Shoutbox

I've searched the forum, and found nothing, and the live chat thing won't connect for me.

Title states the problem I'm having. I've installed and uninstalled Plus! multiple times. I even did the same with Windows Live Messenger multiple times to no avail.  I've had this problem for quite some time, little over half a year. I post now because I'm just tired of guessing which button does what.

I only have a screen cap of the instillation screen because I just don't feel like installing Plus! again if I can't see the buttons. I never had this problem when I first installed the program long time ago.

Anyway, I run WLM 9 and have XP. Anything else you need to help me asses this problem, feel free to ask.

Are you running XP Service Pack 3?

The problem ahs been discussed many time on the forum before, searching would've returned MANY threads on the subject:

Here is the most useful one which links to four others:

no text on buttons

Well crap, now I just feel stupid. I remember searching and finding NO results. Guess I used the wrong keywords or something (I searched a few weeks ago and found nothing).

I never thought something so harmless (GDI++) could cause such an annoying problem. My text looks A LOT better with it running.

Is there a way to use it and still see the buttons? Because the text on the window show up right, it's just the button text that disappear. So is there a way to keep GDI++ running and still see button text? Or am I stuck with the non-Mac like text?

(I don't feel like sifting through a whole slew of topics right now. Sorry...)

GDI++ causes other compatibility problems with Messenger Plus! Live, so unfortunately you have to pick one or the other.

Could you explain what you mean by "Mac like text"?  You can use ClearType fonts on Windows to give them a more "rounded" appearance if that's what you're getting at?

Well dang. I hate making decisions like this...

Is there by any chance a compatibility fix in the works for this?

And ClearType, Does it work like GDI++ (Changes the text look for everything you see)? Or is there some other program that works like GDI++?

If not, I'll just weather it out and hope a fix is made for this...

quote:

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Originally posted by Kruger
And ClearType, Does it work like GDI++ (Changes the text look for everything you see)?

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Yes, it changes all text on screen.

http://www.microsoft.com/typography/cleartype/tuner/step1.aspx

It's possible that Patchou may consider working on the incompatibility issues between Messenger Plus! Live and other programs, but it depends what's causing the problem, how easy it is to figure out and how easy it is to solve.  Finding an alternative (such as using ClearType) is certainly the best way around it at the moment

quote:

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Originally posted by Kruger
...Because the text on the window show up right...

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Actually, you can read it, yes, but it doesn't look right at all. The font and size is completely wrong....

And I can only guess (but out of experience) that it would be the same for some other programs too, without you even knowing or ever have noticed it. GDI++ really messes things up, not only for Plus!. As such I would never recommend using it.

Only when you don't use it you would see how (some) programs are supposed to be looking.

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PS: ClearType is just an option which you can enable or disable in Windows (it is by default disabled). You don't need to install anything at all.

See:
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/306527

Or you could use the online wizard to guide you:
http://www.microsoft.com/typography/cleartype/tuner/step1.aspx

Of course, if you want to fine tune something, you could use the offline tool which Chris4 linked to. But that requires installing something, which is actually not needed at all to use ClearType. You could also use the online wizard I linked to to fine tune.

Clearype does make your text look a bit more blurry though (note: What Microsoft calls 'ClearType' is actually not ClearType as understood by the industry at all though...)

Well, regardless, I'll keep GDI++ on the system, I'll just take the icon off the desktop. I'll use ClearType, though, in my opinion, it doesn't look as good as GDI++ but it's better than standard.

Thanks for the help. I especially like the fast responses. I wish it was that fast on the Orb forums. (If your wondering what's going on: Xbox 360 won't recognize it...)

Anyway, thanks again.

If you're keeping GDI++ then why would you use ClearType?

Leaving GDI++ installed and removing the icon from the desktop won't change anything, the program will still be running and will still cause Messenger Plus! Live not to function correctly.