Installing Fonts in Windows 7 Without Administrative Rights

This article addresses a problem with users installing fonts on a Windows 7 operating system without having administrative rights. In XP the administrator only need to give the users Full Control of the fonts folder and the following registry keys. In Windows 7 those steps are not enough. The Fonts folder is also a System folder and you must first change that before making any other of the changes. I tried many applications and solutions like Privilege Manager to elevate the user to perform this task without success. It is possible to create a script that will install fonts for a user but that required to much work for out IT staff and the user to get all the syntax and names correct  each time a new font was needed. This solution allows the User to be self sufficient and add fonts as they need them.

The steps below are what I use when I have a user who needs to install fonts on a regular basis.

1. Open a command prompt as Administrator
2. Enter “attrib –r –s c:\windows\fonts” (This removes System and Read Only attributes)
3. Browse to C:\Windows\
4. Right click the Fonts Directory and choose properties
5. Click Security --> Advanced --> Owner --> Edit
6. Make yourself the Current Owner and check “Replace owner on sub containers and objects”
7. Click OK
8. Close all property windows
9. Right click the Fonts Directory and choose properties again
10. Give Users Full Control


For the registry key:
1. Run regedit
2. Give permission to Users Group for the following keys
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\MICROSOFT\WINDOWS NT\CURRENT VERSION\FONT DRIVERS
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\MICROSOFT\WINDOWS NT\CURRENT VERSION\FONT MANAGEMENT
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\MICROSOFT\WINDOWS NT\CURRENT VERSION\FONTDPI
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\MICROSOFT\WINDOWS NT\CURRENT VERSION\FONTLINK
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\MICROSOFT\WINDOWS NT\CURRENT VERSION\FONTMAPPER
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\MICROSOFT\WINDOWS NT\CURRENT VERSION\FONTS
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\MICROSOFT\WINDOWS NT\CURRENT VERSION\FONTSUBSTITUTES

Reboot and now users can copy fonts into the Fonts folder. They will still not be able to use the install font button however.

************************** Warning **************************
Registry changes are not recommended for inexperienced users.
And, a backup should be performed before any changes
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