Howto: Fix ttf-mscorefonts-installer problems in Ubuntu 9.10 Karmic Koala

5Nov/09

Howto: Fix ttf-mscorefonts-installer problems in Ubuntu 9.10 Karmic Koala

Most of the people that installed the new Ubuntu 9.10 Karmic Koala and then tried to install the ubuntu-restricted-extras quickly found that any time after that when installing a package via CLI/Software Center/Synaptic Package Manager they got an error in reference to ttf-mscorefonts-installer (3.0).

I'm not really sure why it's can't resolve the host, but the easiest way to fix this little problem is to simple uninstall the ttf-mscorefonts-installer, but now you're thinking well maybe I want the Microsoft fonts for cross-platform compatibility reason, well I've got my own little script that does that for you too.

Step 1

Open up your Terminal under Applications -> Accessories ->Terminal and run:
sudo apt-get remove ttf-mscorefonts-installer

Step 2

Download my script here (you'll have to unzip it to get to the bash script), by default it's not an executable, which we will amend in a second. In order to run my script open a Terminal and navigate to the directory the file is in (i recommend putting it on the Desktop) as shown in my example:

cd ~/Desktop/

Now run the following command to make the file executable:

sudo chmod +x msfonts

Note: You may need to install cabextract, as it's one of the programs I use in my script. In your Terminal run:

sudo apt-get install cabextract

Step 3

In the same terminal windows run the script:
./msfonts

Note: My script is pretty basic as you can see and may take sometimes to download all the files depending on your connection. It basically get's the .exe's that hold the fonts extracts, renames and copies the fonts into the appropriate directory on your system, which is /usr/share/fonts/truetype/mscorefonts/ and now you can see the fonts when you open up Open Office Writer.

Let's hope the package managers notice this problem soon, because I have no doubt in my mind that is is going to really annoy a lot of people!

Note: My fix works most of the time, but I've got a few emails saying it didn't so I've directed them to follow this post

If you liked this guide please comment and subscribe.

Edit: Made a quick correction in Step 2 making the file an executable, thanks FXB for pointing that out.
Edit: Made a note in Step 3 to make sure you have cabextract, otherwise my script wont work.
Edit: Just so people know you can read/do what my script actually does manually...Basically go download the .exe extract the font, rename it and then move it too the correct place. It's that simple.

Tagged as: 9.10, Bug, Howto, Karmic Koala, mscorefonts, Quick Fix, Tip, Ubuntu Leave a comment

http://nicheimc.com Yu-ming Chao

Worked for me. Thanks a bunch.
Otherwise that ttf-mscorefonts-installer is really annoying.
Blasphemy

Thanks a lot mate!!!!
U saved us a lot of trouble!!!!
Dennis

Thank you! For me it functions …
FXB

isn’t it “chmod +x msfonts” instead of “chmon…”?

http://friendlytechninja.vndv.com/ Jonathan

Yes, it should be thanks i’ll fix that now

FXB

isn’t it “chmod +x msfonts” instead of “chmon…”?

http://friendlytechninja.vndv.com Jonathan

Yes, it should be thanks i’ll fix that now

Jared

You might want to mention that you’ll need grab “cabextract” through the Synaptic Package Manager if you don’t have it (I didn’t have it on a fresh 9.10 install)
Jared

You might want to mention that you’ll need grab “cabextract” through the Synaptic Package Manager if you don’t have it (I didn’t have it on a fresh 9.10 install)
Mr. Park

Yes! Times New Roman!! Heh, thanks for the tutorial.
Mr. Park

Yes! Times New Roman!! Heh, thanks for the tutorial.
IhqTzup

thanks alot!
IhqTzup

thanks alot!
Zweibart McGregor

This one works!

As a newcomer to Linux, i am very dependant upon fixes and explanations, as this one, but quite a few expect me to know a lot more (Did you know that it IS possible to come back to the graphical user interface after you press CTRL+ALT+F1? It’s CTRL-ALT+F7, but that is normally left out).

This explanation worked right away, the first time.

WHAM. Happy noob.
Zweibart McGregor

This one works!

As a newcomer to Linux, i am very dependant upon fixes and explanations, as this one, but quite a few expect me to know a lot more (Did you know that it IS possible to come back to the graphical user interface after you press CTRL+ALT+F1? It’s CTRL-ALT+F7, but that is normally left out).

This explanation worked right away, the first time.

WHAM. Happy noob.
Michele Tramonti

great, men!
thanks a lot
Michele Tramonti

great, men!
thanks a lot
joshandali

thanks
joshandali

thanks
Hans

Just want to say thank you. Without such help ubuntu won’t stand in that position it is.
Hans

Just want to say thank you. Without such help ubuntu won’t stand in that position it is.
Indra

Thank you, that’s help a lot.
Indra

Thank you, that’s help a lot.
morgan

you are my god thankyou.
morgan

you are my god thankyou.
lakshman

thanks bro
lakshman

thanks bro
Mickser

Thank you, it saved a lot of time waiting for an official fix. Now I must try and sort out the fonts on Goolge Earth
Mickser

Thank you, it saved a lot of time waiting for an official fix. Now I must try and sort out the fonts on Goolge Earth
dumblebee

we need tahoma font too

http://friendlytechninja.vndv.com/ Jonathan

You can just google tahoma download it and stick it in that mscorefonts folder, pretty easy.

dumblebee

we need tahoma font too

http://friendlytechninja.vndv.com Jonathan

You can just google tahoma download it and stick it in that mscorefonts folder, pretty easy.

Bill

YES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! THANKS SOOOOOO MUCH!!!!! Was going out of my mind! Thank you!!!
Bill

YES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! THANKS SOOOOOO MUCH!!!!! Was going out of my mind! Thank you!!!
Tony

Worked a treat , thanks a lot
Tony

Worked a treat , thanks a lot
fabrice

thank you so much !

fast & reliable workaround, good job !
fabrice

thank you so much !

fast & reliable workaround, good job !
Honk

Great job, man Thanks a lot
Honk

Great job, man Thanks a lot
Mohamed Ahmed

Thanks so much, it works like a charm
I did try many solutions but non worked, this one solved the failed to connect problem as well

Thanks a bunch!!!
Mohamed Ahmed

Thanks so much, it works like a charm
I did try many solutions but non worked, this one solved the failed to connect problem as well

Thanks a bunch!!!
Justin

Well written for us newbies to understand! Thanks a bunch!!!
Justin

Well written for us newbies to understand! Thanks a bunch!!!
Richard Collinsworth

Works great thanks
Richard Collinsworth

Works great thanks
Louis

Thank you… I downloaded the .exe files on a different, connected, pc and then edited your bash script (pre chmod command, whatever that does) to see where I should put them (as in which temp directories) and what I should call them, and was thus able to (rename/copy) install the damn mscorefonts completely offline.

It’s really strange how long it took me to find a way to install them offline… if you want, you can always write a script for offline installing and let complete ubuntu newbies like me use that next time…

Anyway, 2c done.

Wouldn’t have been able to do it without you.

Thanks.
Louis

Thank you… I downloaded the .exe files on a different, connected, pc and then edited your bash script (pre chmod command, whatever that does) to see where I should put them (as in which temp directories) and what I should call them, and was thus able to (rename/copy) install the damn mscorefonts completely offline.

It’s really strange how long it took me to find a way to install them offline… if you want, you can always write a script for offline installing and let complete ubuntu newbies like me use that next time…

Anyway, 2c done.

Wouldn’t have been able to do it without you.

Thanks.
Louis

.exe font files from http://web.nickshanks.com/fonts/microsoft-core-web-fonts of course.
Louis

.exe font files from http://web.nickshanks.com/fonts/microsoft-core-web-fonts of course.
adam

Thanks a ton. It’s been bugging me for days.

You’re also one of the few writers that gives clear instructions for Linux.
Thanks for that too.
adam

Thanks a ton. It’s been bugging me for days.

You’re also one of the few writers that gives clear instructions for Linux.
Thanks for that too.
Giovanni

Thank a lot. Good job!!! From a small town in italy
Giovanni

Thank a lot. Good job!!! From a small town in italy
http://sudoit.blogspot.com/ jtp

Thanks for providing a good workaround for this!
http://sudoit.blogspot.com jtp

Thanks for providing a good workaround for this!
http://getlives.com/ Arckason

Really Appreciate this…was having the hardest trouble figuring this one out. 2 Thumbs up!!
http://getlives.com Arckason

Really Appreciate this…was having the hardest trouble figuring this one out. 2 Thumbs up!!
Thanks

thanks a lot
Thanks

thanks a lot
Andrew

Superb. Like a Sherlock Holmes deduction it seems simple when explained. Thank you very much.
Andrew

Superb. Like a Sherlock Holmes deduction it seems simple when explained. Thank you very much.
http://fattyghost007.blogspot.com/ fattyghost

Thx dude =)
This help alot .
http://fattyghost007.blogspot.com fattyghost

Thx dude =)
This help alot .
Clyde Hutson

Thanks a bunch. Worked like a charm
Clyde Hutson

Thanks a bunch. Worked like a charm
langendorff

Thanks A LOT !!, it took me a wile to navigate to your GREAT guide. FIXED my problem. Again thanks a lot
langendorff

Thanks A LOT !!, it took me a wile to navigate to your GREAT guide. FIXED my problem. Again thanks a lot
Zipper

Thank you very much!
Zipper

Thank you very much!
ihatewindoze

Worked perfectly…I now have Times New Roman back! Thanks!!!
ihatewindoze

Worked perfectly…I now have Times New Roman back! Thanks!!!
Anna

Thanks for posting this! It had been driving me nuts since I upgraded to Karmic and then I found this tutorial via Google. Fixed it right up.
Anna

Thanks for posting this! It had been driving me nuts since I upgraded to Karmic and then I found this tutorial via Google. Fixed it right up.
Damian

Thank You!! I’m trying to make the switch to Ubuntu and write ups like these are amazing..
Damian

Thank You!! I’m trying to make the switch to Ubuntu and write ups like these are amazing..
http://areefdharma.blogspot.com Areef Dharma

thanks.. it’s work for me…

Charles

Worked great! Many thanks!

http://areefdharma.blogspot.com areefdharma

thanks.. it’s work for me…
Charles

Worked great! Many thanks!
amr sawah

it work for me thanks
cairo.egypt
amr sawah

it work for me thanks
cairo.egypt
denis

great ! thanx for this

Nhatz

Thanks a lot.. you’re the man!!!

denis

great ! thanx for this
Nhatz

Thanks a lot.. you’re the man!!!
harshal

thanks….. it really worked
harshal

thanks….. it really worked
harshal

It worked for me but I have a question

When I open my Synaptic Package Manager, I can see the “ttf-mscorefonts-installer” package is still uninstalled, won’t it create the problem later on.
harshal

It worked for me but I have a question

When I open my Synaptic Package Manager, I can see the “ttf-mscorefonts-installer” package is still uninstalled, won’t it create the problem later on.
Humph

Finally something that works really easy. Great job!!!!!1
Humph

Finally something that works really easy. Great job!!!!!1
Driek

Just what Ubuntu 9.10, and I, needed.

Thanks there.
Driek

Just what Ubuntu 9.10, and I, needed.

Thanks there.
tazztone

yap that was a no-brainer… thx ^^,
tazztone

yap that was a no-brainer… thx ^^,
DJ

I wasn’t able to find a confirmed bug report of this on launchpad, so without your post I probably would have thrown in the towel by now. Thanks so much!
DJ

I wasn’t able to find a confirmed bug report of this on launchpad, so without your post I probably would have thrown in the towel by now. Thanks so much!
Baptiste

it seems to work, yes, thanks for fixing this and letting us know
Baptiste

it seems to work, yes, thanks for fixing this and letting us know
AleLondon

cheers mate! gracias!
AleLondon

cheers mate! gracias!
brad

thanks dude. those errors had been driving me crazy.
brad

thanks dude. those errors had been driving me crazy.
Kenny

Thanks very much !
Kenny

Thanks very much !
mrusson

works like a charm………THANKS!!!!!!
mrusson

works like a charm………THANKS!!!!!!
liveforsnow2288

thanks man, i’m a noob and it worked for me
liveforsnow2288

thanks man, i’m a noob and it worked for me
andi.cao

thank you! It works well.
andi.cao

thank you! It works well.
http://swiss-watch-repair.com/ Johann

Thank you very much. I appreciate it.
http://swiss-watch-repair.com Johann

Thank you very much. I appreciate it.
xxcitix

superb, works like a charm. love the step by step, and the script is clear enough to be able to understand what it’s doing
xxcitix

superb, works like a charm. love the step by step, and the script is clear enough to be able to understand what it’s doing
BDavis

Worked for me! Thanks!
BDavis

Worked for me! Thanks!
Lynx

Thanks a million! Worked like a charm!
Lynx

Thanks a million! Worked like a charm!
Anton

Who da man? YOU da man!! I was sick and tired of struggling with this!

Anton

Who da man? YOU da man!! I was sick and tired of struggling with this!

Anton

Who da man? YOU da man!! I was sick and tired of struggling with this!
mahbub

many many thanks
mahbub

many many thanks
Ragec

Very useful ! It works very good, even if you have a proxy !
Ragec

Very useful ! It works very good, even if you have a proxy !
Ragec

Very useful ! It works very good, even if you have a proxy !
Amogh Bihani

well thanks a lot dude.
your idea works.

well….my college has proxy server which denied downloading from sourceforge.net
so i just read ur file and did all coping manually…..and it works……
thanks a lot again.
Amogh Bihani

well thanks a lot dude.
your idea works.

well….my college has proxy server which denied downloading from sourceforge.net
so i just read ur file and did all coping manually…..and it works……
thanks a lot again.
Amogh Bihani

well thanks a lot dude.
your idea works.

well….my college has proxy server which denied downloading from sourceforge.net
so i just read ur file and did all coping manually…..and it works……
thanks a lot again.
neeraj

If you are dual booting your system with Windows simply execute the following command in terminal
sudo cp /media/C/Windows/Fonts/*.ttf /usr/share/fonts/truetype/msttcorefonts/

where, Replace “/media/C” by the path to your windows installation partition.
….and of-course mount the windows partition through file browser before.
neeraj

If you are dual booting your system with Windows simply execute the following command in terminal
sudo cp /media/C/Windows/Fonts/*.ttf /usr/share/fonts/truetype/msttcorefonts/

where, Replace “/media/C” by the path to your windows installation partition.
….and of-course mount the windows partition through file browser before.
neeraj

If you are dual booting your system with Windows simply execute the following command in terminal
sudo cp /media/C/Windows/Fonts/*.ttf /usr/share/fonts/truetype/msttcorefonts/

where, Replace “/media/C” by the path to your windows installation partition.
….and of-course mount the windows partition through file browser before.
andrea

ottimo, grazie, funziona alla perfezione
andrea

ottimo, grazie, funziona alla perfezione
http://none andrea

ottimo, grazie, funziona alla perfezione
Deej

You got a simple and cool way of doing complicated things. I like your solution.

Deej

also how do i get these fonts into browser(Firefox), i dont see them in my firefox.

http://friendlytechninja.com/ Jonathan

I would have though Firefox would pull from the systems fonts, but I’d recommend you do a search for that. Best of luck

Deej

also how do i get these fonts into browser(Firefox), i dont see them in my firefox.

Deej

You got a simple and cool way of doing complicated things. I like your solution.

Deej

also how do i get these fonts into browser(Firefox), i dont see them in my firefox.

Dennis

Thank you! For me it functions …
http://friendlytechninja.com Jonathan

I would have though Firefox would pull from the systems fonts, but I’d recommend you do a search for that. Best of luck

Adityo Ananta

awesome, it’s solved my problem, thanks
Adityo Ananta

awesome, it's solved my problem, thanks

http://nicheimc.com/ Yu-ming Chao

Worked for me. Thanks a bunch.
Otherwise that ttf-mscorefonts-installer is really annoying.

Emil

you’re awesome for doing this and posting it. Eventually I will learn how to do these things too, and can post tons of stuff as well with all of the ideas that I have!
Great job!
Emil

you're awesome for doing this and posting it. Eventually I will learn how to do these things too, and can post tons of stuff as well with all of the ideas that I have!
Great job!

Blasphemy

Thanks a lot mate!!!!
U saved us a lot of trouble!!!!

Negev

It worked perfectly! Many thanks <3
Negev

It worked perfectly! Many thanks <3
Ankush_pict

thanks a lot..
tango32601

Funny, it worked for all of those people, but not for me. Your script did not return any *.exe files but a bunch of download.* where * is a number files. I changed your script to
#Extract all .tff filescabextract * -F*.ttf -L
and it correctly extracted all of the font files.
Then some problem with locks came up which I am now trying to solve. Incidentally, I have
Ubuntu 11.10.

http://friendlytechninja.com Jonathan

I created the script ages ago, but I’m glad it partially helped you out.

yakattack

had to modify it slightly to work for me – had to change the addresses that wget was using to use the kent mirror (even though I’m in South Africa – our one was just failing).. then it worked fine..

Also, if the script gets stuck at trying to connect over and over, you can always manually download all the files listed in the wget part of the above script from a mirror – like:http://sourceforge.net/projects/corefonts/files/the%20fonts/final/webdin32.exe/download?use_mirror=kentfor getting ‘webdin32.exe’then put them all in the /tmp/mscorefonts directory that the script created, comment out the ‘wget’ parts in the script and run it and it should work.

This is what worked for me anyway.. peace

Quick Tip: Getting your mic working with alsamixer » « Howto: Install Dropbox on Ubuntu 9.10 Karmic Koala

Friendly Tech Ninja Linux how-to's for beginners

Howto: Fix ttf-mscorefonts-installer problems in Ubuntu 9.10 Karmic Koala

Recent Posts

Recent Comments

Meta