ESET Smart Security 6
Hi Jason, welcome to the forums, do you have any third party security/antivirus program installed, if you have, uninstall it and see whether it fixes the problem.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Win 8.1
    Computer type
    Laptop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Acer Aspire E1-571
    CPU
    i5-3230m
    Motherboard
    Acer Type-2
    Memory
    8GB DDR3 1333MHz
    Graphics Card(s)
    Intel HD 4000
    Sound Card
    High Definiton Audio Device
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Generic
    Screen Resolution
    1366x768
    Hard Drives
    Samsung 850 Pro 256GB
    PSU
    Generic
    Keyboard
    QWERTY
    Mouse
    ELANTECH Touchpad
    Internet Speed
    12.68Mbps
    Browser
    IE11
    Antivirus
    Windows Defender
I have ESET Smart Security, but I kinda need that don't I? I will try it to see what happens though. Will post in a few minutes.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8 Pro
    CPU
    Intel Core 2 Quad Q9550 @3.49Ghz
    Motherboard
    ASUS Stiker II Extreme
    Memory
    7GB Corsair
    Graphics Card(s)
    nVidia 660Ti
    Hard Drives
    Corsair 240GB Force 3 SSD
    Case
    Coller Master Cosmos S
    Antivirus
    ESET Smart Security 6
You don't really need it, as you have Windows Defender.

That being said; did it start after you ran CCleaner? The icons are stored as a font, and hypothetically CCleaner might futz with fonts.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8.1
    Computer type
    Laptop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Asus Tansformer Book Flip TP500LN
    CPU
    Intel i5-4210U
    Memory
    8GB DDR3 SDRAM
    Graphics Card(s)
    Nvidia Geforce GT 840M
    Monitor(s) Displays
    15" Touchscreen
    Screen Resolution
    1366 x 768
    Hard Drives
    1TB Hybrid
    Mouse
    Microsoft Wireless Mobile Mouse 4000
I have ESET Smart Security, but I kinda need that don't I? I will try it to see what happens though. Will post in a few minutes.
Windows defender will be enough, uninstall ESET and once your problems sorted out, you can reinstall if you want, there are many people using ESET encountered problems mainly metro related.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Win 8.1
    Computer type
    Laptop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Acer Aspire E1-571
    CPU
    i5-3230m
    Motherboard
    Acer Type-2
    Memory
    8GB DDR3 1333MHz
    Graphics Card(s)
    Intel HD 4000
    Sound Card
    High Definiton Audio Device
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Generic
    Screen Resolution
    1366x768
    Hard Drives
    Samsung 850 Pro 256GB
    PSU
    Generic
    Keyboard
    QWERTY
    Mouse
    ELANTECH Touchpad
    Internet Speed
    12.68Mbps
    Browser
    IE11
    Antivirus
    Windows Defender
Sorry about the late reply I got really busy and only got around to uninstalling it just now. Nothing has changed, I am still having the same problems.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8 Pro
    CPU
    Intel Core 2 Quad Q9550 @3.49Ghz
    Motherboard
    ASUS Stiker II Extreme
    Memory
    7GB Corsair
    Graphics Card(s)
    nVidia 660Ti
    Hard Drives
    Corsair 240GB Force 3 SSD
    Case
    Coller Master Cosmos S
    Antivirus
    ESET Smart Security 6
You don't really need it, as you have Windows Defender.

That being said; did it start after you ran CCleaner? The icons are stored as a font, and hypothetically CCleaner might futz with fonts.
I can't remember TBH, I only noticed it yesterday.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8 Pro
    CPU
    Intel Core 2 Quad Q9550 @3.49Ghz
    Motherboard
    ASUS Stiker II Extreme
    Memory
    7GB Corsair
    Graphics Card(s)
    nVidia 660Ti
    Hard Drives
    Corsair 240GB Force 3 SSD
    Case
    Coller Master Cosmos S
    Antivirus
    ESET Smart Security 6
Hello JasonD. Welcome to the Eight Forums.

Do all of the above. Go backwards to when it worked properly. Did you install something or run an application that messed with the registry? Or, reinstall, and don't do what you did before.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Server 2012 / 8.0
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Home Built
    CPU
    Intel i7 QuadCore 3770k
    Motherboard
    Asrock Extreme 4
    Memory
    16GB Crucial Ballistix
    Graphics Card(s)
    intel embedded gpu
    Sound Card
    Sound Blaster Z
    Monitor(s) Displays
    AOC / Westinghouse
    Screen Resolution
    1920x1080
    Hard Drives
    Plextor pcie msata
    PSU
    Rosewill Silent Night 500W Fanless / PicoPSU
    Case
    open bench - no case enclosure
    Cooling
    Silverstone HEO2 Passive Silent
    Keyboard
    logitech washable K310
    Mouse
    logitech wired
    Browser
    ie / maxthon
    Other Info
    Totally silent. No fans at all.
Hello JasonD. Welcome to the Eight Forums.

Do all of the above. Go backwards to when it worked properly. Did you install something or run an application that messed with the registry? Or, reinstall, and don't do what you did before.

The only registry program I have is CCleaner, so it could be that. Do you know how I could possibly get back those icons. A restore is out of the question, I did a drive clean up and got rid of the back ups.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8 Pro
    CPU
    Intel Core 2 Quad Q9550 @3.49Ghz
    Motherboard
    ASUS Stiker II Extreme
    Memory
    7GB Corsair
    Graphics Card(s)
    nVidia 660Ti
    Hard Drives
    Corsair 240GB Force 3 SSD
    Case
    Coller Master Cosmos S
    Antivirus
    ESET Smart Security 6
CCleaner is a popular program. I cannot say how to restore metro system icons. Do you not have a bootable ISO or install disk? If you purchased a key, you should be able to download again.

This is my standard response: If a system gets corrupted, save your data to a separate HDD if you can, and reinstall. Should take about 25 minutes.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Server 2012 / 8.0
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Home Built
    CPU
    Intel i7 QuadCore 3770k
    Motherboard
    Asrock Extreme 4
    Memory
    16GB Crucial Ballistix
    Graphics Card(s)
    intel embedded gpu
    Sound Card
    Sound Blaster Z
    Monitor(s) Displays
    AOC / Westinghouse
    Screen Resolution
    1920x1080
    Hard Drives
    Plextor pcie msata
    PSU
    Rosewill Silent Night 500W Fanless / PicoPSU
    Case
    open bench - no case enclosure
    Cooling
    Silverstone HEO2 Passive Silent
    Keyboard
    logitech washable K310
    Mouse
    logitech wired
    Browser
    ie / maxthon
    Other Info
    Totally silent. No fans at all.
Yeah I have the ISO, will just reinstall it tomorrow, good thing I didn't install all my programs yet. Thanks for trying to help anyway.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8 Pro
    CPU
    Intel Core 2 Quad Q9550 @3.49Ghz
    Motherboard
    ASUS Stiker II Extreme
    Memory
    7GB Corsair
    Graphics Card(s)
    nVidia 660Ti
    Hard Drives
    Corsair 240GB Force 3 SSD
    Case
    Coller Master Cosmos S
    Antivirus
    ESET Smart Security 6
Have you run SFC? open up an elevated command prompt and type sfc /scannow
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8.1 Pro
    CPU
    Intel i7 3770K
    Motherboard
    Gigabyte Z77X-UD4 TH
    Memory
    16GB DDR3 1600
    Graphics Card(s)
    nVidia GTX 650
    Sound Card
    Onboard Audio
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Auria 27" IPS + 2x Samsung 23"
    Screen Resolution
    2560x1440 + 2x 2048x1152
    Hard Drives
    Corsair m4 256GB, 2 WD 2TB drives
    Case
    Antec SOLO II
    Keyboard
    Microsoft Natural Ergonomic Keyboard 4000
    Mouse
    Logitech MX
Untitled.png

This is what I get, what should I be looking at when I open that file? its 3mb in notepad so that is a lot of lines.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8 Pro
    CPU
    Intel Core 2 Quad Q9550 @3.49Ghz
    Motherboard
    ASUS Stiker II Extreme
    Memory
    7GB Corsair
    Graphics Card(s)
    nVidia 660Ti
    Hard Drives
    Corsair 240GB Force 3 SSD
    Case
    Coller Master Cosmos S
    Antivirus
    ESET Smart Security 6
Look for Error messages.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8.1 Pro
    CPU
    Intel i7 3770K
    Motherboard
    Gigabyte Z77X-UD4 TH
    Memory
    16GB DDR3 1600
    Graphics Card(s)
    nVidia GTX 650
    Sound Card
    Onboard Audio
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Auria 27" IPS + 2x Samsung 23"
    Screen Resolution
    2560x1440 + 2x 2048x1152
    Hard Drives
    Corsair m4 256GB, 2 WD 2TB drives
    Case
    Antec SOLO II
    Keyboard
    Microsoft Natural Ergonomic Keyboard 4000
    Mouse
    Logitech MX
I think I fixed it (I also had this problem)... As I found out, icons in the modern UI or Metro or start menu or whatever you want to call it (microsoft critical ones) are stored as a font. Upon noticing this problem I was also able to remember I did a full cleanup post install (which is habit) with CCleaner by piriform.


Sooooo... It must not know yet that something it thinks it needs to remove is a critial cache file or something used by this icon font to run this system. I will not use it again until it's updated a few times.


Now... I fixed this by copying every font from my fresh windows 8 install on my laptop (because I have NO IDEA which font these icons are in), and then pasting them all into c:\Windows\Fonts. After a reboot my mail, and everything else I had noticed are back and no longer just circles or squares...


If anything this will help other people with this problem fix the issue a little easier, and not have to reinstall their whole system.


My advice to those who are not able to do what I did is to goto a futureshop, or big box laptop/desktop sales store with a USB key and just copy the fonts from there and then go home. If you live close to one, or are near one one day, or there is one near work this can solve you hours of headaches or additional work.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    windows 8
I think I fixed it (I also had this problem)... As I found out, icons in the modern UI or Metro or start menu or whatever you want to call it (microsoft critical ones) are stored as a font. Upon noticing this problem I was also able to remember I did a full cleanup post install (which is habit) with CCleaner by piriform.


Sooooo... It must not know yet that something it thinks it needs to remove is a critial cache file or something used by this icon font to run this system. I will not use it again until it's updated a few times.


Now... I fixed this by copying every font from my fresh windows 8 install on my laptop (because I have NO IDEA which font these icons are in), and then pasting them all into c:\Windows\Fonts. After a reboot my mail, and everything else I had noticed are back and no longer just circles or squares...


If anything this will help other people with this problem fix the issue a little easier, and not have to reinstall their whole system.


My advice to those who are not able to do what I did is to goto a futureshop, or big box laptop/desktop sales store with a USB key and just copy the fonts from there and then go home. If you live close to one, or are near one one day, or there is one near work this can solve you hours of headaches or additional work.

I have to install Windows 8 onto my aunt's laptop, so I will copy the folder from that and hold off doing scans or I will just untick Fonts.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8 Pro
    CPU
    Intel Core 2 Quad Q9550 @3.49Ghz
    Motherboard
    ASUS Stiker II Extreme
    Memory
    7GB Corsair
    Graphics Card(s)
    nVidia 660Ti
    Hard Drives
    Corsair 240GB Force 3 SSD
    Case
    Coller Master Cosmos S
    Antivirus
    ESET Smart Security 6
yeah man, and just copy her fonts and you'll fix your system.
Still doesn't work and for some reason all of them wont copy over
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8 Pro
    CPU
    Intel Core 2 Quad Q9550 @3.49Ghz
    Motherboard
    ASUS Stiker II Extreme
    Memory
    7GB Corsair
    Graphics Card(s)
    nVidia 660Ti
    Hard Drives
    Corsair 240GB Force 3 SSD
    Case
    Coller Master Cosmos S
    Antivirus
    ESET Smart Security 6
OK, I've got it to work now. At first I copied all the fonts onto a USB stick, but it seems like it didn't do all for some reason, so I just put the fonts folder into the Homegroup and installed them all from there.

Thank you all for your help.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8 Pro
    CPU
    Intel Core 2 Quad Q9550 @3.49Ghz
    Motherboard
    ASUS Stiker II Extreme
    Memory
    7GB Corsair
    Graphics Card(s)
    nVidia 660Ti
    Hard Drives
    Corsair 240GB Force 3 SSD
    Case
    Coller Master Cosmos S
    Antivirus
    ESET Smart Security 6
Hi there Guys.

I had this problem, the font family you need is "Segoe ui" Just put the family back in the fonts folder and you are done. Hope this helps.

Please see the two images below.

John
 

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My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows8 Pro
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