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This is how it looks when opening File Explorer. The labels and text are missing.
Windows 2019 - Fonts dissapearing after adding server as domain controller to domain
![](data:image/svg+xml, %3Csvg xmlns='http://www.w3.org/2000/svg' height='64' class='font-weight-bold' style='font: 600 30.11764705882353px "SegoeUI", Arial' width='64'%3E%3Ccircle fill='hsl(208, 92%, 30%)' cx='32' cy='32' r='32' /%3E%3Ctext x='50%25' y='55%25' dominant-baseline='middle' text-anchor='middle' fill='%23FFF' %3EBS%3C/text%3E%3C/svg%3E)
Banga, Sietse
11
Reputation points
This evening we installed our first Windows 2019 domain controller in an existing Windows 2008R2 Forest/Domain. This to replace the current Windows2008R2 domain controllers.
Installation of the prerequisites showed no issues. After adding the server to the domain the text/fonts are dissapearing on the server. The text in Server Manager is visible. But no in Powershell, Windows Explorer, DNS, ADUC. Strange thing is that we thought this was an issue with the server.
We reinstalled a new server from scratch. Installed all updates (until September 2020). All text was visible on the first reboot. But after every reboot more text is dissapearing. It is very hard to perform common tasks on this server. I don't see any errors remotely in the eventviewer.
Does anyone have had this kind of issues ?
Windows for business | Windows Server | User experience | Other
{count} vote
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![](data:image/svg+xml, %3Csvg xmlns='http://www.w3.org/2000/svg' height='64' class='font-weight-bold' style='font: 600 30.11764705882353px "SegoeUI", Arial' width='64'%3E%3Ccircle fill='hsl(128, 8%, 22%)' cx='32' cy='32' r='32' /%3E%3Ctext x='50%25' y='55%25' dominant-baseline='middle' text-anchor='middle' fill='%23FFF' %3EA%3C/text%3E%3C/svg%3E)
Anonymous2020-09-15T07:58:49.003+00:00 Hi,
When did this issue occurred exactly (install updates /join domain/ promote to DC) ?
Check is there any group polices linked with member servers or domain controllers?
Regards
Karlie -
Anonymous
2020-09-23T07:01:46.583+00:00 Hello @ BangaSietse-2174,
We have not heard from you for several days, any update?
You can enable email notifications for a variety of different events in Microsoft Q&A:
https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/answers/articles/67444/email-notifications.htmlBest Regards
Karlie -
![](data:image/svg+xml, %3Csvg xmlns='http://www.w3.org/2000/svg' height='64' class='font-weight-bold' style='font: 600 30.11764705882353px "SegoeUI", Arial' width='64'%3E%3Ccircle fill='hsl(83.2, 87%, 18%)' cx='32' cy='32' r='32' /%3E%3Ctext x='50%25' y='55%25' dominant-baseline='middle' text-anchor='middle' fill='%23FFF' %3ED%3C/text%3E%3C/svg%3E)
DocU 1 Reputation point2020-10-13T02:24:54.257+00:00 Having this exact same issue on a 2019 server (non-VM). joined an old domain that has roaming profiles from 2003 days and boom - no text. tried a different login, same issue, demoted the server via PowerShell - still dead. rebuilt the server from scratch, worked great until promotion - bam, no text.
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![](data:image/svg+xml, %3Csvg xmlns='http://www.w3.org/2000/svg' height='64' class='font-weight-bold' style='font: 600 30.11764705882353px "SegoeUI", Arial' width='64'%3E%3Ccircle fill='hsl(6.4, 12%, 10%)' cx='32' cy='32' r='32' /%3E%3Ctext x='50%25' y='55%25' dominant-baseline='middle' text-anchor='middle' fill='%23FFF' %3EHC%3C/text%3E%3C/svg%3E)
HERRANZ, Carlos 1 Reputation point2021-08-12T08:19:37.83+00:00 Have anyone found the solution for this issue?
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![](data:image/svg+xml, %3Csvg xmlns='http://www.w3.org/2000/svg' height='64' class='font-weight-bold' style='font: 600 30.11764705882353px "SegoeUI", Arial' width='64'%3E%3Ccircle fill='hsl(35.2, 87%, 13%)' cx='32' cy='32' r='32' /%3E%3Ctext x='50%25' y='55%25' dominant-baseline='middle' text-anchor='middle' fill='%23FFF' %3EAT%3C/text%3E%3C/svg%3E)
Abbenzeller, Thorsten 1 Reputation point2021-12-27T11:44:12.78+00:00 Finally i found the solution.
please goto Grouppolicymanager. Make a Backup of Default Domain Controller Policy.
We had some entries Security Services / Regedit / and FileData. I compared this with a GPO from a test system GPODC. I deleted all Entrys what was not nessecary anymore ( Most of the entries depend on Windows 2003/2008/2008R2 domain stuff. The Whole domain contained more than 2000 Computerobjects so building all from scratch was not an option...
After deleting this unused stuff - i put a VM in the DomainController OU ( without promoting ) only to see the Policy. All works fine. I promoted and voila all is fine and happy.
I did this manually. Maybe also this article/job help:
To restore the default domain policies, just simply run the command “DCGPOFIX” and press Y in all the prompts it asks after carefully reading and understanding what is about to happen.
https://www.sourceonetechnology.com/my-default-domain-policy-and-default-domain-controller-policy-are-broke/I absolutely recommend to be carefully with this. Only Experts should do this. Especially when you have special programs running on DC this is really carefully to be done!
Best regards
Thorsten
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7 answers
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Anonymous
2020-09-15T13:34:20.67+00:00 Might try logging on as a new user in case of profile corruption. What's the source of installation media? Have you confirmed the hardware has support for Server 2019?
--please don't forget to Accept as answer if the reply is helpful--
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DocU 1 Reputation point
2020-10-10T04:22:43.803+00:00 Having this exact same issue on a 2019 server (non-VM). joined an old domain that has roaming profiles from 2003 days and boom - no text. tried a different login, same issue, demoted the server via powershell - still dead. rebuilt the server from scratch, worked great until promotion - bam, no text.
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DocU 1 Reputation point
2021-05-03T23:18:26.37+00:00 thanks, DS. agree its p[probably some kind of corruption, but it started happening to our desktops after 2019 domain join.
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Anonymous
2020-09-14T20:48:16.613+00:00 Strange, do you have a screen shot? What's the source of installation media? Have you confirmed the hardware has support for Server 2019?
--please don't forget to Accept as answer if the reply is helpful--
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HERRANZ, Carlos 1 Reputation point
2021-08-12T08:22:04.14+00:00 Can you help me find a solution for this issue? No text when promoting a server to a domain controller and the all fonts dissapear. Is there any answer for this?
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Banga, Sietse 11 Reputation points
2020-09-15T06:54:24.923+00:00 Additional. This is a virtual server running on Hyper-V Windows 2019 (Dell PowerEdge R740). We are using the installation ISO provided by Microsoft.
All other virtual servers are running fine on the same Hyper-V server. They have different applications installed: Oracle, Citrix for instance.
Only this server shows these symptoms after a DCpromo. -
![](data:image/svg+xml, %3Csvg xmlns='http://www.w3.org/2000/svg' height='64' class='font-weight-bold' style='font: 600 30.11764705882353px "SegoeUI", Arial' width='64'%3E%3Ccircle fill='hsl(121.6, 39%, 21%)' cx='32' cy='32' r='32' /%3E%3Ctext x='50%25' y='55%25' dominant-baseline='middle' text-anchor='middle' fill='%23FFF' %3ETA%3C/text%3E%3C/svg%3E)
Thorsten Abbenzeller 1 Reputation point2020-10-29T14:14:36.897+00:00 Hello, we have exact same issue with 2019 on 2008 AD Structure. After promoting 5 minutes the Fonts where lost...
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Thorsten Abbenzeller 1 Reputation point
2020-10-29T14:21:01.417+00:00 We reinstall complete VM - and on 2nd try the exact same issue. Is there a way to enable this again ? -
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Abbenzeller, Thorsten 1 Reputation point
2021-12-27T11:46:46.053+00:00 Finally i found the solution.
please goto Grouppolicymanager. Make a Backup of Default Domain Controller Policy.
We had some entries Security Services / Regedit / and FileData. I compared this with a GPO from a test system GPODC. I deleted all Entrys what was not nessecary anymore ( Most of the entries depend on Windows 2003/2008/2008R2 domain stuff. The Whole domain contained more than 2000 Computerobjects so building all from scratch was not an option...
After deleting this unused stuff - i put a VM in the DomainController OU ( without promoting ) only to see the Policy. All works fine. I promoted and voila all is fine and happy.
I did this manually. Maybe also this article/job help:
To restore the default domain policies, just simply run the command “DCGPOFIX” and press Y in all the prompts it asks after carefully reading and understanding what is about to happen.
https://www.sourceonetechnology.com/my-default-domain-policy-and-default-domain-controller-policy-are-broke/I absolutely recommend to be carefully with this. Only Experts should do this. Especially when you have special programs running on DC this is really carefully to be done!
Best regards
Thorsten
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